Smith and Wesson serial number search

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?
 
The serial number starts with an R.
Click to expand...
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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.
 
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..
 
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.
 
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.:eek:

Thanks again for the help.
 
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
 
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.
 
I have what I believe is a 1926 3rd model serial number 342xx. I would like to know when it was made.

SW.jpg
 
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.
 
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
 
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