Smith and Wesson serial number search
- Thread starter Driveout02
- Start date
Yup. Early Chiefs Special. Very similar to mine but your number seems higher than I would expect.
The overstamp means that the frame was marked for a 3in, heavy barrel version. It was shipped as a 2in Model 36 no dash, with a 0 overstamp.
The 36 was built from 1957 until 1988, when the 36-2 was introduced.
The 36-1 was started in 1967 and until 1988 when the 36-3 started.
It had to be built prior to 1966, because that year they when to the modern style thumbpiece.
Please check the serial number, The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson doesn't show any number in that range.
The 36 was built from 1957 until 1988, when the 36-2 was introduced.
The 36-1 was started in 1967 and until 1988 when the 36-3 started.
It had to be built prior to 1966, because that year they when to the modern style thumbpiece.
Please check the serial number, The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson doesn't show any number in that range.
Last edited:
Hey folks! I just came across a letter from a historian at smith&wesson explaining the roving J in the model 36 serial number.
Basically he explains:
The original number series started with 1 and continued through number 786544.
In 1969 a new serial number series was started beginning with J1 through J99999.
Then a new series was started called the roving J series. This started with 1J1 and continued to 994J94. Each time the characters following the J reached all nines, the number in front of the J would move up to a new number, or the J would move to another location.
Example 1J9999 was followed by 2J1, 99J999 was followed by 100J1 etc.
In 1972 a new series was started using seven characters beginning with J100000 and continued until 1982 with J999999.
The J was then moved to the second character position beginning at 1J00000, continuing until 1983 ending with 1J47502.
At that time the serial numbers were incorporated into the triple Alfa Four system beginning with the prefix ANB followed by four numbers.
-------
I think that puts the date of mine somewhere around 1970-71. I will be writing to him to find out more info, and share what I learn.
Basically he explains:
The original number series started with 1 and continued through number 786544.
In 1969 a new serial number series was started beginning with J1 through J99999.
Then a new series was started called the roving J series. This started with 1J1 and continued to 994J94. Each time the characters following the J reached all nines, the number in front of the J would move up to a new number, or the J would move to another location.
Example 1J9999 was followed by 2J1, 99J999 was followed by 100J1 etc.
In 1972 a new series was started using seven characters beginning with J100000 and continued until 1982 with J999999.
The J was then moved to the second character position beginning at 1J00000, continuing until 1983 ending with 1J47502.
At that time the serial numbers were incorporated into the triple Alfa Four system beginning with the prefix ANB followed by four numbers.
-------
I think that puts the date of mine somewhere around 1970-71. I will be writing to him to find out more info, and share what I learn.
Attachments
stuckinthe60s
New member
mine looks like a 38 target...........serial number........K 89068
any help on a year?
its a pre model.
any help on a year?
its a pre model.