Smith and Wesson serial number search

S&W .38 ctg info

I have recently acquired a S&W .38 ctg 5 shot revolver. It seems to be very old and used but it is still in "decent" shape It has what could be wood or a plastic of some sort style grips they are worn making it hard to tell . The only markings i can seem to find are stamped on the sight rail on top of the barrel stating - Smith and Wesson Springfield mass usa - then a line below that the beginning is worn but i can make out half way thru it - jan 3 1880 april 9 1889- when a-d-s on the left side of the barrel its stamped 38 s&w ctg with a weird looking "&" symbol no markings on the right side of the barrel right side on lower receiver the s&w symbol with trade mark stamped around it . what makes this pistol interesting to me is that it has a copper front sight the top break a access plate on the left side of lower receiver to access the hammer mechanism and the screw off 5 shot cylinder with a spent shell ejector the only number i can seem to find are stamped on the butt of the grip begins with -438- same number ingraved on the inside of one of the grips also seems to have an adjustment screw on the inside of the grip i guess to adjust the pull on the hammer has roughly a 4-5 inch barrel .. any information as to date of mfg or type of issue would be greatly appreciated thank you if pictures are needed to help please feel free to email me fl.sthrnboy85@ yahoo.com would love to learn the history of this revolver ....
 
flsthrnboy85,

I assume this is a Top-Break revolver (barrel/cylinder tilts down to load/unload)?
If so, is it a single or double action, exposed or hidden hammer?
Need more of the serial number, you can use X's for the last digits but I need to know how many digits such as 438XXX.

m696 CBW1xxx

m624 AHT3xxx
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Couple of nice guns. You must be a 44 special fan.
CBW = 1997 and AHT = 1985.

Jim
 
you would be correct as the top break is to load unload it is a double action as the hammer is exposed the serial number is 43853x hope this help if you need more info just ask thanxz for all your help
 
Need info

Hello Yes my step father passed away and left his hand gun to myself and my husband we are just wanting to know what year or there abouts it was manufactured. Here is the info we have, it had belonged to my grandfather, who passed onto to my father now onto us. It is a S&W 38 Snub nose, Mod32-1 Serial 1100XX. Has the wooden grip, little blueing on the gun itself. Thank you.
 
you would be correct as the top break is to load unload it is a double action as the hammer is exposed the serial number is 43853x
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That makes it a .38 Double Action 4th Model.
Serial numbers ran from 322701 in 1895 to 539000 in 1909.

S&W 38 Snub nose, Mod32-1 Serial 1100XX
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Serial numbers ran from 54474 in 1948 to 122678 in 1969 (book doesn't narrow it any further).
Note that your gun is chambered to shoot .38 S&W, not to be confused with the more common .38 Special.

Jim
 
"It is a S&W 38 Snub nose, Mod32-1 Serial 1100XX. Has the wooden grip, little blueing on the gun itself. Thank you."

The 32-1 designation was introduced in 1960 when S&W discontinued using the I-frame and replaced it with the J-frame. As has been posted already s/n 122678 was made in 1969.

If the grips are original and there is a diamond pattern around the grip screws it was made no later than 1968. If there is no diamond pattern it was made in 1969 (again assuming these are the original grips).

Based on the serial number a reasonable estimate would be mid to late 1960s.

As laytonj1 has already said (but it is worth repeating), caliber is .38 S&W which is not the same and is not interchangeable with .38 Special.
 
Production date of Mod 29

I hate to ask but could you help me date my 29? Serial number S 217xxx.
Thanks for the help.
 
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Does it hold 5 or 6 rounds? And I assume there is no letter prefixes with that SN.

Jim
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Its 6 rounds with no prefix before the serial that I can remember.
Its not in front of me right now so to be 100% on the prefix I'd have to go take a look at it at a family members house. I'll be buying it but I dont know anything about it as far as an age or value so I'm trying to get info to make a fair deal.
Thanks
 
"I hate to ask but could you help me date my 29? Serial number S 217xxx."

I think likely late 1959. The engineering change resulting in the 29-1 designation (left-hand thread extractor rod) was ordered December 22, 1959 and went into production in 1960 at s/n 220000.

It should be a four-screw model (screw at top of sideplate eliminated, but still has screw in front of trigger guard). It would have been originally shipped in a black presentation case with satin lining.
 
Can someone help me out. I was given my dads .357 this past year shortly before he died. I told him I would have the gun cleaned up and have been doing research on what I should do with it. I've settled on having it np3 plated but before I send it off I would like to have all the facts on the gun. I've been able to track down that its around 1977. Can you guys tell me when it was actually made?

62k7463 mod 19
 
"I've been able to track down that its around 1977. Can you guys tell me when it was actually made?"

62k7463 mod 19

My source (A History of Smith & Wesson by Roy G. Jinks) says 1980.
 
Thanks Dave. I visited your website and enjoyed the different videos and stories, especially about your pocket knife. I still have an old pocket knife that my grandfather left me after he passed. It's hard to believe that my 29 is older than I am. It's held up better than I have.
 
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