Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

superdigitllol:
You have a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 5th Change manufactured between 1910 & 1917 in the serial range 102501 to 263000.
Your gun predates the modern internal hammer block safety. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
It also predates heat treatment of cylinders, so stick to factory lead ammunition or equivalent handloads. Hot handloads may result in a bulged or cracked cylinder.
 
omfc:
1971 or 1972. The J serial number 'prefix' floated within a 5 digit numeral range during those years. As the range ended at 999J99 in 1972, I guesstimate your gun has a 1972 birth year.
 
a) 32 W.C.F. CTG
b) 4”
c) Square
d) 6
e) Fixed
f) 913XX
g) No model number
 
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mgbill:
Your Model 48-4 K22 Masterpiece Magnum Rimfire was manufactured in 1978 or 1979. Serial range for those years was 25K0001 to 56K9999, so 1978 seems likely.

Pabner :
Your .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change was manufactured between 1919 & 1940, serial range during that period was 81287 to 144684. In the four years leading up to to 1919 only 15000 .32-20 Hand Ejectors were made. Production basically came to a halt during the great depression, so I would guesstimate your gun as being from the early to mid 1920s.

Your gun has a heat treated cylinder, so it should be safe to fire with any modern .32-20 ammo. Old boxes marked Hi-Speed should not be shot, as these were jacketed rounds for rifles only. The jackets could strip off in the pistol barrel, with the next round fired hitting the jacket and bulging the barrel. Current ammo is downloaded to be safe in the old revolvers.

32WCF = .32 Winchester Centerfire = .32=20.

Your gun lacks the modern hammer block safety introduced during World War II. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
 
Radagast,

Thanks for the time and effort you expend in providing this type of service. It is genuinely appreciated.

mgbill
 
One more...

a: .357 Magnum
b: 6.5"
c: squared
d: 6
e: adjustable rear
f: N111994
g: 28-2

(I'm guessing late-72, based on answers to folks with Highway Patrolmen having nearby serial numbers. Did I come close?)

mgbill
 
Got another one. Model 60-2, Round butt, 2" barrel, Serial # BAA717x. Also says NY-1 above the model number. What is the significance of NY-1, and what would be an approximate D.O.B.?
 
if you're taking questions...

i've got a old S&W .41 J frame serial # ajp01XX. also has the numbers 4758 stamped on the side of the frame under the grips. square butt, firing pin on the hammer, it had an 8" barrel but i think my dad had it cut down...it's 4" now.
 
Wow what a helpful thread, I'm sure this one has been done but I couldn't find it.

Thanks in advance
.38 Special
3"
Square
6 shot
Fixed
Model 10-7
K?
S/N) 8D90xxx
 
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38 S&W Special CTG

Looking for information on a 38 S&W Special CTG I've recently received. The 6 character serial number starts with 352xxx there is also a "V" stamped about 1/2 inch to the left of the S/N.
I was told it was used in North Africa during WWII.
 
I assume you're talking about a revolver, and that it is probably a Smith and Wesson at minimum, but what you provided is only the cartridge (that's what "CTG" stands for.) Sounds like a Model 10 "Victory" unit, and that would be about the right time frame. I think they were British-issued, but I might be wrong about that part.
 
Made between 1942 to 1945, If in 38 S&W Special ( what 38 Special CTG means ), it was used by U.S forces, in 38 S&W caliber it was used by England and the Commonwealth countries. Used in North Africa WWII, maybe, maybe not?. :) With out proven doucumentation the North African story is just that a story, no way to prove or disprove it. The gun may have spent the entire time on a sailors hip guarding the NX ( Naval exchange ) at Great Lakes Naval base in Ill.Sorry about that., still a nice gun and they have become somewhat collectible.
 
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wkumatt:
Your Model 10-7 .38 Military & Police Tapered Barrel was manufactured in 1981.

dbsak:
The J frame was never chambered for a .41 caliber cartridge, it was chambered in for 32, 327, .38 & .357 caliber cartridges.
the .41 magnum was chambered on the N frame Model 57 ( adjustable sights) & Model 58 (fixed sights). I am assuming you have a a Model 57 as this came with an 8 & 3/8 inch barrel as an option.
Regardless, the AJPxxxx serial number should date it to between July & November 1985.

slicksleeve:
NY1 refers to a Model 60 with double action only manufactured for the NYPD in 1987/88. There were problems with some revolvers and they were withdrawn from service in 1988. The unsold stocks held by the NYPD were returned to S&W on June 23 1989. Officers who had purchsed the model 60 were offered a swap for a Model 64.
The unsold guns were modified and resold through commercial channels.
If there is a human silhouette target stamped on the frame near the NY-1 markings then it is a duty gun that was examined and initially passed for service before continuing problems lead to their permanent withdrawal.
A total of 3630 NY-1 marked Model 60s were made, 1353 unsold units were returned to S&W. Most fell in the serial range BAA6000 to BAA8000, as does your gun.
The info above is from the Standard catalog of S&W and was provided to the authors by RM Vivas, a gun dealer and collector in NYC. http://vivasandson.com/

B_Li_Ber_Tar_Ian:
If your gun has a serial number 180,000 then it is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 3rd Change manufactured between 1909 & 1915. 3 inches was not a standard barrel length however.
It's possible you have a later model 10 revolver and are quoting an assembly number, not the serial number. The serial number is found on the bottom of the grip frame, if you have aftermarket or target grips you will need to remove the grips to see the serial number. Assembly numbers were markings stamped on parts to track them in the factory, but have no meaning and are not recorded after the gun is completed.

mgbill: 1973 actually. :) N1 to N99999 was assigned in 1969-1972, the N1xxxxx range was used in 1973.
 
Radagast,

Hey - "late-72" is about as close as you can get to "1973"! If this was Horseshoes, I'd be scoring points. Thanks again for your assistance.

mgbill
 
wow, Radagast, were you really up @ 3 a.m.?!

Here's my 3:
a: 38 Spl
b: 4"
c: sq. butt
d: fixed sights
e: 3d561xx
f: Mdl 10-7

a: 22 LR
b: 4"
c: sq. butt
d: adjustable sights
e: 3K927xx
f: Mdl 18-3

a: 357 Mag
b: 4"
c: sq. butt
d: adjustable sights
e: ACF 99xx
f: Mdl 586 (no suffix)

Thanks so much
 
If this thread is still active:
Here's mine:
a: .44 s&w russian
b: 6"
c: round butt
d: fixed sights
e: 3745
f: Mdl 3
 
Hi guys..first time to post..
Have a .38 S&W Spl.....barrell is 1 1/4 inches long. .round grip...serial # is 109723.

Looks just like .38 in lower photo plus is missing thumbpiece as well...Need help with age, thumbpiece and screw.


http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=61201&d=1278289518

This pistol has some awesome history behind it. Will be posting more about it......
Thanks



John
 
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gbran:
Late 1985.

texas1776:
You have a Chiefs Special manufactured in 1956. A good source of parts is Numrich arms: http://www.gunpartscorp.com/ You will want the earlier 'flat latch' if you want to restore it to original condition. In 1957 the Chiefs Special was designated the Model 36.

AFK for a a while. I'll answer the other questions a little later.
 
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