Smith and Wesson serial number search
- Thread starter Driveout02
- Start date
jsmurphyphone
Inactive
Sorry for being such a nubie but I know very little about Smith's. I'm looking at a .38 lemon squeezer that I need to know some info on. It has 2530xx for a serial number. I am trying to find out a general idea as to the date of manufacture/shipping date, production numbers, desirability and value ranges. Basically, I need opinions and information.
Thanks
Jeff
Thanks
Jeff
1986.
Standard grips would be either target stocks or service magnas.
2003.
1968. SN's ran from K779163 to K848781 that year.
SN's ran from 36000 in 1931 to 38375 in 1932 to 41200 in 1933.
.38 Safety Hammerless 5th Model.
SN's for the 5th Model ran from 220000 in 1907 to 261493 in 1940. Book does not narrow it down any further. Shipping date would require a letter from S&W (currently $50).
First Model started at SN 1 with last of the 5th Models ending at SN 261493.
Value depends on condition and can range from ~$250 in good to $500+ in excellent (2006 values).
Jim
Greetings! My apologies for jumping on the "Me Too" bandwagon but I'm really curious..just got my first ever wheel guns (I had a talk with my 1911 and let her know we might need to spend a little time apart...).
Model 66-1 2 1/2" - 77K8XXX
(also has a bunch of marks on the frame under the grips: 3, X, C7437 on one side and: C10, C7, S, B22, 75294 on the other. Any idea what they mean?)
Model 66 no-dash 4" - 4k93XXX
(C17,C3,C4,C6,4, x2625 on one side and: Y, U, a Z inside a circle on the other under grips)
Side note: the 66's action is incredibly smooth and it feels like it has received a very good trigger job.
Any help with the age and number's meanings would be greatly appreciated. I have to wait until Tuesday to shoot them as my wife wants to try them out as well
Thanks!
Model 66-1 2 1/2" - 77K8XXX
(also has a bunch of marks on the frame under the grips: 3, X, C7437 on one side and: C10, C7, S, B22, 75294 on the other. Any idea what they mean?)
Model 66 no-dash 4" - 4k93XXX
(C17,C3,C4,C6,4, x2625 on one side and: Y, U, a Z inside a circle on the other under grips)
Side note: the 66's action is incredibly smooth and it feels like it has received a very good trigger job.
Any help with the age and number's meanings would be greatly appreciated. I have to wait until Tuesday to shoot them as my wife wants to try them out as well
Thanks!
Dave Anderson
New member
Made in 1979
Made in 1974
The other numbers are inventory parts and assembly numbers
The model 66 may well have been tuned up by a commercial pistolsmith or (if it is a police trade-in) by an S&W-trained armorer. Many police agencies sent their armorers to the S&W factory for training courses. All these armorers were at least competent, and some (though they didn't do commercial work and are probably long since retired) were really good.
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wombathunter
Inactive
s&w 5906
S#VCZ5xxx
First gun ever. Will buy the book i promise. Already hooked on them. Already want an older revolver or the 6906. Thanks
S#VCZ5xxx
First gun ever. Will buy the book i promise. Already hooked on them. Already want an older revolver or the 6906. Thanks
Just found your great forums! I understand that Smith & Wesson has a reference available for determining the date a revolver was manufactured, but since I only have the one S&M .38 that I inherited, I was hoping one of you Senior Members could help me date it. It's a Model 36 .38 special with the serial number 1J21xx. The barrel is less than 2". I read all the previous posts in this thread and didn't see any serial numbers like this. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Dave Anderson
New member
S&W began using the 1J prefix in 1970. Since yours is a relatively low number I expect it was made in 1970.
Carson1023
New member
I have a Smith and Wesson Model 18. Can anyone help me determine the age and value of this firearm? Serial Number- 161950
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Dave Anderson
New member
Made in 1952, meaning it is a Combat Masterpiece .22 model. S&W did not begin to use model numbers until 1957 at which time this model was assigned number 18.
Incidentally even though the letter "K" is offset a bit from the numbers it helps with identification to use it as part of the serial number, i.e. K161950.
To wombathunter and micksis86, I'm not ignoring you but as it happens the reference book I have with me at present doesn't have the three letter/four numeric serial numbers. You'll have to wait for laytonj1, who is the real expert on this thread, to check in.
Carson1023
New member
@ Dave Anderson. Thank you very much for the information, it is much appreciated.I have been struggling on finding the age on my own for a while now... Any idea what the value may be?
Dave Anderson
New member
1961
Dave Anderson
New member
This is a Military & Police model revolver made during WW II. The V (for Victory) prefix was introduced April 24, 1942 when the previous serial number range reached 999999.
Between April 24, 1942 and August 27, 1945 S&W made 811,119 Victory models. Yours was made fairly early in the series, most likely around mid-1942.
Revolvers made for Britain and other Commonwealth nations (e.g. India) were chambered for .38 S&W. Those for U.S. use were chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. Many were issued to security personnel guarding plants manufacturing war material.
Your revolver has the older style hammer block system. The design depended on spring pressure to return the hammer block to position. It was found that excessive dirt or grease could keep the hammer block from returning, so S&W introduced a new more positive system at s/n V769000. These are stamped with the prefix VS (occasionally SV), the "S" indicating the new safety system.
If older pistols such as yours are to be fired, the hammer block should first be checked for proper function. Personally even then I'd keep an empty chamber under the hammer.
Victory models have become quite collectible. Since a great many were made they aren't hard to find, but they can be hard to find in really good condition, say with 95% original finish.
Though they lacked the high polish and blued finish of commercial revolvers these were very well made. S&W quality did not deteriorate during the war years. The amazing number produced is just another example of the staggering production achievements of American industry during the war years.
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