knee-dragger777
Member
Thank you kind Sir!!
Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
I have a 629 classic and need to know the manufacture year? Thanks in advance
a) caliber - 44 Mag
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) - 6.5"
c) grips shape (round or square) - round
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6 shot
e) type of sights. - adjustable
f) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip - CFH97XX
g) Model number if it is under the crane. - 629-6
a) caliber - 44 Mag
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) - 6.5"
c) grips shape (round or square) - round
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6 shot
e) type of sights. - adjustable
f) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip - CFH97XX
g) Model number if it is under the crane. - 629-6
Radagast
Member
skidder: Guns in the CFHxxxx range shipped in June 2002.
Thanks for the quick reply!
chromerunner
Member
Mr_Flintstone
Member
I could use a little help.
.357 mag
4-inch
Squar butt
6 shot
Model 19-3
Serial 7K58xxx
.357 mag
4-inch
Squar butt
6 shot
Model 19-3
Serial 7K58xxx
Radagast
Member
Chromerunner:
.38 Military & Police Model of 1905 - 1st Change or 2nd Change manufactured between1906 and 1909 in the serial range 73251 to 146899. 2nd Change has two dowel pins in the extractor.
This gun predate heat treatment of cylinders. Stick to standard pressure lead loads only. No PlusP or jacketed ammo.
It predates the internal hammer block safety, so treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.
.38 Military & Police Model of 1905 - 1st Change or 2nd Change manufactured between1906 and 1909 in the serial range 73251 to 146899. 2nd Change has two dowel pins in the extractor.
This gun predate heat treatment of cylinders. Stick to standard pressure lead loads only. No PlusP or jacketed ammo.
It predates the internal hammer block safety, so treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.
Radagast
Member
Mr_Flintstone:
Your Model 19-3 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1975.
Your Model 19-3 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1975.
Mr_Flintstone
Member
Thank you. From the (very little) information on the Internet, I had it narrowed down to mid-late 70s. It's nice to know an exact date.
Radagast
Member
The best I can fiigure, certain models received certain serial number blocks in the seventies, making at a glance dating a little difficult. Serial range 7k26044 to 7k70577 was used during 1975.
ljnowell
Member
Radagast
Member
Guesstimate 1926-1927. Serial numbers in the 561xxx range shipped in 1927, in the 360xxx range in 1921. Assuming 33,000 guns per year on average, then late 1926 to 1927 seems reasonable. The caveat being that guns were not always shipped sequentially.
The grips are not original. that are post 1969.
The grips are not original. that are post 1969.
springer7676
Member
a) caliber 44
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) 6
c) grips shape (round or square) R
d) number of shots/cylinder bores 6
e) type of sights. adjustable
f) serial number BFA33xx
g) Model number M629-2
Thank you for your post...
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) 6
c) grips shape (round or square) R
d) number of shots/cylinder bores 6
e) type of sights. adjustable
f) serial number BFA33xx
g) Model number M629-2
Thank you for your post...
Radagast
Member
automacc:
Your Model 10-5 .38 Military & Police tapered barrel was manufactured in 1969 or 1970. Serial range for those years was D90000 to D330000, so 1969 seems likely.
Your Model 36 Chiefs Special was manufactured between 1962 (serial number 295000) & 1966 (serial number 392778). Assuming 20,0000 to 25,000 guns per year, 1962 or 1963 seems likely.
springer7676: Your Model 629-2 .44 Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1989. If there is an E stamped after the model number then it has the Endurance Package engineering changes to prevent the gun going out of time when shot with a constant diet of .44 Magnums. If not then it may be wise to have any high round count shooting limited to softer hand loads.
Your Model 10-5 .38 Military & Police tapered barrel was manufactured in 1969 or 1970. Serial range for those years was D90000 to D330000, so 1969 seems likely.
Your Model 36 Chiefs Special was manufactured between 1962 (serial number 295000) & 1966 (serial number 392778). Assuming 20,0000 to 25,000 guns per year, 1962 or 1963 seems likely.
springer7676: Your Model 629-2 .44 Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1989. If there is an E stamped after the model number then it has the Endurance Package engineering changes to prevent the gun going out of time when shot with a constant diet of .44 Magnums. If not then it may be wise to have any high round count shooting limited to softer hand loads.
