Smith and Wesson serial number search

[Ryenhawk]

I just acquired a S&W - only one I have and am looking for any information on it. It is a 4" barrel - .38 revolver - SN # 767XXX - barrel marked 38 S & W CTG (R) / Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass. USA (T) / SMITH & WESSON (L) - right side of frame under front of cylinder marked Made in USA w/ S&W crest right frame behind cylinder. Any help[ with year of Manufacture or Model would be appreciated. And no, I do not wish to buy the book for the one S&W I have.

[Radagast]

Ryenhawk It sounds like you have a Model K200 .38/200 British Service Revolver, later sold as the Model 11. These were the .38 Military & Police model of 1905 4th Change ordered by the British Government and chambered in .38 S&W rather than the usual .38 S&W Special.
Prior to WWII Britain chambered its Webley & Enfield service revolvers to suit a 200 grain bullet in the short .38 S&W case, when WWII broke out they ordered guns directly from S&W and later received then through the US government through the lend lease program.
K200s were manufactured in 4, 5 & 6 inch barrel lengths, with 5 inches being the more common. These were manufactured between 1940 & 1942 in the serial number range 680,000 to 1,000,000 in a variety of finishes and grip types, before the introduction of the Lend Lease program and US government markings, with the serial number starting over again at V1 and continuing until V769000.

After WWII a large number of these guns were re-imported into the USA and the chambers bored through to allow .38 Special cartridges to be used. If your gun has been modified in this fashion you should only shoot standard pressure ammunition through it as the chambers will be oversize and cases may bulge or split.

Short summary: Classic S&W from WWII, probably saw service with Britain or one of the Commonwealth nations, chambered for the low powered and expensive .38 S&W round. If bored through for .38 special it has no collectors value, if all original and in very good condition it may be worth $300 to $500 to a collector.

[ltdave]

smith wesson (obviously)

m30-1 .32 S&W Long
2" pinned barrel
round butt

serial number H701xx

thanks!

[Radagast]

ltdave: 1972-1976, serial number range was H60001 to H9999

[ltdave]

THANKS!

ive got another in the safe but i dont recall the serial. its a no-number model .32sw long with a patent date of 29 december 1914. its a 4" J-frame (or maybe a prior frame size) with nickel finish...

the cylinder length is about the length of a .32sw long cartridge from base to ogive...

ill have to get the serial number...

i think its a hand ejector .32...

[Ryenhawk]

Many thanks Radagast. Exactly the information I was looking for.

[Radagast]

ltdave: Your second gun is most likely a .32 Regulation Police (square butt) or a .32 Hand Ejector (round butt) Third Model. A serial number will help to narrow it down.

[carguychris]

its a 4" J-frame (or maybe a prior frame size) with nickel finish... the cylinder length is about the length of a .32sw long cartridge

The predecessor of the J frame is the I frame. Your gun sounds like one. FWIW a good way to quickly identify an I frame is to look for a strain screw at the base of the frontstrap, in the same place you'll find a screw on a K, L, N, or X frame. Pre-1950s I frames use a leaf mainspring like the other frame sizes, so they have strain screws like the others do. J frames and later "Improved" I frames (mid-50s thru 1963) have coil mainsprings and lack the strain screw.

FWIW the serial number on some older I frames is found on the frontstrap, not the butt. It should also be repeated on the face of the cylinder and on the barrel flat under the ejector rod, but many older nickel-plated revolvers have been refinished, which often wipes out the shallower markings in these places.

ltdave: Your second gun is most likely a .32 Regulation Police (square butt)...

FWIW prewar .32RPs aren't built on true square-butt frames. They're fitted with so-called "extension" stocks that extend the grip to a larger square-butt shape. (These stocks cover the butt, which is why the serial number was moved to the frontstrap.) The backstrap is round, but has a shoulder in it where the extension stocks fit; the top half of the backstrap is visible, but the bottom half is hidden under the stocks. The distinct shoulder and the extension stocks identify the gun as a .32RP rather than a .32HE.

BTW this sometimes creates confusion amongst some collectors because most .38RPs were marked ".38 REGULATION POLICE" on the barrels, while the .32 Long versions were seldom so marked. Some people erroneously conclude that a Regulation Police is identified by the barrel marking alone; this is incorrect, the difference is in the backstrap, not just the barrel marking.

[Jonathank1982]

Hello

Just picked up a nice model 36 2 in. Serial number is j271xx
Could you please tell me her age.

Thanks!!

[Radagast]

Jonathank1982: 1969-1970.

[SC Hunter]

I just acquired a .38 Smith & Wesson pistol that was my grandfather's. Can you please help with information about the pistol. Thanks.

