Smith and Wesson serial number search

I believe that is what is called a "New Model #1" c. 1868-1870 or such. A better photo and S/N would help date and ID it better.

Besides the cylinder, it also looks like it's missing the trigger assembly. I think what you have is a firearm frame with gutta-percha grips, not really a "gun."
 
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Can I get a BOD for my M17?

K3604xx 17 no dash six in barreled 22LR. Wide spur and trigger.
Thanks for the info.
 
S&W 65-6 Serial Number

You guys must get tired of answering S&W serial number questions.

I have a S&W 65-6 Serial Number CER71XX. Can anyone tell when it was manufactured ?


Thanks
 
38/44 Heavy Duty

Hello if someone could give me a date of manufacture on my S&W 38/44 serial # S654xx I would be thankful.
 
Thank you very much

Its a 38/44 5 inch barrel, blued, fixed sites, in about 75% condition due to holster wear, the gun was a Vancouver, WA Police Dept. Issued handgun the officer I recieved it from retired in the early 70's after 25 years. I am looking for a magnum revolver single or double action or possibly a 45LC Ruger to trade for it but I have no idea what its worth. No pics as of now but will have some soon. Thanks
 
Help with S/N on S&W 38 spl

Hi - My father passed away in 1969 and I've had his S&W .38 spl nickel plated handgun with mother of pearl grips and lemon squeeze safety in storage until this weekend when i decided to take it out and see if it still shoots. After a good cleaning, i was really pleased with the response on the range. The s/n on the butt of the grip is a 4 digit number (79XX) and i've exhausted internet resources just trying to find out approximately when it was manufactured.

Before i invest the money with the letter of authenticity offered directly by S&W, can anyone give me some indication of the age of this weapon and whether the grips were an original offering?

thanks
 
Thanks for your response! It looks more like the first one (it has a really short barrel) but the grip is like the 2nd one.

Again - i really appreciate your help on this. Since i had my best day at the range ever after shooting my dad's gun, i jokingly said maybe he was finally happy with me!
 
Thanks for your response! It looks more like the first one (it has a really short barrel) but the grip is like the 2nd one.
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Okay, sounds like you have a "J" frame Centennial (model 40). The Standard Catalog of S&W only list the serial numbers as 1 thru 30160 from 1952 till 1971.
To narrow it any further (short of getting the letter from S&W) you'll need to look for clues on the gun itself.

1. On the right side of the gun, there are screws holding in the side plate. If there are 4 of them then it was made 1952 - 1955. If only 3 screws then 1955 on. The one that was eliminated was up near the hammer.

2. In 1957 S&W started stamping the model numbers on the forward inside of the frame behind the yoke assembly. It's only visable when the cylinder is opened. If yours has "MOD 40" stamped there then it was made from 1957 on. If not then prior to 1957. There are usually some assembly numbers stamped there as well the serial number on later guns.

3. In 1966 S&W changed from the flat thumbpiece (to release the cylinder) to a more rounded one.
The model 36 in this picture has a flat thumbpiece (also called a "flat latch").
DSCN0530.jpg
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4. In 1968 the diamond shape in the center on the wood grips was eliminated. Of course, that doesn't apply to your pearl grips.

5. In 1971 the serial numbers received a 'L' prefix and in 1974 the Model 40 (Centennial) was discontinued. However, S&W has recently started producing them again.

Hope this helps,
Jim
 
Jim

Thank you for sharing your knowledge on this gun with me and I am now going to absolutely get the letter from S&W. I left the gun at the gunsmith to have the heavy spring replaced with a lighter gauge as i was finding i tended to shoot high with the heavy trigger pull and after firing it, decided if i lessened the pull, i might be a bit more accurate (and I would have a rather fashionable carry piece!)...I will check the screws and other identifying marks when i get it back.

My dad served in Korea until 1952 and with 4 digit sn/, i would like to think he got this when he got back...in any event, you've answered the important questions and i truly appreciate it.

take care and thanks again~Barbara
 
My Great-Grandmother's Very Old S&W 32

I recently inherited my great-grandmother's Smith & Wesson .32 caliber pistol from my father. He is 72 years old, and he inherited it when he was a teenager. He has never shot it. I'm sure it has very little monetary value, but it is the most valuable gun in my collection. I'm a 44 year old mom and feel honored to be the caretaker of her gun.

From what my father said, my great-grandmother carried it all the time, and she was quite a good shot. From the wear pattern, I think she was left-handed (Like me!). The handle is very worn and has very little of the "criss-cross" pattern left.

If anyone can help, I would love to know the approximate date that it was manufactured. It has a 4 digit serial number, 897x, on the bottom of the handle. The 5 1/2" long barrell is marked "32 long ctg." I can find no other markings. It is a 6-shot.

Any other info or insight that you may have would be wonderful.

Can't you just see the old lady with this in her apron pocket?

Thanks for the help.
 
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I recently inherited my great-grandmother's Smith & Wesson .32 caliber pistol from my father... If anyone can help, I would love to know the approximate date that it was manufactured. It has a 4 digit serial number, 897x, on the bottom of the handle. The 5 1/2" long barrell is marked "32 long ctg." I can find no other markings. It is a 6-shot.
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Your revolver is a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903, sometimes known as a .32 Hand Ejector 2nd Model. According to the serial number range, your gun was made in 1903 or 1904.

That's a neat revolver with a neat story! You might want to contact S&w and get a factory letter. It might add some more details to the gun's story:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...catalogId=10001&content=25301&sectionId=10504

Also, I think you may have measured the barrel length incorrectly. The Model of 1903 was available with a 3-1/2", 4-1/4", or 6" barrel. Yours looks too short to be the 6" barrel; it looks to me like the 4-1/4", which seems to be the most commonplace length for old .32HEs. The barrel length is measured from the end of the barrel to the front face of the cylinder (the revolving part).
 
help needed.

Hi all.

My father in law just gave me a couple of old guns from his collection. Among them was this neat lil old pistol that I'd love to know more about. Its a five shot and appears to be a .38 (although standard .38 rounds are too long to fit it). It has matching serno's on the handle & barrel: 59195

Any insight into this weapons history would be appreciated!


0905081948.jpg
 
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