S&W 17-4 K22, Date Help?

[Ardent]

Anyone have the S&W book handy and able to help me learn the year of my 17-4? I understand it’s 1977-1988 vintage, and I believe she’s mid 80s. Would be very grateful for any help gleaning a ship date from Smith, the serial is AEY20XX.

 

[jobu07]

I can't help you on the date, but I wanted to say that's a beautiful gun.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

AEV-AFJ - November 1984 (Standard Cat 3rd ed)

 

[Ardent]

Thank you very much! That’s hugely appreciated.

 

[bangswitch]

AEV-AFJ - November 1984 (Standard Cat 3rd ed)

I concur, but OP should realize that it is an approximation based on reported SN's. The three-letter prefix used after 1982-83 is even worse than the previous system for dating a S&W firearm. The only definitive way to know the ship date (S&W uses shipping date as the "birthday" )is to get a letter from S&W Historical Foundation. There can be a substantial time difference between when the gun came off the line and when it was sold.

 

[Ardent]

Well seeing as this is a keeper, I’ll invest in a letter for her. I really appreciate it guys.