Smith and Wesson serial number search
- Thread starter Driveout02
- Start date
model 686-4 357 Magnum Serial #
Hello everybody,
New to the forum here and recently purchased my first revolver. A S&W 357. It's a model 686-4 , with a 4" barrel and was told by the dealer it came in from the Austrian police.
I bought the online version of the Smith catalog to try finding out about the "born on date", but was unable to determine since my serial prefix is not listed.
So, any help, outside of me submitting the paperwork back to S&W with $50 to get a letter would be awesome. My serial is BSD53xx.
FYI...there was a no BSD listed in the table, but a BDS was .. Don't know of that was a transpose of letters, or if it was part of a special run that did not have a standard serial #.
Thanks in advance for any help......
Hello everybody,
New to the forum here and recently purchased my first revolver. A S&W 357. It's a model 686-4 , with a 4" barrel and was told by the dealer it came in from the Austrian police.
I bought the online version of the Smith catalog to try finding out about the "born on date", but was unable to determine since my serial prefix is not listed.
So, any help, outside of me submitting the paperwork back to S&W with $50 to get a letter would be awesome. My serial is BSD53xx.
FYI...there was a no BSD listed in the table, but a BDS was .. Don't know of that was a transpose of letters, or if it was part of a special run that did not have a standard serial #.
Thanks in advance for any help......
Jim,
Thx for clarifying for me. Would you have any qualms about buying a gun that was used in law enforcement over seas???
My buddy who went with me when I purchased recently said that LEO's take good care of their stuff. The gun is in good shape and doesn't show signs of abuse. Just don't know how many rounds were run though it.
Probably just paranoia on my part....
thx again for your help with serial #
Thx for clarifying for me. Would you have any qualms about buying a gun that was used in law enforcement over seas???
My buddy who went with me when I purchased recently said that LEO's take good care of their stuff. The gun is in good shape and doesn't show signs of abuse. Just don't know how many rounds were run though it.
Probably just paranoia on my part....
thx again for your help with serial #
serial number help please
I have acquired a smith and Wesson on the barrel the best I can read it says pat'd jan 17&25 65 july 11 65 aug 24 69 (maybe 65 hard to read) july 25 71 may 11 1880 It is a top break that looks to be either 32 or 38 by guessing. It is nickle below the grips on the metal looks like a serial number of 84xx5 not sure about the 4 What is a ball park value of this gun? What caliber is it? I would like to think it is real old, but a gut feeling tells me it's not. View attachment 75841
I have acquired a smith and Wesson on the barrel the best I can read it says pat'd jan 17&25 65 july 11 65 aug 24 69 (maybe 65 hard to read) july 25 71 may 11 1880 It is a top break that looks to be either 32 or 38 by guessing. It is nickle below the grips on the metal looks like a serial number of 84xx5 not sure about the 4 What is a ball park value of this gun? What caliber is it? I would like to think it is real old, but a gut feeling tells me it's not. View attachment 75841
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With that serial number and it being a single action break-top there are two possibilities.
1. If it's 32 caliber then it's a Model One-and-a-Half.
Serial numbers ran from 1 in 1878 to 97574 in 1892.
2. If it's a 38 then it would be a .38 Single Action 2nd Model.
Serial numbers ran from 1 in 1877 to 108255 in 1891.
You'll have to figure out the caliber, but I'm guessing it's the 38 from the picture. Either way, it's old.
As far as value, based on 2006 pricing in excellent condition would be about $500.
Jim
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I am here to request the generous assistance of those here armed with The Catalog…
I acquired two Model 10’s from Budsgunshop.com recently, when they started their police buy-back special. The first was a 10-5 square-butt with a 3” barrel, serial #D808xxx, the next a 10-8 square-butt with a 4” heavy barrel, serial #5D92xxx.
I did make some attempts to find this information before deciding to post… I dug through dozens of the pages here (not all 100+, however…!), and the pertinent entries seemed to indicate the 10-5 was from 1975-1977, and the 10-8 from 1979. I tried calling S&W at 1-800-331-0852, as recommended in another entry, only to hear (after 20 minutes on hold) the rep tell me both guns had been produced THIS YEAR, the latest as recent as July or August, I believe. He was not persuaded from this even when I offered that they were buy-backs, with holster-wear and worn wooden grips. Oh well.
