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Old October 20, 2010, 12:07 PM   #3501
memememe
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thanks alot Jim!
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Old October 20, 2010, 05:55 PM   #3502
jtwd
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year of manufacture

Hello Everybody,

I just recently joined the forum (say, about 5 minutes ago). My dad recently handed down to me my grandpa's old snubnose .38 spl. I'm trying to find out when it was made. It's a .38S&W SPL, MOD 60. The serial number starts with an R. I checked the first page of this very involved posting, and I saw the posting that Tuzo wrote in teh S&W model number nomenclature posting, and I didn't see any with an "R". Any help?
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Old October 20, 2010, 07:52 PM   #3503
laytonj1
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Quote:
The serial number starts with an R.
R prefix serial numbers ran from 1969 to 1983.
To get any closer I need more of the SN. If you don't want to post the SN then X out the last two digits (example: R123XX).

Jim
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Old October 21, 2010, 12:31 AM   #3504
jtwd
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year of mfg

Jim,

The serial number starts out as R210xx. Thanks a bunch for the help.

~Jt
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Old October 21, 2010, 11:12 AM   #3505
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jtwd - I'm not Jim, but I can help you with that serial number. Your revolver dates from 1969. The range of serial numbers that year ran from R001 to R30000.
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Old October 21, 2010, 11:28 AM   #3506
bdref
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I'm another sent by google to kindly request a little information.
My brother left me a S&W model 36 .38 spl serial number j895xxx. I'd like to know how old it is and what it's worth as several people have inquired about purchasing it but I have no idea of it's worth. It's in extremely good condition, it's been fired a few times but never carried.

Hopefully I've successfully attached a decent picture here.
Thank you in advance for whatever information or suggestions you can offer.

Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; November 30, 2013 at 11:47 AM.
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Old October 21, 2010, 06:35 PM   #3507
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bdref - According to the serial number, your Model 36 dates from 1981 (the range that year was J760001 to J915400), but it also clearly does not have the pinned barrel feature that was supposedly not dropped until 1982. These little anomalies aren't unusual and any of these dates should be regarded as approximations.

The Model 36 is one of S&Ws more common revolvers, which holds prices down even for examples in excellent condition, as yours is. I would estimate a value in the area of about $400.
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Old October 21, 2010, 08:15 PM   #3508
jtwd
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thanks

thanks FlyFish! I figured it's fairly old, at least 30 to 40 years or so. It looks like it's been carried often, and it's leather holster looks cutsom molded, though it's just from age, I believe..
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Old October 21, 2010, 09:13 PM   #3509
Firearm1296
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I'm a longtime shotgun owner, but just recently purchased my first handgun. Can you please tell how old my S&W .357 M13-4 BRA9XXX is?

Thanks in advance.
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Old October 21, 2010, 09:16 PM   #3510
FlyFish
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Quote:
Can you please tell how old my S&W .357 M13-4 BRA9XXX is?
The BRA prefix was used in 1994.
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Old October 22, 2010, 12:11 AM   #3511
bdref
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Thanks FlyFish, that was very helpful info.

Heh, now that the subject of selling it has come up the wife tells me she wants to keep it.
Not sure if that makes me feel more, or less, secure.

Thanks again for the help.
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Old October 23, 2010, 03:10 PM   #3512
ThorOdinson
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Dirty Harry Special

I found a Model 29 at a hock shop that looks similar to Eastwood's prop .44 mag (that will blow your head clean off). Don't have access to Smith's book (yet) but the serial number is S2173XX. Think it was made in the late 60's or early 70's?? Well, do ya punk? Thanks

Is the S&W book something a library might have?? Thor
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Old October 24, 2010, 06:04 AM   #3513
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Thor, son of Odin - 1960 (starting SN S207000) to 1961 (ending SN S219999), so more likely '61.

Don't know about your local library, but around here I would guess no hardcopy in the library, but readily available via interlibrary loan.
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Old October 24, 2010, 10:54 AM   #3514
84cj
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I have one for you if you don't mind, S&W Victory .38 v 704XXX

Thank you VERY much.

Last edited by 84cj; October 24, 2010 at 04:33 PM.
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Old October 24, 2010, 03:57 PM   #3515
laytonj1
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Quote:
S&W Victory .38 v 704310
V1 to V769000 ran from 1942 to Dec 1944. So, yours is likely a 1944 vintage.

Jim
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Old October 24, 2010, 07:50 PM   #3516
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I have what I believe is a 1926 3rd model serial number 342xx. I would like to know when it was made.

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Old October 25, 2010, 08:28 AM   #3517
FlyFish
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Hawg - Is it a .38 Special? It would be a lot easier to figure this out for you if you could post the caliber.
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Old October 25, 2010, 08:35 PM   #3518
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Sorry, my bad. It's a .44 spcl.
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Old October 25, 2010, 08:44 PM   #3519
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Ah! - OK. That serial number would make it 1930; the range that year was 34000 to 35999. And you're correct that it's a 3rd Model due to the shrouded extractor, even though 2nd Models were produced at the same time using the same serial number series.
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Old October 26, 2010, 11:00 AM   #3520
danman40391
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38special smith and wesson

no model number only number on gun is 8980. its a nickel plated 38 special snub nose. i found this pistol at a yard sale over the weekend i got it dirt cheap . it was covered in dirt and grime took it home and cleaned it up and its very nice need to be replated

Last edited by danman40391; October 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM. Reason: adding more info
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Old October 26, 2010, 05:58 PM   #3521
laytonj1
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Quote:
no model number only number on gun is 8980.
Did you get that number from here:

The underside of the grip butt is the primary serial number location for a S&W revolver.

Jim
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Old October 26, 2010, 06:16 PM   #3522
danman40391
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Did you get that number from here:

yes it came from the butt , there is no letters before or after though
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Old October 26, 2010, 06:30 PM   #3523
laytonj1
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Quote:
yes it came from the butt , there is no letters before or after though
S&W reused the same serial numbers on their earlier guns so to date it I need to figure out what model you have.
You said it's chambered in .38 Special (not .38 S&W). Is it a 5 shot or 6?

Jim

Last edited by laytonj1; October 26, 2010 at 07:10 PM.
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Old October 26, 2010, 07:25 PM   #3524
danman40391
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You said it's chambered in .38 Special (not .38 S&W). Is it a 5 shot or 6?

yes chambered 38, s&w spl. on the barrel its a 5 shot . i dont know alot about it the guy i got it from said it belonged to his grand father if it helps the side plate has 3 screws .barrel maybe a little over an inch

Last edited by danman40391; October 26, 2010 at 07:40 PM. Reason: barrel length
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Old October 26, 2010, 08:39 PM   #3525
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Thanks FlyFish.
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