NEED HELP with a serial number search!

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ButterflyBowHunter

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I have a question about a .357 magnum Smith & Wesson six shot revolver, believed to be a very old Stag handled state trooper issued weapon. It was found in a barn that had been abandoned for many, many years. In fact the barn was being torn down due to new construction. The number stamped on the breach is 710**. I could use all the help I can get to find the history of this weapon. Any ideas or comments are welcome! The gun is pitted so bad it is hard to read any more numbers on it. It has a plunger reload, a 3 or 8 on the butt but can not read anything else. It has a faded insignia on the right side just above the stock. I need all the info I can get. Thank you in advance!
 
I don't know what you mean by "breach" but a number on a Smith & Wesson on the frame where concealed by the cylinder yoke is a fitting number and has no meaning after the gun is completed and serial numbered. The actual serial number is on the bottom of the butt, and for older guns on the bottom of the barrel and the rear of the cylinder.
 
The faded insignia is probably the S&W trademark.

If the gun is so badly rusted that only one digit of the serial number can be read, I doubt there is much hope of restoring it to a usable gun. Further, there is an off chance that it was a crime weapon, so it might be better to turn it over to the police. If nothing comes up on it, you might get it back, but I am not sure what good it would do you in that kind of shape.

Jim
 
If by the breach you mean on the rear face of the cylinder, then you probably have a .357 Magnum Transitional Postwar or a .357 magnum Pre Model 27.
If a transitional model then even if heavily rusted it may still be worth something to a collector - high condition guns can be worth up to $10,000.

S&W used to duplicate the serial number in several locations, including the back of the cylinder and underside of the barrel.

The serial number would have been S71xxxx, the S may be what you are reading as an 8 or 3.

Post pics for a positive ID. Be aware that of the serial number has been ground off the butt then the gun is contraband under federal law. So if you think this is the case don't post pics. :)
 
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