Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Bingo. Number under the crane is an assembly number used to track parts in the factory. Serial number is V724463, the V was stamped seperately, the old stamping machine was reset to 1 when it hit 999999, with the V added to prevent duplication.
You have a .38 British Service Revolver supplied under Lend Lease to the British Govt. late 1944 or early 1945.

Walkalong, I had a chance to check out a BSR similar to yours. US Property marks ground off, refinished, Birmingham proof marks on chambers and barrel, London crossed swords on frame.

Greetings,
I'm hoping to get the date of manufacture for my S&W 49
serial is BUB1979

CaptainCrispy: Your Model 49 Bodyguard was manufactured in 1995. BUB10xx shipped in June of that year.

HI Radagast, Thank you for the information, I was expecting it to be older than that. I appreciate you looking it up for me.

Picking up this Model 13-2 in the next couple days that I won at a local auction.
Could you please tell me when this was made. Thank you!
Ser # 5D33294

It was made after 1981. It has the 3 screw side plate and a pinned barrel. Are the chambers recessed? Without a serial number it is not possible to find the exact date.

Dear Dog...
Apparently in 1979, which was a good year.

Pinned barrel is prior to 1981, not after. Old Fuff is correct, the serial number is from 1979.

Thanks Old Fuff and Radagast- and yes, it has the recessed cylinder and is clearly stamped 13-2 on the crane.
This makes for three nice older S&W 357's now.

What is the date of mfg. for S&W Hand Ejector .32-20 , 5" (almost) serial # 7xx ?
Thanks.

GM

P.S. - sigsmoker, it appears you are using my picture in the above. Well, close.

Gun Master:
.32-20 Hand Ejector 1st Model was manufactured between 1899 and 1902 in the serial range 1 to 5311.
Cylinders are not heat treated and early barrels were subject to bulging with high speed jacketed ammo. Stick to standard pressure lead hand loads or current factory loads only.
It predates the modern hammer block safety, if kept loaded I recommend treating it as a 5 shooter, with an empty chamber under the hammer.

Thank you, Radagast, especially re: safty issues.

Many frames were not completed before 1981. I have a 3 screw Mdl 29 with a 5 screw serial number. Don't assume every gun made after a change fits the change. They run until all parts are used up. Collectors refer to these as "Transition" Mdls.

13 weeks later, and I finally got the gun in my hand.

Square butt, no diamond. What do you think about the manufacturing year?

Some pics:

Radagast said:

Niklasx:
Your Model 34-1 /Model of 1953 .22/.32 Kit Gun was manufactured between 1965 (serial number 108087) & 1969 (serial number 135464).
If the cylinder release is flat, 1965 or 1966. If concave, 1966 to 1969.
If the grips are original and have an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws, 1968 or earlier. If the checkering goes up to the screw head, then 1968 or 1969.

Click to expand...

a) 44 Magnum
b) bbl length 6"
c) grips shape square
d) number of shots Not sure its in the safe right now (6 I believe)
e) type of sights rear adjustable w/ orange front ramp
f) serial number N9346XX
g) Model number 629-1.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Robert101

Robert101:
Your Model 629-1 .44 Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1985.

Niklasx:
Post '68 grips, post '66 thumb latch. So 1968 or 1969.

Model 60
.38 Special
1 7/8" barrel
5 shots
Fixed sights
Round butt
Serial R110661

Homerboy:
Between 1974 and 1977 the serial range was R100000 to R190000, so 1974 seems likely, with the possibility of early 1975.

Mdl 629-1
.44 M
4" Bbl
6 shots
WO Rear Sight, RR Front Sight
Square Butt
SN AHY78XX
Appreciate any information you can provide.

Nicolai: 1985. Standard features, so not a special run gun. Predates the "Endurance Package" engineering changes, so not suited to a high round count of full house magnums. Metallic Silhouette competition showed that the .44 Magnum could develop timing issues or frame stretching when fired a lot. A fix was introduced in 1989. If you reload, back off a little. If you only shoot factory and want to shoot a lot, then look at shooting .44 specials, which will chamber in your gun. If its an occasional range toy or carried a lot and shot a little? I wouldn't worry at all.

Thanks for the information and advice. Will treat it well.