Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Hi Radagast, here's mine. I bought it from a retired NYPD officer. It took a bit to clean it up and get the cylinder to spin and come out. So it's a model 36, 5 shot, .38 special. S/N J33690

I was working the desk at my PD and the gentleman came in to dispose of his old revolver. He said he didn't want it anymore. We do take unwanted firearms in and (cringe), destroy them. So I offered to buy it from him. I asked how much he wanted and , he, in turn asked how much money I had in my pocket. I honestly said $15 dollars. He said Sold. I did the firearms forms right there at desk. So for $15 I got the revolver, IWB holster and 2 old boxes of ammo for it. She cleaned up pretty well besides wear marks. Shoots real good though.
Thanks Radagast
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Happy new year, Cajun!
Model 24-3 Model of 1950 .44 Special Target Reintroduction (that is a mouthful). 7500 guns manufactured 1983 to 1984 in the serial range ABZ0000 to ABZ9999.
Target hammer and trigger, adjustable rear sight, Baughman ramp front sight, target stocks.
As guns in the ADExxxxx serial range shipped late 1983, my guess is all Model 24-3 frames were actually manufactured in 1983, with shipping and possibly final assembly only occurring as orders came in.
 
Hi! I just got a model 10 from my grandmother that was given to my grandfather at some point. I'm trying to figure out the age and possible history of it.

A) .38sp
B) 4"
C) square
D) 6 shot
E) fixed sights
F) 942728 same on butt, under cylinder

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Have an enigmatic S&W, a) .38 special, b) 6" barrel, C) rounded grip, D) 6 shot, E) Front Blade - groove on topstrap, F) S/N 612344. The s/n is duplicated under the barrel but is overstamped CAI St.Albans VT. Model 10. The model number is not noted anywhere else on the gun.
I understand CAI indicates the gun was exported and re-imported. Hoping to find out approximately when it was built. The Ejector button has been replaced but the gun appears otherwise original - finish is worn off and missing a screw next to the hammer - like to find out where to get one of those also. Thanks for the interest and this site. 20170101_231658.jpg 20170101_231812.jpg 20170101_233926.jpg
 
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chewiemac1974:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1942. This was the predecessor to the the Model 10. Most parts do not interchange.
This was likely a commercial contract gun for a civilian security guard, IIRC by that time all production was under Govt. control with the vast majority marked US Property on the top strap and sent to the US armed forces or British Commonwealth. Some guns were allocated to essential war production facilities.

Derwin:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change that falls into the serial range for 1927-1931. The medallions in the grips are post 1929 and the ejector rod is from 1930 or later, so 1930 or 1931 is most likely. Frames were being manufactured and stockpiled as S&W tried to keep its staff employed during the great depression, so the gun may not have been completed until years later.
CAI refers to Century International Arms, an importer of military surplus firearms. The gun is not a Model 10, its is an early ancestor, the model 10 uses the same K frame, with a different action.
I don't see any British proof marks in the pics, so it probably wasn't a commercial gun bought in 1940 when Britain was desperate for arms after Dunkirk, but anything is possible.
A $50 fee to the S&W Historian will gain you a factory letter which will tell you when and were it was shipped to. The gun is in poor shape, so the letter will not add to the value, only satisfy your curiosity.

knee-dragger777:
Exposed hammer and not marked Airweight on the barrel? If so it is a Pre Model 36, the Chiefs Special manufactured between 1955 (serial number 75000) and 1957 (serial number 117770). My guesstimate is late 1956.
 
Radagast said:
chewiemac1974:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1942. This was the predecessor to the the Model 10. Most parts do not interchange.
This was likely a commercial contract gun for a civilian security guard, IIRC by that time all production was under Govt. control with the vast majority marked US Property on the top strap and sent to the US armed forces or British Commonwealth. Some guns were allocated to essential war production facilities.

Derwin:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change that falls into the serial range for 1927-1931. The medallions in the grips are post 1929 and the ejector rod is from 1930 or later, so 1930 or 1931 is most likely. Frames were being manufactured and stockpiled as S&W tried to keep its staff employed during the great depression, so the gun may not have been completed until years later.
CAI refers to Century International Arms, an importer of military surplus firearms. The gun is not a Model 10, its is an early ancestor, the model 10 uses the same K frame, with a different action.
I don't see any British proof marks in the pics, so it probably wasn't a commercial gun bought in 1940 when Britain was desperate for arms after Dunkirk, but anything is possible.
A $50 fee to the S&W Historian will gain you a factory letter which will tell you when and were it was shipped to. The gun is in poor shape, so the letter will not add to the value, only satisfy your curiosity.

knee-dragger777:
Exposed hammer and not marked Airweight on the barrel? If so it is a Pre Model 36, the Chiefs Special manufactured between 1955 (serial number 75000) and 1957 (serial number 117770). My guesstimate is late 1956.
Click to expand...
 
32-20
4" barrel
Fixed sights
No idea what model - no markings that I recall
DA 6 shooter
107639
 
ilbob:
That serial number fits a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1920 (serial number 87900) and 1923 (serial number 111600). Barrel should be marked .32 W.C.F. CTG on the right side, Smith & Wesson may be stamped on the left. The only marking on the frame should be the serial number on the butt and the S&W trade mark on the left side.

Edit: The MADE IN USA stamp was added in May 1922, so your gun dates to 1922 or 1923.
bulged barrels were fairly common with these when fired with the old high speed jacketed ammo. Current lead cowboy loads should be fine.
 
To add to what Radagast said, that revolver is the precursor to the Model 10. S&W didn't start with model numbers until ~1957. .32-20 WCF was a factory chambering for the M&P at the time yours was made.
 
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