Model: 38 S. & W. SPECIAL CTG
S/N: C 341xxx

Thanks for your help!!

SC Hunter

PS - Any idea on value?

[carguychris]

Model: 38 S. & W. SPECIAL CTG
S/N: C 341xxx

It's a .38 Military & Police built in the 1956-1957 timeframe. It was produced right around the time when S&W began their modern model numbering system, at which point this gun became the Model 10. It may have a model number stamped inside the yoke (the part of the frame that's visible when the cylinder is swung out); it should say MOD. 10.

PS - Any idea on value?

Value is highly dependent on condition. The .38 M&P / Model 10 was a standard law enforcement gun for 3 generations and S&W's top seller for decades. Over 5 million of them have been produced, so not very many are considered unique and valuable. Several years ago, you could pick up a poor to good example in the $75-$200 range and a very good to excellent example from $250-$325, but the general increase in demand for handguns in the last 2 years or so has caused these prices to climb ~$100 across the board.

You can figure $150 for a barely functional beater to $450 in like-new condition complete with the original box, tool kit, and documents. Original nickel finish will add 5%-15%. Guns with the uncommon and carry-friendly 2" barrel command a 15%-20% premium, as do guns with a 5" or 6" barrel in conjunction with a round butt grip frame, which is an uncommon combination. Some collectors will pay extra for the somewhat less common 5" barrel, but this varies regionally.

[jqpublic]

Purchased my first Smith and Wesson, model 64-2 stainless steel, serial #ANT27XX. Date of manufacture would be appreciated.

[D.A.Clark]

What can you tell me about 52K 1330 ?
ty
Best Wishes
D.A.Clark

[carguychris]

What can you tell me about 52K 1330 ?

1979. Should be a Model 14-4, 15-4, 17-4, 18-4, or 19-4.

[D.A.Clark]

ty carguychris!

[Radagast]

jqpublic: Between January 1986 (AHC1687) & July 1987 (AVB8654).

[jqpublic]

This was my first post and I appreciate the reply from Radagast with the info I requested. You deserve a raise!

[Prodigalmike]

Today I traded for an older chrome of nickel? S&W 38 Victory V675XX with 4" Barrel Marked Smith & Wesson on one side of the Barrel and marked 38 S & W Spicial CTG on the other side of the Barrel. It does not have a S&W circle stamp in front of handle but it does say MADE IN USA on the right side just under the Barrel.
The Finish appears to be Chrome or Nickel. It is very shiny. Finish is not perfect but pretty good. A really nice peice. It has Bone handles that look like stag... random grooves with brown color in the grooves. The bone has turned yellow with age. It has the original sights as far as I can determine. The lanyard ring is still on it as well. I think it was made in the early 40's. not sure if I made a good trade? I traded an old boat that I was asking $350 for but would have taken a little less... My questions are? What round does it shoot and how much is it worth?

many great answers are on this thread and I was hoping someone could help?

Thanks!
I can send pics to someone if you want to see it?

[frolio]

this model 36 S&W has serial beginning with 2099xx. I would like to know what year it was born. hope you guys can help...?

[Radagast]

frolio: Sometime between 1957 (serial no.125000) & 1962 (serial no.295000).

[Radagast]

Prodigalmike:

Your gun was manufactured sometime between 1942 (serial no.V1) & September 1944 (serial no.769000).

The nickel finish was not standard on these guns, and there should be a S&W logo stamped on the side plate, so I would say your gun has been polished and refinished. Most of the refinished guns are nickeled, but chrome is also a possibility.

Caliber is .38 Special, also known as .38 S&W Special.

Value is not high as it is a refinished gun, and has no collectors value. If it shoots well then you have a gun you want vs a boat you didn't want, so that seems like a deal to me.

[pendennis]

Model 625-9, 4".

Serial Number DBU33XX.

Thanks in advance.

[Allsop]

I have a S&W 686. Serial # AAF6XXX

Any info would be appreciated. This bought this gun used and wasn't sure of the age/history. I also wanted to know if an older model 686 is capable of shooting the .38 S&W Special +P calibers?

[Radagast]

Allsop: AAF6xxx dates it to around October 1982, the Standard Catalog of S&W records AAF9000 in that month. There is a recall for all 686 & 686-1 guns, some of them experienced primer flow back around the firing pin, locking up the gun. Recalled guns were fitted with a new firing pin and firing pin bushing to prevent this. If there is no M stamped after 'model 686' under the crane, then the gun is still subject to recall. S&W will pay shipping both ways. The 686 series is fine to use with .38 Long Colt, .38 S&W Special, .38 S&W Special PlusP & .357 magnum loads. the only rounds that should not be used are reloads designated for Ruger Only.