Smith and Wesson serial number search

Info on 2 revolvers

I have two revolvers I would like to date.

A pre-model 10 (I think, there is no model number on the crane; .38 special, 6 round cylinder, fixed sights, 4" pencil barrell) My father acquired this in the mid-late '60's, it may be a former NYPD gun, but is not marked in anyway that I can tell. Serial number #C4005xx.

Also, a model 36-1, #J6412xx. LNIB, with all papers, but no tools.

Are these guns +P safe? Any estimate on value?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Radagast,
I bought the gun new in the early 80's, but just can't remember exactly when. I have all the tags and the box, but can't find the receipt. I knew they discontinued the model 15 sometime after I bought it.
Believe it or not the gun has never been fired. I got it for home defense and just never got around to trying it out. Just take it and clean it ever do often.
I have been trying to find a S&W build date chart for this model, but had no luck.
Thanks for the info.
 
Rokky: your revolver serial number falls between ADT3000 (January 1984) & AEV9999 (November 1984). Strangely, the 15-4 was introduced in 1977 and replaced by the 15-5 in 1982, so either some old frames were being used up in 1984 or yours was stamped out of sequence sometime between 1980 with the introduction of the AAAxxxx serial range and the official discontinuation of the 15-4 in 1982.
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I'm curious, is the barrel pinned? 15-5 in 1982 was the elimination of the pinned barrel.
I have all the tags and the box, but can't find the receipt. I knew they discontinued the model 15 sometime after I bought it.
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Just an FYI, the model 15 was not discontinued until 1999 and then brought back in 2001 as a Performance Center gun with the Heritage Series.

I was given a S&W revolver six shot that is in pretty good shape. I can't find a model number anywhere on it. It's got a short barrell and has a crown and BNP stamped on it. The serial number is 8393XX. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
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Caliber as stamped on the barrel?

A pre-model 10 (I think, there is no model number on the crane; .38 special, 6 round cylinder, fixed sights, 4" pencil barrell) My father acquired this in the mid-late '60's, it may be a former NYPD gun, but is not marked in anyway that I can tell. Serial number #C4005xx.

Also, a model 36-1, #J6412xx. LNIB, with all papers, but no tools.

Are these guns +P safe? Any estimate on value?
Click to expand...

C4005XX = ~1957. Pre model marked guns (pre 1958) are not recommended for +P. Value depends on condition, $250 well used to about $450 in like new.
J6412XX = 1977/78. Okay with +P. 36's are in demand so I'd say $350 to $400 in excellent condition.

Jim
 
A pre-model 10 (I think, there is no model number on the crane; .38 special, 6 round cylinder, fixed sights, 4" pencil barrell) My father acquired this in the mid-late '60's, it may be a former NYPD gun, but is not marked in anyway that I can tell. Serial number #C4005xx.

Also, a model 36-1, #J6412xx. LNIB, with all papers, but no tools.

Are these guns +P safe? Any estimate on value?

C4005XX = ~1957. Pre model marked guns (pre 1958) are not recommended for +P. Value depends on condition, $250 well used to about $450 in like new.
J6412XX = 1977/78. Okay with +P. 36's are in demand so I'd say $350 to $400 in excellent condition.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jim. That's about what I thought, especially about the +P.
 
laytonj1,
I don't see any pin in the barrel.
It looks as though it is screwed in. just my opinion.
When I open the cylinder and look at the frame there is the serial number and directly below that is the number 15-4.
Now, on the hinge that the cylinder is attached to there is the 5 digit number 79XXX.
The 5th digit is a smaller number then the first 4.
Then, over that entire number is stamped a B4 that is larger then the 5 digit number.
The serial number of the gun also appears on the butt of the hand grip.
This is all the numbers that I can find.
 
Rokky,

A 15-4 without a pinned barrel (single pin thru the frame and barrel were barrel attaches to frame) and made in 1984 (per SN ADU9XXX).
Odd.

The other numbers are assembly numbers.

Jim
 
laytyonj1
Maybe mine is one of those rare oddities that slipped through the cracks.
I bought it from a store that sells to LEO's so maybe that could have some bearing on this mystery.
 
5 shot, pops empty shells out of the chamber when you break it open and flip the cylinder and barrel forward. has about a 3" barrel as a guess. no prefix
 
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5 shot, pops empty shells out of the chamber when you break it open and flip the cylinder and barrel forward. has about a 3" barrel as a guess. no prefix
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Pictures make all the difference!
.38 Double Action 4th Model. Serial numbers ran from 322701 in 1895 to 539000 in 1909.

Jim
 
curtmac: You have a S&W .38 Double Action 4th Model. Manufactured in the serial number range 322701 to 539000 between 1895 & 1909, those manufactured before serial number 382022 in 1898 are considered antiques by the BATF. Best guess is your gun was made in 1887.
 
I got it from an auction, was in the bottom of a box of old knifes and some handbooks. any idea on a value? it's a bit rough on the handle, looks like a stainless finish but is worn.
 
Gurn: Best bet on your gun that is a K200 British Service Revolver, built on the Military & Police frame. The BNP stamp stands for British Nitro Proof, these were made during WWII for the British military, main barrel length is five inches, but four and six have been recorded. Serial number range was 700,000 to 1,0000,000, when the serial number changed over to the Vxxxxxxxxx range, V being for Victory. There is no model number because it pre-dates model numbers which were introduced in 1957. Effectively the K200 is an early variant of the model 10.

K200s where chambered for the British 200 grain .38 S&W round, modern 145 grain S&W ammo can be fired through them. After the war many of these were converted to .38 special by boring through the chambers. Because the case head (and hence chamber) of the .38 S&W is wider than the .38 special, .38 special cases may bulge or crack if fired in a converted gun. If yours is converted I suggest you only fire standard pressure ammunition through it. The shortened barrel suggests it may be a conversion.
 
oscardeuce: You have a S&W Victory model revolver made between September 1944 and 1945, mainly for military contracts. The V in the serial number stands for Victory, the S stands fro Safety, after a fatality on a USN ship when an early Victory model was dropped and discharged, an internal hammer block safety was introduced, guns with this modification are marked with an SV prefix.

The correct ammunition for your gun is standard velocity .38 special ammunition. S&W recommends against using PlusP (higher pressure) ammunition in revolvers made before 1958.
 
L Frame

I too would very much appreciate identification of the year of manufacture. It's my only S&W and was said to have been a senior police officer's weapon. It appeared to have been used only for qualifications when I bought it over a decade ago. Very clean without any substantive wear marks of any kind.

Anyhow it is a M681-1 S/N AYB3XXX.

Thanks!

--Bob
 
I got one 218XXX

My Dad gave me his old .38 S&W CTG. I too I'm too cheap to buy the book.. :) Can someone look it up for me?

.38 S&W CTG #218XXX

1002196ii7.jpg


Looks just like this one but, with a nickle (spelling) finish.

Thanks so much,

Joey
 
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