Smith and Wesson serial number search
- Thread starter Driveout02
- Start date
thekevin: I think you've got an extra "X" in that serial number - assuming that to be the case, the CFV prefix corresponds to 2003. As a -8, your 625 should be chambered for .45 ACP, in which case any +p ammo should be fine (not sure that it's a good cartridge for what you're planning to hunt, however).
SCSW notes that there's a bit of confusion regarding which calibers certain 625 variations are chambered for, so it's possible (I think) that you have a .45 Colt, in which case the +p story gets a bit more complicated. To the best of my knowledge, unlike many cartridges, there is no SAAMI pressure standard for .45 Colt +p. That gives manufacturers carte blanche to do pretty much whatever they or their lawyers think they can get away with. I have no doubt that a 625 can handle some .45 Colt +p loads, and similarly have no doubt that some of them (thinking here of the Cor-Bon so-called .45 Colt "Magnum" loads intended for Rugers and the like) would be risky. If it were my gun, I wouldn't do it - but I tend to be conservative when it comes to the potential for losing body parts.
Mige: 1963
SCSW notes that there's a bit of confusion regarding which calibers certain 625 variations are chambered for, so it's possible (I think) that you have a .45 Colt, in which case the +p story gets a bit more complicated. To the best of my knowledge, unlike many cartridges, there is no SAAMI pressure standard for .45 Colt +p. That gives manufacturers carte blanche to do pretty much whatever they or their lawyers think they can get away with. I have no doubt that a 625 can handle some .45 Colt +p loads, and similarly have no doubt that some of them (thinking here of the Cor-Bon so-called .45 Colt "Magnum" loads intended for Rugers and the like) would be risky. If it were my gun, I wouldn't do it - but I tend to be conservative when it comes to the potential for losing body parts.
Mige: 1963
Hi Mige - I failed to notice where you were posting from when I replied originally. Welcome to the forum. What model S&W do you have? Could you tell us a little bit about gun laws in Sweden and the hoops (I assume) you need to jump through to own a handgun?
ETA:
Colt Forum is here: http://coltforum.com/
S&W Forum here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/
SIG Forum: http://www.sigforum.com/
I think with a bit of Googling you could likely find a dedicated forum for just about any major firearms manufacturer.
ETA:
Colt Forum is here: http://coltforum.com/
S&W Forum here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/
SIG Forum: http://www.sigforum.com/
I think with a bit of Googling you could likely find a dedicated forum for just about any major firearms manufacturer.
gallowaystx
Inactive
Hello gentlemen - I just bought my first firearm and it's a model 60 pin barrel 38. I was wondering if you would be kind enough to date it for me as i can't justify buying the book for my one and only pistol.
the serial number is R - 3XXX (only 4 digits) S&W Model 60
the serial number is R - 3XXX (only 4 digits) S&W Model 60
The "R" prefix is one of the more uncommon on S&W revolvers - it was used only for the Models 60 and 651 (doesn't add anything to the value, just a point of interest). Your R3XXX number indicates the gun dates from 1969, the first year the R prefix was used. The range that year was from R1 to R3000.
Hi FlyFish,
and Thank You!
I got one .22 (M17) and one .38 (M14) S&W revolver. Both have 6" barrels.
In Sweden You have to join a shooting club and take a "class" (10x 3 hours).
Lots of shooting, reading laws and most important - SAFETY, SAFETY!
The education is like the green card for golf. That´s the first step, then You have to be a "active" member for at least 6 months to get Your first license (for .22 caliber gun). If You are approved by the Police of course. You should not have any record at the Police for violence etc. After 6 more months You can file for the larger caliber guns. That is if You can proove that You are active in the club helping at contests, help cleaning the club houses and that You join shooting contests and practice hours. It´s the board of the shooting club who approves and send information to the police.
Sooooo, it´s a long way to get a gun in Sweden - not so easy as in US.
I just got my license for .32 Hämmerli pistol, 9mm. CZ pistol, .38 3" Colt revolver and a .38 6" S&W revolver (I got a .22 Pardini pistol and a S&W .22 6" revolver since April this year). I joined my club a year ago, so now I can practice "for real"
My club has several guns in different calibers that members could borrow, but just at practice hours. You are not supposed to have guns or ammo at home when You don´t have any license. You can´t even have ammo like .38 at home when You don´t have a license for a .38 gun (silly).
It´s not the same to borrow a gun then to have Your own
and Thank You!
I got one .22 (M17) and one .38 (M14) S&W revolver. Both have 6" barrels.
In Sweden You have to join a shooting club and take a "class" (10x 3 hours).
Lots of shooting, reading laws and most important - SAFETY, SAFETY!
The education is like the green card for golf. That´s the first step, then You have to be a "active" member for at least 6 months to get Your first license (for .22 caliber gun). If You are approved by the Police of course. You should not have any record at the Police for violence etc. After 6 more months You can file for the larger caliber guns. That is if You can proove that You are active in the club helping at contests, help cleaning the club houses and that You join shooting contests and practice hours. It´s the board of the shooting club who approves and send information to the police.
Sooooo, it´s a long way to get a gun in Sweden - not so easy as in US.
I just got my license for .32 Hämmerli pistol, 9mm. CZ pistol, .38 3" Colt revolver and a .38 6" S&W revolver (I got a .22 Pardini pistol and a S&W .22 6" revolver since April this year). I joined my club a year ago, so now I can practice "for real"
My club has several guns in different calibers that members could borrow, but just at practice hours. You are not supposed to have guns or ammo at home when You don´t have any license. You can´t even have ammo like .38 at home when You don´t have a license for a .38 gun (silly).
It´s not the same to borrow a gun then to have Your own
Last edited:
gallowaystx
Inactive
Thanks so much flyfish - I appreciate that very much. I suspect I overpayed ($450) for the gun but I love it and preferred it to the newer airlights that were only slightly more expensive, it feels heftier.
If I understand correctly then the gun is a 1970 model because the serial is higher than 3000?
If I understand correctly then the gun is a 1970 model because the serial is higher than 3000?
Sorry, I misposted the number of zeroes in the SN range. 1969 would be correct; the ending SN that year was R30000 (R plus 5 numerical digits). As yours has only 4 numbers following the R, it would be 1969. Assuming the gun is in nice shape, you wouldn't have overpayed much, if at all, in this neck of the woods - prices for good used S&W revolvers are going through the roof.