Smith and Wesson serial number search

[coastie722]

IF the whole SN is 520XXX and it does not have a letter prefix (K,D,V or C),
then it's a 38 Military & Police 4th Change made around 1930, give or take a few years.

Jim

Thanks Jim, that would be about right, there is no prefix with the number. The pistol had belonged to my great uncle who had been a police/detective between 1924 - 34 and was on the pistol team.

[Armyphotog]

Hi! This is my first post. I am thinking about purchasing a Model 586 L Frame just to see what is supposed to be the answer to the M19 "weaknesses". The S&W catalog has been no help with this number other than to tell me when they started. It's number AAL5978. Any idea when it was manufactured? The crane only has Model 586 with no dash number for modifications, although I can't believe it's that early. Thanks, in advance.

[FlyFish]

Armyphotog: The AAL sn prefix would correspond to 1982, and that would be correct for a "no dash" 586 - they were introduced in 1981 and the 586-1 came out in 1986. If there is no "M" stamped in the crane area, the gun has not been sent back to S&W for the recall of no-dash and -1 586s. The original design of the firing pin and bushing allowed the cylinder to bind under certain conditions and loads. I believe the guns can still be returned for the modification that will correct the problem at no cost to the owner - may not be important for a range gun, but if you plan to carry it I would strongly recommend that you send it back.

[mdeville]

My father in law showed me an old 38. special that they have had in there family for years. I am wondering what if anything someone can tell me about it its a 38 S&W special us service ctg's revolver SN apears to be 1444X. aperas to have a long bearl on it was well.

[Deans]

I have a M60 Chief's Special .38 Spcl R514XX and a M66 4K507XX

Can you tell me the year of these two.

Thanks Deans

[laytonj1]

My father in law showed me an old 38. special that they have had in there family for years. I am wondering what if anything someone can tell me about it its a 38 S&W special us service ctg's revolver SN apears to be 1444X. aperas to have a long bearl on it was well.

Assuming you took the serial number from the underside of the frames grip butt, that would date it as a .38 Military & Police 1st Model. Serial numbers ran from 1 in 1899 to 20975 in 1902.
I'm not sure what you mean by a long bearl.

I have a M60 Chief's Special .38 Spcl R514XX and a M66 4K507XX

For the model 60, SN's ran from R30001 in 1970 to R99999 in 1973.
4K507XX = 1973.

Jim

[calgary]

Can someone give me the year of manufacture for a Model 10-5 with Serial number D310xxx?
Thanks!

[FlyFish]

Can someone give me the year of manufacture for a Model 10-5 with Serial number D310xxx?

1970

[mdeville]

Quote:
My father in law showed me an old 38. special that they have had in there family for years. I am wondering what if anything someone can tell me about it its a 38 S&W special us service ctg's revolver SN apears to be 1444X. aperas to have a long bearl on it was well.

Assuming you took the serial number from the underside of the frames grip butt, that would date it as a .38 Military & Police 1st Model. Serial numbers ran from 1 in 1899 to 20975 in 1902.
I'm not sure what you mean by a long bearl.


Quote:
I have a M60 Chief's Special .38 Spcl R514XX and a M66 4K507XX

For the model 60, SN's ran from R30001 in 1970 to R99999 in 1973.
4K507XX = 1973.


If this hand gun was from 1902 how much do you think it would be worth?

[smt57]

I, also must ask about the date of an old Mod. 36 S&W.
model# is not in the yoke. serial number is 21xxx.
5 screw. there is a "L" in the yoke and also a very small
"c" or "o" and an unreadable 5 digit very small number in the yoke.
would appreciate any info.
Thanks

[gusgun]

I would appreciate help dating my grandfathers s& w that he carried on the railroad. I is a 38 special ctg serial # B 480XXX When you open the cylinder there 36387 stamped on the frame. On top of the barrel is has s & w springfield Mass usa and on the second line it has patented Feb 8 08, sept 14 09, dec 29 14 I appreciate any input Its the only s& w I have. My carry is a kimber otherwise i would buy the book thanks in advance and I'm sorry if I hijacked a thread

[laytonj1]

If this hand gun was from 1902 how much do you think it would be worth?

There's allot of factors with a gun that age such as mechanical condition, original finish remaining, certain factory options (such as target sights) and original matching parts.

The SCSW list the value for it, in 2006, as being:

$375 in good. $500 in very good. $700 in excellent. $1200 in excellent +. And $2k in as new in box.

The conditions are NRA ratings for guns made from 1890 to 1920.
The values should just be used as a general guide, though I would guess the prices to be higher now as the original M&P's are quite desirable.

date of an old Mod. 36 S&W.
model# is not in the yoke. serial number is 21xxx.
5 screw.

It's a Chiefs Special, which became the model 36 around 1957 when S&W began stamping model numbers.
Serial numbers in 1952 ended at 21342.

It is a 38 special ctg serial # B 480XXX When you open the cylinder there 36387 stamped on the frame. On top of the barrel is has s & w springfield Mass usa and on the second line it has patented Feb 8 08, sept 14 09, dec 29 14

Hmmm, S&W didn't start using the letter prefixes till WWII (and they didn't use a "B"). That said, and based on there being patent dates, serial number 480XXX would be a 38 Military & Police 4th Change made in the 1920's.

