Smith and Wesson serial number search

Thanks for the quick response Flyfish! Going to call my dad and let him know, he's the current owner since I borrowed some cash from him a while back:rolleyes:
 
help on date of manufacture please

Have an old 38 revolver, serial number 377xxx, and called S&W to obtain date of manufacture; however, guy said their computer did not reach back that far, but he guessed it to be pre-WWII, possibly 1920s or 1930s. Anybody know how to find the date of manufacture? OK to shoot standard .38 specials, but no +p? Thanks.
 
sandw3844: Odds are it's a pre-war .38 Special Hand Ejector Military & Police (M&P), but please confirm that it's a swing-out cylinder, 6-shot, and .38 Special (vs. .38 S&W). Also would be good to know fixed vs. adjustable sights and barrel length.
 
S&W date of manufacture

Thanks for your response.

It is a .38 special, with a swing out cyclinder, 6 shot, fixed sights, and a 5" barrel.

The grip panels look like walnut, with an elongated diamond raised area inside a panel with checkering, with the grip screws going through the middle of the raised diamonds. They also have a metal looking, goldish colored, 3/8" diameter S&W emblem embedded in the top area of each grip panel above the checkered panel.

Thanks again for your help!
 
Can anyone look up a 25-5 45LC serial number BAR2xxx and tell me it's birthdate? Also, any other info you can share, such as approximate value, ammo type that's safe to shoot, etc.?

This would be my first 'big' revolver, and my first S&W, so I'm wanting to find out all I can. A friend has it (used but in LNIB condition), no box, for $650.00
 
Greg: That 25-5 was produced in 1988. The -5 was introduced in 1978 and was the first standard production Model 25 variation in .45 Colt - prior to that the M25 was .45 ACP except for a couple of special runs in .45 Colt.

As you probably know, factory .45 loads are held to comparatively mild pressures because of the number of older guns out there and the N-frame Smith can handle more - how much more, I'm not the right person to say. I have a 25-5 from 1980 in .45 Colt and I keep my handloads within factory specs figuring that if I need a more invigorating experience at the range I'll shoot one of the .44 Mags or whatever - but that's just me.

That $650 price strikes me as a pretty good deal for the condition you describe - it certainly would be around here, but our draconian gun laws tend to drive prices up for certain guns.
 
Smith and Wesson revolver manufacture date request and questions

I have an old .38 special Smith and Wesson revolver, with a swing out cylinder, 6 shot, fixed sights, 5" barrel, bearing serial number 377xxx. The grip panels look like walnut, with an elongated diamond raised area inside a panel with checkering, with the grip screws going through the middle of the raised diamonds. The grips also have a metal looking, goldish colored, 3/8" diameter S&W emblem embedded in the top area of each grip panel above the checkered panel.

I called S&W to obtain the date of manufacture; however, their guy said their computer did not reach back that far, but he guessed it to be pre-WWII, possibly 1920s or 1930s.

Can anybody provide me with the approximate date of manufacture?

Does it have enough collector value to not re-blue, etc.? (I realize that its value depends on its condition to a large degree, and this one has some rough spots, some missing bluing, some minor rust pits here and there, etc. - if it is just a shooter, then I may clean it up a little bit with some new finish, etc.)

Is it OK to shoot modern, factory loaded standard .38 special loads, but no +p stuff?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.
 
Hello I would like to know the year of manufacture of a S&W model 1950 SN1466**
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There should be a "S" prefix with that SN, it may be a few spaces ahead of the numbers. Serial numbers ran from S140000 in 1955 to S149999 in 1956.

I have an old .38 special Smith and Wesson revolver, with a swing out cylinder, 6 shot, fixed sights, 5" barrel, bearing serial number 377xxx.
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You have a .38 Military & Police 4th Change. Serial numbers ran from 241704 in 1915 to 999999 in 1942.
It would likely date to the 1920's. A letter from the S&W historian would show the date shipped. Yours was after S&W started heat treating so it be okay to shoot standard/modern .38 special ammo in it, no +P.
Value in the condition you described would be low so there would be no real loss refinishing/fixing it up.

Jim
 
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thank you! Im going to an auction tomorrow and Im thinking about it. would anyone mind sharing what the value/what you would pay for a s&w model 1950 nickel 95%+
 
Thanks for Smith and Wesson revolver manufacture date request and answers

laytonj1: Thank you very much for your information yesterday! Probably will clean it up a bit and just shoot it - it does have a nice trigger!

FlyFish: Thanks again for the information that you earlier provided as well!
 
I have a Smith and Wesson model 60 serial begins with R214xxx, any help identifying the time period in which it was manufactured would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'm don't know much about handguns, I'm more of a rifleman. :o I recently acquired (from grandpa) a S&W .38 Special Model 10 (not sure the revision) revolver. Serial #C961xxx. Could someone give me some information on this gun? Thanks.
 
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Smith and Wesson model 60 serial begins with R214xxx
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Serial numbers ran from R190001 in 1977 to R 220000 in 1978.

I recently acquired (from grandpa) a S&W .38 Special Model 10 (not sure the revision) revolver. Serial #C961xxx.
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Serial numbers ran from C810533 in 1966 to C999999 in 1967.
Yours would be a 10-5.

Jim
 
Date of Smith and Wesson Revolver

Requesting some help again in identifying a chromed Smith and Wesson revolver.

A asked my friend to relook his revolver and tell me all the numbers on it in order to help identify when it was made.

Here is what he found after a second look:

Butt # V 457XXX

Back fo the grip WB-LP-1524

Frame# 6684 cylinder # 6684S

The S&W logo is clearly stamped on the side, so I know it's authentic.

Any ideas on what year it is from?

Thanks for your assistance!

Very respectfully,
Westenhoffer
 
Greg: That 25-5 was produced in 1988. The -5 was introduced in 1978 and was the first standard production Model 25 variation in .45 Colt - prior to that the M25 was .45 ACP except for a couple of special runs in .45 Colt.

As you probably know, factory .45 loads are held to comparatively mild pressures because of the number of older guns out there and the N-frame Smith can handle more - how much more, I'm not the right person to say. I have a 25-5 from 1980 in .45 Colt and I keep my handloads within factory specs figuring that if I need a more invigorating experience at the range I'll shoot one of the .44 Mags or whatever - but that's just me.

That $650 price strikes me as a pretty good deal for the condition you describe - it certainly would be around here, but our draconian gun laws tend to drive prices up for certain guns.
Click to expand...

Thank you FlyFish! I'm picking it up today!
 
Hi, I just picked up a Model 36 today in very nice condition. Serial number on but of gun is 368J76. Any info on year of manufacture is appreciated!
 
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