If any of the resident savants will oblige me to look up their production dates, I will be most appreciative!
I acquired two Model 10’s from Budsgunshop.com recently, when they started their police buy-back special. The first was a 10-5 square-butt with a 3” barrel, serial #D808xxx, the next a 10-8 square-butt with a 4” heavy barrel, serial #5D92xxx.
I did make some attempts to find this information before deciding to post… I dug through dozens of the pages here (not all 100+, however…!), and the pertinent entries seemed to indicate the 10-5 was from 1975-1977, and the 10-8 from 1979. I tried calling S&W at 1-800-331-0852, as recommended in another entry, only to hear (after 20 minutes on hold) the rep tell me both guns had been produced THIS YEAR, the latest as recent as July or August, I believe. He was not persuaded from this even when I offered that they were buy-backs, with holster-wear and worn wooden grips. Oh well.
If any of the resident savants will oblige me to look up their production dates, I will be most appreciative!
Dan F,
I am a newb at this so forgive me if I read this incorrectly. But I am happy to give it a try...the book is glad to get some attention
On pg 399 of my book (the 3rd edition) it shows:
Your 10-5 is a 1975-1976 production. The range starts in 1975 at D750001 and ends in 1976 at D870000.
Your 10-8 is a 1979. The range starts and ends in 1979 for serial# 4D00001 to 6D10000.
I hope thats right. Sounds like it might be because it ties out to your research. How do you like the Buds trade ins? I see them advertised and wonder what condition they are in.
Enjoy and happy plinkin'
Tall
I am a newb at this so forgive me if I read this incorrectly. But I am happy to give it a try...the book is glad to get some attention
On pg 399 of my book (the 3rd edition) it shows:
Your 10-5 is a 1975-1976 production. The range starts in 1975 at D750001 and ends in 1976 at D870000.
Your 10-8 is a 1979. The range starts and ends in 1979 for serial# 4D00001 to 6D10000.
I hope thats right. Sounds like it might be because it ties out to your research. How do you like the Buds trade ins? I see them advertised and wonder what condition they are in.
Enjoy and happy plinkin'
Tall
New Member
New member here seeking information. A friend of mine has acquired a nickel plated S&W revolver, 38 Special CTG with the serial number K 233XXX as displayed on the butt and elsewhere, I do not have the numbers inside the frame however. Can anyone tell the year of manufacture etc for this gun?
Thanks in advance.
New member here seeking information. A friend of mine has acquired a nickel plated S&W revolver, 38 Special CTG with the serial number K 233XXX as displayed on the butt and elsewhere, I do not have the numbers inside the frame however. Can anyone tell the year of manufacture etc for this gun?
Thanks in advance.
thedaddycat
New member
Hi all. I would like to find out the year of manufacture for a small blued five shot S&W revolver. I do have the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson on order but it won't come in until next week, after which I can also help others with similar questions.
Anyhow, the Serial No. is J75XXX. Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.
Anyhow, the Serial No. is J75XXX. Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.
1955.
SN's ran from K231256 to K266164 that year.
S&W did not start stamping model numbers on their guns until 1957.
The K prefix identifies it as an adjustable sighted K frame. That and the 38 special chambering means it's either a K-38 Target Masterpiece (6" barrel) or K-38 Combat Masterpiece (4" barrel).
The Combat Masterpiece went on to become the model 15 and the Target Masterpiece the model 14.
SN's ran from J1 in 1969 to J99999 in 1970.
The model number is stamped on the frame just forward of the cylinder and only visable with the cylinder swung open.
Jim
thedaddycat
New member
Thanks laytonj1, it is a Model 38. The grips are a little small for my paws but fit my better half pretty well. That's perfect, as both she and it were made in 1970(though final delivery on her was not until '71). This one is small enough for CC but more than big enough for backing some miscreant down if needed...