Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Vlad3572]

Very early post-WWII Military and Police .38, maybe 1946.

Thanks for your input Jim.

 

[PocoSkip]

This going to be a thread for those who are looking for a date of manufacture for their S&W revolvers.

We'd need to know :

a) caliber
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)
c) grips shape (round or square)
d) number of shots/cylinder bores
e) type of sights.
f) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip
g) Model number if it is under the crane.
That number, if it is the s/n, should come from the butt of the grip (or under the barrel or face of the cylinder).

A picture or two is worth A LOT of words in this case...

- .38 Spl, 5 shot, fixed sights, s/n 128718, no model number under crane
round butt, flat cylinder open button

Chief's Special or Model 37 Airweight?

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes. Or by the collector's made up term "pre-37" since it is not marked with the post-1957 designation. From the different color of frame and cylinder, I might guess Airweight, but no need to guess, it should be written on the right side of the barrel. And a magnet will tell the tale for sure.

 

[PocoSkip]

It is an Airweight.

 

[R Barton]

Appreciate help identifying manufacture date & other history about this revolver. It was my husband’s great-grandfather’s who immigrated to the US from Siciliy.

.32
4” barrel
round butt
6 shots
fixed sights
S/N 83804

You can see in the pic the frame is bent near the cylinder. Our guess is from someone’s previous attempt to free up the locked cylinder.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

 

[Eddietruett]

Appreciate help identifying manufacture date & other history about this revolver. It was my husband’s great-grandfather’s who immigrated to the US from Siciliy.

.32
4” barrel
round butt
6 shots
fixed sights
S/N 83804

You can see in the pic the frame is bent near the cylinder. Our guess is from someone’s previous attempt to free up the locked cylinder.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

You have a S&W .32 Hand Ejector 2nd Change. Serial numbers ran from 51127-95500 from 1906-1909. I'd guess yours is late 1908 or early 1909

 

[Armored farmer]

What model does my father in law have here?
He bought it at an auction that sold the estate of a well known local gunshop owner.

.38 s&w caliber

 

[Eddietruett]

View attachment 903018 View attachment 903020 What model does my father in law have here?
He bought it at an auction that sold the estate of a well known local gunshop owner.

.38 s&w caliber

If it is .38 S&W then it would be a 38/32 Terrier or could be called a Pre Model 32. These were produced from 1936-1940 and ceased for the war and production started back up around 1948. Send me the serial number off the butt and I can probably narrow down the shipping date. Yours is built on the I frame. Later models were built on the J Frame as we know it today.

 

[Oaktree45]

Going by the photos on this thread and my other research I think this a .32 Long, Hand Ejector Model of 1903. Since the serial number is 44677 I think this is a 1st Change built between 1904 and 1906. I wish it was in better condition.

 

[Barry loyd]

Smith & Wesson 19-4 6in. Square butt grips. 57K2161.

I just picked this beauty today and hope someone can date it for me.

 

[Eddietruett]

View attachment 904963 Smith & Wesson 19-4 6in. Square butt grips. 57K2161.

I just picked this beauty today and hope someone can date it for me.

1980

 

[Barry loyd]

1980

Thanks Eddie. One year before my birth.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Going by the photos on this thread and my other research I think this a .32 Long, Hand Ejector Model of 1903. Since the serial number is 44677 I think this is a 1st Change built between 1904 and 1906. I wish it was in better condition.

View attachment 904916

I think it looks great for being over a century old! Thats some honest patina, Id leave it just like that. Nice gun!

 

[fork531]

First time posting. Here are the specs on my S&W

.44 mag
8" barrel chrome
Square butt
6 shot
Adj sights
S /N N718618
29-2

 

[Eddietruett]

View attachment 905174 View attachment 905175 First time posting. Here are the specs on my S&W

.44 mag
8" barrel chrome
Square butt
6 shot
Adj sights
S /N N718618
29-2

Shipped in 1980. It is nickel, not chrome. Looks like its in very good shape. Need to get some Flitz or Mothers mag polish and give it a good polishing. Don't need to polish it to death, just enough to renew the shine. You will be surprised how much it will shine.

 

[msmp5]

I think these are called a “Pre-Model 17”? Do they have an official name? This one has a 6” bbl, adj sights, .22lr, in real nice shape. Ser # 6778xx. Would like to know manufacture date. Thanks.

 

[Eddietruett]

View attachment 907263 I think these are called a “Pre-Model 17”? Do they have an official name? This one has a 6” bbl, adj sights, .22lr, in real nice shape. Ser # 6778xx. Would like to know manufacture date. Thanks.

Official name is K-22 Outdoorsman or K-22 1st Model. Made 1931-1940 with serial number range of 632124-682419. Yours would probably be from 1940. You have a very nice and desirable gun.

 

[msmp5]

Wow, thanks for that info. I guess that’s one I’ll hang onto!

 

[Texas10mm]

a) caliber 38 Special
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) 4"
c) grips shape (round or square) Square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores 6
e) type of sights. Fixed
f) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip 6303XX
g) Model number if it is under the crane. None
That number, if it is the s/n, should come from the butt of the grip (or under the barrel or face of the cylinder).

5 screw, pinned, but not recessed. Military and Police, pre-model 10 if I'm not mistaken.


Thanks.

 

[Eddietruett]

a) caliber 38 Special
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) 4"
c) grips shape (round or square) Square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores 6
e) type of sights. Fixed
f) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip 6303XX
g) Model number if it is under the crane. None
That number, if it is the s/n, should come from the butt of the grip (or under the barrel or face of the cylinder).

5 screw, pinned, but not recessed. Military and Police, pre-model 10 if I'm not mistaken.


Thanks.

You are correct it is a .38 M&P Model of 1905 4th change. Little hard to pin down ship date but the serial number range from 241704-1000000 from 1915-1942. 758,296 were produced. Based on a couple listed in the catalog with known shipping dates, yours probably shipped around the early 30's

 

[Texas10mm]

You are correct it is a .38 M&P Model of 1905 4th change. Little hard to pin down ship date but the serial number range from 241704-1000000 from 1915-1942. 758,296 were produced. Based on a couple listed in the catalog with known shipping dates, yours probably shipped around the early 30's

Thanks! That's earlier than I would have thought.

 

[35 Whelen]

a) Caliber- 32-20
b) Barrel length- 5"
c) Grips shape -Square
d) Number of shots/cylinder bores- 6
e) Type of sights- Fixed
f) Serial number-141XXX
g) Model number if it is under the crane. None

Thanks!

 

[Eddietruett]

Probably shipped in 1940. The stopped producing the .32-.20 Hand ejector in 1940 and last serial number was 144684. Yours was near the end. BYW It would be called the 32-20 Hand ejector of 1905 4th change.

 

[WestKentucky]

38 single action. 2nd model. Serial 71,7xx
I’m just curious to the year of manufacture

 

[WestKentucky]

32sw safety hammerless. I know it’s a late model but I haven’t tried to figure out which iteration yet. It’s broken but will be easy to fix.

Serial is 2315xx