Bought a "new" Highway Patrolman model 28-2. I would be interested in the year it was made. Bought as a shooter not a collectable.
1 .357 mag
2 6 inch
3 square
4 6 shot
5 adjustable
6 NS5878XX
 
I have been told that this S & W revolver is "Model of 1905 - 4th change" (whatever that means).
It is a .32-20 caliber with a 6" barrel, and is a 6-shot. Sights are "fixed" with a groove in the top strap. The serial number is 111xxx and is on the strap at the bottom of the grip.
This is an "inherited" gun from my late father and I don't know anything of it's history.
S&W .32-20 rt.jpg S&W .32-20 lt.jpg
 
Sorry about your father's passing.
This is a S&W .32-20 Hand Ejector (Model of 1905 - 4th Change). There were 78,983 mfg. 1915-1940, serial # from 65,701-144,684.
I'm sure Radagast, and possibly others, will have more info.
You've got a nice gun there, and is special since it was your Dad's.
 
Automaccc: My tablet can't open that document. Please post the info in a standard post.

Netsew: The N5xxxxx serial range was used from 1978 to 1980. If I had to guestimate a year based on average production levels 1980 seems likely.

JTHunter:
Model of 1905, or third model based on that frame.
4th Change, 4th minor design change, although actually a large one, the introduction of the first (non positive) hammer block safety.
Serial number 11160x shipped 31st January 1923. The MADE IN USA stamp was introduced in May 1922. Although guns did no ship sequentially back then (frames were numbered and stockpiled) late 1922 or early 1923 seems likely.
Your gun has a heat treated cylinder and should be safe with modern lead only ammo. Old High Speed jacketed ammo was intended for rifles and could bulge the barrels on these guns. If you inherited any with the gun, don't shoot it. The hammer block was replaced with a new design after a fatality with a dropped gun. Treat it as a five shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.
 
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Dear Radagast,
Thank you for all you do.

Another 36 (again)
a: 38spl.
b: 3"
c: RB
d: 5 shot
e: fixed
f: 5114xx
g: 36 (No Dash)

Misc: pinned bbl, 3 screw

I have a few more but don't want to be a pain in the behind:)

Automaccc
 
Away from home ATM, so no reference book. will check tonight. Thats a mid 60s gun, I don't have a year to year breakdown of serial numbers for that period. What will narrow it down are the following:
Does it have a flat or concave cylinder release.
If the grips are original, Is there an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws or does the checkering go up to the screws.
 
36 3"
Radagast:
cyl. release is not flat but slightly concaved
The box that came with the gun indicates that the grips were not wood, but rubber. They don't look like any that I am familiar with.

Thanks again.
 
Post 66 latch then, serial range ran to roughly 758000 in 1969, or roughly 400,000 gund between '63 & '69. Assuming roughly 70,000 guns a year, 1966 or early 1967 seems likely.
 
Thanks Radagast.
I suspect that this pistol is close to the 1922 date as its serial number is lower than the 1116xx you mentioned.
The dealers that examined it at a gun show a few years ago immediately asked if I had the box and seemed disappointed when I said "No". Both said that, with the box, it would have been classed at 98-100% as only a slight loss of the bluing was visible on the edge of the barrel. That was from putting it in & out of its leather holster. Without the box, they said it ranked about 95-98%.
Then they told me the value. :what:

It's now a "safe queen" ! :D
 
Hello. I just recently fell into this model 66 and was wondering about an approximate D.O.B. Its a 4", model 66-1. Serial number is 37K435x. (The x is a number, I'm sure you're aware.) It has some nice smooth hardwood stocks, with Smith and Wesson medalions in them. Do they look like factory grips? Are these what is referred to as combat grips? I pulled them off and there weren't any markings on the inside. Thanks for any help.
 

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I picked up a Model 10-6 at the Wanenmacher show on Saturday and was curious as to when it was born. Thank you for any assistance.
a)38 special
b)4"
c)SB
d)6
c)fixed
f)D268xxx
g)10-6
 
Labug: Your .38 Military & Police Postwar was manufactured in 1948.

OkieBeard: your Model 10-6 .38 Military & Police Heavy Barrel was manufactured in 1969 or 1970. Serial range for those years was D90001 to D330000, so 1970 seems more likely.

Slicksleave: Your Model 66 .357 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1978 or 1979. Serial range for those years was 25K0001 to 56K9999, so 1978 seems more likely.
 
Slicksleave: S&W make smooth target / presentation grips:
http://store.smith-wesson.com/webap...58002_757843_757837_ProductDisplayErrorView_N

Yours have a flare at the bottom which suggests they are Herrets aftermarket grips:
https://www.gunsamerica.com/9838154...s-10-13-14-15-17-18-19-64-65-66-67-581-58.htm

The standard small checkered Magna grips are sometimes referred to as combat grips, but I don't think this is S&W's designation. Smooth roundbutt grips with finger grooves as seen on some special run gun are also called combat grips. As the vast majority of revolvers will never see combat, I consider it a marketing term.
 
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.38 special
4in bbl
Square grips
6 shot
Fixed sights
Serial # 3D62407
Model 10-7
 

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Tony93: your Model 10-7 .38 Military & Police was manufactured in 1978. The -7 refers to a design change on the tapered barrel variant.
 
IMG_2581.JPG Radagast;

Thanks for your dedication to this thread.

I have inherited a Model 686 no dash, 4 inch barrel, GA grips, serial number AFH6183. Any info you can share is appreciated.
 
Hello all! Just purchased a S&W 1917...
1.) .45 ACP
2.) ~5-5.5 inches
3.) Square
4.) Six
5.) Fixed
6.) Serial# 169653

It's a 1937 Brazilian Contract revolver, so while it has the S&W Trademark on the LH-side of the frame, it also has the Brazilian crest on the RH-side plate. 17854687_1476455695706014_6324437662532871289_o.jpg 17758618_1476455692372681_625562109044396708_o.jpg
 
J-Bar your Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1984. Guns in the AEVxxxx to AFJxxxx range shipped in November of that year.
UNless there is an M stamped near the serial number, it is subject to a recall. With some magnum ammo there is the chance that the primer will flow back around the firing pin, locking up the gun. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new pin and bushing. The M stands for modified, and is proof the gun has been fixed.

NottheFace:
Your Model 1917 .45 Hand Ejector U.S. Army falls into the very tail end of the US Army serial range of 1-1695959, so the frame was probably produced in December 1918 or January 1919.
It almost certainly shipped in 1938, there was a large shipment of guns in the serial range 181983 to 207043 that year, I assume (yeah, I know) S&W would have used up old stock before beginning production again. The gun predates the introduction of the non positive hammer block safety. Wether it was retrofitted to your I don't know. Regardless, it was replaced with a positive hammer block after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII. I would treat this gun as a five shooter, if kept loaded leave the hammer down on an empty chamber.
 
I picked up a 586 (no dash) yesterday. Just looking for info on it.

a) .357 mag
b) 6 inch
c) square grip
d) six shots
e) adjustable
f) ACT54xx
g) 586 (no dash)

I took the grips off today, which appear to be original, they are marked Jan 13, 1984. So I would figure the firearm was built around the same time. I read that on the early 586's there was a binding issue which was handled on a case by case basis. There is no "M" mark on the butt indicating the modification was done to this particular firearm. Only one owner prior to me.
 
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