Smith and Wesson serial number search

686 long barrel

S&W Revolver

model 686 (no dash)
8 3/8" barrel
SN ADV74XX

Thanks

^What is the Year of Manufacture Please^
 
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pre model 29 .44 mag value

I was one here a while ago and as suggested I had Roy Jinks write me up a history of my .44 Magnum.

I now know that I have a Pre-Model 29, .44 Mag, 5 screw variation first year production with 6.5" barrel, blue finish and Goncalo Alves target grips that was shipped from the factory in August 1956. Serial number S 147xxx. I was previously told on here that my serial is very close to Elmer Keiths .44 mag and his is one of the first 5. I would consider the gun in real good shape - but not excellent. I do have the original case but it appears the inside has been modified - I dont think I have the original cleaning rod or screwdriver.

How do I go about getting this revolver appraised? I bought the Jerry Kuhnhausen Shop Manual but now I am afraid to possibly mess up a valuable gun. We do have a Gun show here in Virginia this weekend but I don't know if I will have time to make it down to it.
Thanks
 
Model 1905
SN: 4669xx
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I assume you're talking about a 38 Military & Police Model of 1905?
If so, your serial number would likely be 1920's. Serial numbers ran from 241704 in 1915 to ~1000000 in 1942.

pre model 29 .44 mag value
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Mainsul,

Elmer Keith received the 4th production revolver, SN S147220, on January 27, 1956.
As far as getting it appraised, I would suggest joining the S&W forum and asking their opinion.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum.php

Just picked up a M36 no-dash today. Serial number is J4390xx
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Serial numbers ran from J370001 in 1976 to J610000 in 1977.

Jim
 
I picked up a like new in the red box Airweight Pre 37 Chiefs Special. It still has the aluminum cylinder and numbered grips. Serial # 277XX. It is just too nice for me to carry and I'll most likely sell it. Any info on the birthdate and value would be helpful and appreciated. Here is a photo.
ChiefLeft.jpg

ChiefBoxEnd.jpg
 
Coastal: approx. 1953. As you probably know, the original alloy cylinders were subject to cracking, and were replaced with steel cylinders in 1954. SCSW cautions against firing any pre-37s with alloy cylinders. That said, pre-37s in excellent condition, as yours appears to be assuming the smudging on the frame between the latch and lug will clean up (and "box and papers" doesn't hurt, either) bring a substantial premium, approximately double what the steel cylinder models are worth. Accordingly, your gun is quite likely worth around $1000 or more, possibly a good bit more to the right collector, and you may want to get some other opinions at the S&W Forum where the experts hang out.
 
Smith & Wesson Performance Center 627-5

I own a Smith & Wesson Performance Center 627-5 with a low serial number and can not seem to find any help online to the inquiry of what the first serial number for this series of firearms was. Any help here??
 
cowgirl5315: No simple answer, I'm afraid. According to SCSW, the original 627 was introduced in 1989 with a "BEF" serial number prefix. The 8-shot Performance Center version, which was ordered by Lew Horton and was pretty much a different gun, was introduced as the 627-2 in 1997 with an "RJM" prefix. Subsequent versions used different prefixes, some of them "lower" than "RJM" - e.g., "LHV" and ""RBS" for the 627-3 "Hunter". The 627-5 came out in 2002, at which time S&W was generally using SN prefixes starting with "C--", but the SCSW specifically references that the example they examined had a "VCM" prefix. Clear as mud, huh?
 
Need year of production for pre WW2 revolver

Hello-I am new to this forum and have a question-I usually collect military firearms but recently bought a civil S&W .32 3rd model hand ejector revolver S/N 439XXX -the reference book I had access to said the model was made 1917-42 but didn't give any breakdown on production for years or S/Ns.-would it be possible to get an answer to which year it was made? It is a beautiful example of the high quality S&W product- 99% blueing and unfired.
 
LITHGOW111: Unfortunately, SCSW doesn't really provide much more definitive information than you already have. According to the book, the SN range was 263001 in 1917 to 536684 in 1942, with 271,531 guns manufactured. They also mention that heat-treated cylinders began in 1920 at SN 321000. You can do some interpolation with those numbers and dates to get an approximate year of production, but that's about the best you can do from the information available.
 
How about a 686-4 #CAW3xxx?
Wondering if the front sight is a factory standard sight, or a custom job
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1996.
That dovetailed front sight blade was the first thing I noticed. While they do offer that set-up on some of the Performance Center revolvers I'm pretty sure that is not a factory set-up on your gun. I do like it though.

Jim
 
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