How can I gauge the age of my Astra revolver?

[Pond James Pond]

I found the following site recently: Astra Firearm Date Codes.

I wanted to see when my Astra 680 was made. I only know that production ended in 1996. I don't know when it began.

My serial number starts with an R. According to the code page it could be from '47 (R), '73 (R1), and '99 (R2).

My next digit in the serial number is 4. So the first two are R4. That is not listed on the linked page, yet I can't imagine it was from 1947!!

So are there any other ways to tell?

 

[lee n. field]

---delete---

 

[Jim Watson]

From what I have been able to look up, the Spanish date code is a separate stamp, not a prefix to the serial number.

Look in amongst the other proof marks and even under the grips.

One source I found says it came out in 1981.

 

[Venom1956]

If u cut it in half you can count the rings.

 

[Pond James Pond]

If u cut it in half you can count the rings.

Tried that already: how do you think I ended up with a snub?