S&W model 36

[Randall Vaughn]

I bought an older blued model 36 yesterday at a gun show. Serial # J849168
Can anyone tell me how old it is?
It's like new condition, and the prices were running very high on these.
I would appreciate any and all help on this. Thank you.

 

[AZAndy]

Welcome to the forum!

The J was added as a prefix to the serial number in 1969, so it won't be older than that. If you open the cylinder, you'll see some numbers on the frame that will help us get closer to when it shipped. Where it says "36," there should be a dash and another number, like 36-1, 36-5, something like that. The number at the dash is the revision number, which can be from 1 to 10 on this model.

A photo would also help, if that's possible. Features were added and taken away over the years, so seeing whether it has a pinned barrel, for example, would help get closer.

Congratulations on your find; they're great little guns.

 

[Coyote3855]

The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 4th Edition page 489 lists a serial number range of J760001-J915400 for 1981.

And welcome to the Forum.

 

[Randall Vaughn]

Welcome to the forum!

The J was added as a prefix to the serial number in 1969, so it won't be older than that. If you open the cylinder, you'll see some numbers on the frame that will help us get closer to when it shipped. Where it says "36," there should be a dash and another number, like 36-1, 36-5, something like that. The number at the dash is the revision number, which can be from 1 to 10 on this model.

A photo would also help, if that's possible. Features were added and taken away over the years, so seeing whether it has a pinned barrel, for example, would help get closer.

Congratulations on your find; they're great little guns.

Welcome to the forum!

The J was added as a prefix to the serial number in 1969, so it won't be older than that. If you open the cylinder, you'll see some numbers on the frame that will help us get closer to when it shipped. Where it says "36," there should be a dash and another number, like 36-1, 36-5, something like that. The number at the dash is the revision number, which can be from 1 to 10 on this model.

A photo would also help, if that's possible. Features were added and taken away over the years, so seeing whether it has a pinned barrel, for example, would help get closer.

Congratulations on your find; they're great little guns.

There's a 36 but no dash and no other numbers

 

[Randall Vaughn]

The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 4th Edition page 489 lists a serial number range of J760001-J915400 for 1981.

And welcome to the Forum.

Thank you!

 

[Randall Vaughn]

Welcome to the forum!

The J was added as a prefix to the serial number in 1969, so it won't be older than that. If you open the cylinder, you'll see some numbers on the frame that will help us get closer to when it shipped. Where it says "36," there should be a dash and another number, like 36-1, 36-5, something like that. The number at the dash is the revision number, which can be from 1 to 10 on this model.

A photo would also help, if that's possible. Features were added and taken away over the years, so seeing whether it has a pinned barrel, for example, would help get closer.

Congratulations on your find; they're great little guns.

There's no dash. Just model 36.

 

[Randall Vaughn]

The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 4th Edition page 489 lists a serial number range of J760001-J915400 for 1981.

And welcome to the Forum.

Thank you!