Smith and Wesson serial number search

S&W .357 Magnum

I have numbers all over the darned thing... The serial number I believe is on the butt of the revolver... AHS5XXX

there is also a number on one side under the grips 253X6 surrounded by a S then an F5. On the other side is the number 7670 with a G in a circle and a T inside of a triangle.

The weirdest part of this is on the left side of the frame below the cylinder and above the trigger is the stamped value "W.R.P.D."

Any ideas??
 
Stinger63: AHS5xxx is the serial number - it indicates your .357 was manufactured in 1986. For future reference, the definitive serial number on S&W revolvers is stamped on the butt of the gun, i.e., the bottom of the grip frame where you took yours from; it is sometimes necessary to remove the trips to see it. Letters, numbers and symbols stamped onto the side of the frame under the grips usually mean nothing but can at times indicate that the gun was returned to the factory for refinishing and/or mechanical alterations.

There are a number of possible models it could be (I'm guessing Model 19, but who knows) - you'll find the model number, along with the serial number, and likely a few other numbers and/or letters you can ignore, inside the frame cutout - the part of the frame that's exposed when you swing the cylinder out.

The W.R.P.D stamping most likely indicates the gun was once issued by the "W.R." Police Department, but I have no idea what the "W.R." might stand for.
 
billcarey: You appear to have a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 - 1st Change. That particular variation was manufactured from 1904 to 1906, about 50 or so years before S&W started assigning model numbers. When they did, this gun (with some modifications, of course) became the Models 30 and 31.
 
S&W .357 Magnum - UPDATE

FlyFish: Thanks!... I did some more investigating and found it is the Model 681. The "M" stamped on the yoke indicates it has been returned to S&W for a barrel modification... which is a good thing.. there was a recall back in the late 80-90's.

As far as the W.R.P.D. stamp... I googled it and found many possible interpretations... West Raleigh PD, NC...Warner Robbins PD, GA... Wheat Ridge PD, CO..... I am sure I could find more... but until I get it tracked I won't know for sure. S&W will send me a factory report for $50... but I think I will try getting a local run on it 1st from a friend of mine that has that type of access.

Thanks for your help... if you know of an easier way and cheaper way to get a history report on this revolver please let me know....


Thanks Again,
 
The "M" stamp isn't for a barrel modification, per se - rather, it was a problem with the firing pin and bushing that, with some hot loads, allowed (sometimes, or not really, depending on who you talk to) the primer cup to extrude into the gap and lock up the cylinder. This was an issue with the "no dash" and "-1" models only, and also applies to the 581, 586, and 686. Sorry, don't have any good ideas about finding out more on the WRPD stamp.
 
Hopefully this worked..

The Name in Pic #6 is "Expert"

As far as I can tell the text in Pic #7 says:

PATENTED
Dec. 15, 91, AUG 11,96, AUG 14 00, MAY 27, 02

I am presuming that the dates are 1891, 1896, 1900, and 1902...

The shotgun is a 12ga.. last time it was shot was by me in 1979.. high on a hill I shot a 12ga slug at a 16pt buck laying on the edge of the filed below me. I shot... and the thing knocked me on my ass bumping my head on the 641/2 Mustang behind me.... the shot hit right in front of him... he got up very calmly and walked off... the shell had expanded in the breech and I had to get into the car and get a screw driver to get it out... by the time I was reloaded... he was on the other side of the field walking down the river embankment... he never ran... un-fricking believable??? I don't blame you.. I was dumbfounded... never went deer hunting again...

Anyway here are the pics... all I have found out it that it possible may have a "Damascus" barrel and I should be careful what shells I use...
 
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billcarey: You appear to have a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 - 1st Change. That particular variation was manufactured from 1904 to 1906, about 50 or so years before S&W started assigning model numbers. When they did, this gun (with some modifications, of course) became the Models 30 and 31.
Click to expand...


Flyfish, thanks for the info. This was purchased new by my great grandfather and passed to me by one of his daughters about 20 yrs ago. It shows little use but has some pitting on one side of the cyl. Is this a black powder gun? It's only been a display gun for me and I've never fired it.

BC
 
Bill - the .32 S&W Long, like the .38 Special, .45 Colt and some other cartridges, began life as a black powder cartridge and was later loaded with smokeless. Factory ammo is still reasonably widely available, in part because of its popularity as a low-recoil centerfire round for high-end bullseye target shooting.

I don't know if the transition to smokeless had been made by the time your gun was manufactured, but the SAAMI spec for the cartridge is only 15,000 CUP, so I'm tempted to say that you'd be fine with modern ammo, but you should talk to a gunsmith or perhaps give S&W a call to confirm that. I have a Walther GSP target pistol in .32 S&W Long that's a real joy to shoot - it's a fun little cartridge that has a reputation for great accuracy and hardly produces any more recoil than a high-speed .22 LR.
 
Flyfish,
I've been shooting another S&W .32 lg ctg since the late 1970s with smokeless but that gun dates 1928. Yes they are fun guns. I'll have to recheck the early model if I decide to reload for it. Maybe I'll try black powder too.

Thanks,
Bill C.
 
Hey guys, I have a serial I'd like dated. I thought I was a member here, but I just had to register--oh well.

It's a 28-2, sn N2670xx
 
103: 1974 (starting at N200000) to 1977 (ending at N299999)

OsageStick: 1971 (starting at M30001) to 1973 (ending at M60000)
 
Managed to figure out all mine using Google except one. S&W M38, no dash, SN 647XXX, (on bottom of grip frame, no number other than MOD-38 in yoke cut). I figured out it was a Michigan Police Supply gun because it is blue with the stainless cylinder. Anybody got any info, year and such? Thanks
 
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