Gun Master
Member
I hope I'm directing this to the correct thread. If not, I apologize.
There are three S&W revolvers that I own, that I question whether it is safe to fire .38 Special +P:
1. Military & Police (pre-Model 10) 5" , sq. butt, Serial # S849XXX, made in 1945 or 1946 (long action, transitional gun).
2. Chief's Special (Model 36) 2" , rd. butt, Serial #244XXX, made 1957-1962 (probably 1960).
3. Chief's Special (Model 36) 3", sq. butt, Serial#738XXX, made 1967-1968.
If +P is fired in these 3 , what are the consequences ?
Thank you for a reply, at your convenience .
There are three S&W revolvers that I own, that I question whether it is safe to fire .38 Special +P:
1. Military & Police (pre-Model 10) 5" , sq. butt, Serial # S849XXX, made in 1945 or 1946 (long action, transitional gun).
2. Chief's Special (Model 36) 2" , rd. butt, Serial #244XXX, made 1957-1962 (probably 1960).
3. Chief's Special (Model 36) 3", sq. butt, Serial#738XXX, made 1967-1968.
If +P is fired in these 3 , what are the consequences ?
Thank you for a reply, at your convenience .
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Radagast
Member
Gun Master:
S&W do not recommend use of PlusP in guns without a Model number ( pre 1957) This is an easy way to cut out old guns made before heat treatment of cylinders. Heat treatment was used from 1919 onwards. Over the years that I have maintained this thread I have dated a number of K frames with replacement barrels. None of these dated after the late 1920s, which suggests an impovement in steel or heat treatment around that time.
SaxonPig has over 1100 rounds of PlusP through his WWII M&P:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/p-shot-in-my-1949-50-s-w-m-p-38-spc.523264/
Current .38 PlusP is equivalent to old standard velocity .38 Special:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/38-special-p-and-k-frames.818713/
Bottom line, I would be fine shooting it through any of those guns. I would not expect them to blow up. The J frames may be subject to faster wear, developing cylinder end shake or timing issues if fed a constant diet, IIRC S&W started labeling J Frame barrels as .38 Special +P around 1989. I don't know if there was any change to the steel at that time, r if it was just a change to the alloy of the airweight revolvers.
S&W do not recommend use of PlusP in guns without a Model number ( pre 1957) This is an easy way to cut out old guns made before heat treatment of cylinders. Heat treatment was used from 1919 onwards. Over the years that I have maintained this thread I have dated a number of K frames with replacement barrels. None of these dated after the late 1920s, which suggests an impovement in steel or heat treatment around that time.
SaxonPig has over 1100 rounds of PlusP through his WWII M&P:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/p-shot-in-my-1949-50-s-w-m-p-38-spc.523264/
Current .38 PlusP is equivalent to old standard velocity .38 Special:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/38-special-p-and-k-frames.818713/
Bottom line, I would be fine shooting it through any of those guns. I would not expect them to blow up. The J frames may be subject to faster wear, developing cylinder end shake or timing issues if fed a constant diet, IIRC S&W started labeling J Frame barrels as .38 Special +P around 1989. I don't know if there was any change to the steel at that time, r if it was just a change to the alloy of the airweight revolvers.
Gun Master
Member
Radagast, thank you for your timely and valuable info, as usual !
popeye
Member
Today I bought a blue S&W 13-3 3" RB Ser# AFC 626X. I would be most grateful if you can supply me with a DOB.
Thanks, Jim
Thanks, Jim
Radagast
Member
Popeye: Your .357 Magnum Military & Police Heavy Barrel was manufactured in 1984.
popeye
Member
Radagast, Thankyou.
Jim
Jim
luckyyou2112
Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2017
- Messages
- 1
Radagast
Member
Model 36 Chiefs Special manufactured in 1971 or 1972. Serial range for those guns started at 1J1 and ran to 999j99, with the J moving back one space as each numeric sequence maxed out. Based on your serial number I guesstimate 1971 as more likely.
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