Jim

[tenring_x]

I recently purchased a 686-1 serial number AUW06XX, I would like to know the approximate age of this firearm. It shows more wear then my 686-6 does on the frame at the back of the cylinder. My 686-6 has 7000 rounds through it. I've also noticed it has half of the land grooves of my 686-6. Also the grips are held on with a screw through the side of grips. It also has a permanent mounted front sight, which I was planning on putting either a Tru-Glo sight on the weapon or Night Sights for carrying purposes. If that can not be done then I would like to change the Orange Insert to a newer one, for visibility. Thank you for your time and patience.

[skeeterbait]

After reading over a lot of the post on this thread I'm about scared to ask this question. I promise this will be my one and only question on here.

My father in law gave to us an older .38 special pistol. Beautiful thing, pearl handle and all. But I'm wondering just how old it is. Husband said that he can remember seeing it when he was a kid, (now 58) so he has no idea when or where his father got it.

The serial number on the butt is C 271***. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time and effort.

[laytonj1]

I recently purchased a 686-1 serial number AUW06XX

AUW06XX = 1986/87.
The permanent front sight blade can be milled off and either a slot milled into the base and new sight pinned in or a dovetail cut made in the base to accept dovetailed front sights. Both should be an easy job for a gunsmith.

I'm about scared to ask this question. I promise this will be my one and only question on here.
The serial number on the butt is C 271***.

No problem, ask all the questions you want. That's what this forum is for.

C271XXX = 1953.
It's a .38 Military & Police (postwar). This later became known as the model 10 when S&W began stamping model numbers on their guns around 1957.

Jim

[tenring_x]

Jim, thank you for your quick response, I really appreciate it.

[jjj357]

Hi everybody
my grandfather left a S&W 357 Magnum Mod. 66-2 in what is supposed to be the original box.
On the box label is printed the Serial Number "AWY50xx", while on the frame and on the inside part of the cilinder it is written the number "B14 576xx".
Does this make any sense to anybody?
Or does this mean it is not the original box?

Supposing the Serial number is "AWY50xx", can someone tell the year of manufacture?

Thanks for the answers.

[laytonj1]

Supposing the Serial number is "AWY50xx", can someone tell the year of manufacture?

The serial number AWY50XX dates it to 1987. But, the SCSW shows the -2 variations ending in 1986. Although S&W would continue to use the older parts till they ran out.
Since you have the original box, if you look for the words "Spec Ord" on the box label. There will be four digits under it. The first digit is the year it shipped (6 = 1986, 7 = 1987, etc.). The next three digits are the Julian day of the year it shipped (152 = Jun 1st, 359 = Dec 25, etc.).
The other numbers stamped on the frame are assembly numbers.

Jim

[jjj357]

laytonj1 - thanks for the answer

any idea about the different serial numbers on box and on frame?
Is there a sort of corresponding code chart in s&w revolver as far as you know?

[invader]

Good morning,

My boss came to me with an older revolver she wanted me to clean and spruce up. But, upon further looking, I left it alone. I think we have it narrowed down to an early 1960s J frame 31-1, but we're looking for a little more background information. She said it's been in the family for a while.

Model 31-1, blue
Square butt
.32 S&W Long
3" barrel
older hammer w/ hole and mounted riveted firing pin
No data on OEM grips, as this has a Pach set on it. She's still looking for the originals.
S/N H105XXX

Also, of note, are 2 other sets of numbers.
The one from the drop arm reads 78011, then has a G18 overstamped/stamped at the end.
The one from the side of the grip (left side) reads G1878011.
The "78011" for each set is a smaller deeper typeface, and the G18 is a lighter larger typeface. The G18 is just in 2 different positions depending on where it's stamped.

Thanks in advance

[FlyFish]

invader:

Your (her, I guess) 31-1 was manufactured in the 1975 (starting at SN H100001) to 1980 (ending at SN 139900) period. You can interpolate between those dates and numbers to get an approximate year. Prior to S&W assigning model numbers to their revolvers (i.e., prior to 1957) the Model 31 was known as the .32 Regulation Police. The other numbers you mentioned are referred to as "assembly numbers" and are used during the manufacturing process to keep track of fitted parts - they have no other significance.

The correct grips for the gun would be J-frame Magnas without the raised diamond around the screw escutcheon - these are commonly available on eBay, the S&W Forum, or in the classifieds here and are not especially expensive.

[invader]

Thanks for getting back to me, I appreciate the information.

[laytonj1]

any idea about the different serial numbers on box and on frame?
Is there a sort of corresponding code chart in s&w revolver as far as you know?

jjj357,

I screwed up.
After rereading your post I see you said the SN AWY50XX is on the box.
Take the serial number for the gun from the underside of the grip frame (see pic).
The "B14 576xx" is an assembly number.

Jim

[jjj357]

laytonj1: thank you
I found it
the rubber grip covered it and I was misled by this: page 13 of S&W Instruction Manual for revolvers

[laytonj1]

I was misled by this: page 13 of S&W Instruction Manual for revolvers

Yeah, I understand. The problem is that's an additional location and S&W doesn't always use it, sometimes stamping assembly numbers there instead.
Over the years S&W has stamped the serial numbers in many different locations, the grip butt being the only constant.
With one exception (regulation police models), the serial number for S&W revolvers will always be found on the underside of the grip butt.

Jim