I just acquired a S&W No.2 serial 55730.
Could anybody tell me in which year it was manufactured ?
Thanks for your help.

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Patbar, the #2 was made from 1861 to 1874 with serial numbers from 1 to 77155. If you figure a yearly production of 5500 guns, that would have it shipping in the 10th year...1871. However, that is not an accurate method. I believe Ed (opoefc) might have the shop foreman's production log and can give you an exact date of manufacture. By the way, that gun is in beautiful condition. Congratulations!

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Nice gun thanks for posting

That is a very nice 6" Model 2 and it would have shipped shortly after the Civil War. 35,000 to 40,000 (roughly 10,000/year) were sold during the war and another 30,000 (roughly 5,000/year) sold after the war ended. An example within 200 of your serial number shipped in 1867.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

This site will help with much information
Smith and Wesson Model 2 Army Revolver
very nice firearm

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age is just a number

In 1870, during the war against Prussia, the French army purchased 3167 No.2 from S&W, but they stayed unused in an arsenal and many years later, they were sold in the civilian market.
This is why most of these guns are in very good condition, even mint for some.
My own No.2 was probably one of those.

Model 2 Army, serial number 55578 was shipped in Oct. 1870. Ed

Based ont the fact that the serials of the last No.2's produced during the civil war were around 40,000 and that, according to Gary, the production rate after the war was of roughly 5,000 per year, the guns in the 55,000's range should have been manufactured in 1867-68.
This confirms what Gary also wrote about an example within 200 of my serial number being shipped in 1867.
Besides that, having read in some Colt letters that at this time, guns could stay in the factory stocks for several years before being shipped, what opoefc writes about No. 55578 being shipped in 1870 is also very credible.
I don't think that the 3,167 guns ordered by France in 1870 were immediately manufactured in emergency to be delivered the same year. They very probably came from old stocks.

As you will read often in this Forum, the factory did not ship in serial number order, but rather grabbed the first one on the shelf to fill an order. That may often have been the last one on the shelf to come off the line. With increasing inventories, guns made after the Civil War could have been in inventory for some time, so the only way to obtain an accurate date is to obtain a factory letter.

Our friend Ed has information contained in original logs from the factory that others do not have access to, so I would take Ed's date to the bank.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Gary, excuse me, but I am French and I don't undertstand what you mean by 'take Ed's date to the bank'.
Can you please explain ?

I wondered if you were familiar with that expression . The expression "take something to the bank" means you can totally rely on the information being correct. (C'est tout à fait juste.) Another similar idiom is "you can bank on it" which means the same thing. In this case, the date that Ed provided is absolutely valid and reliable.

We often throw around acronyms, abbreviations and idioms without regard for our international members. Believe me that we aren't trying to be rude. We're just Americans.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Vous pouvez faire entièrement confiance Ed's d'informations

I think this is a proper translation.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Howdy

I have SN 729XX and according to Roy it shipped in October of 1870.

Unfortunately as with all things S&W, you cannot count on them having shipped in order of serial numbers.

I own 35107 that shipped in March of 1865. It also holds the distinction of being one of the last guns EVER sold on eBay. It is considered an antique by the BATF so should not have become an issue but right around the time that I bought it, eBay came out with their anti gun BS policies.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Driftwood, I would ask Roy to reverify that Oct 1870 date for a Model Two in the 729XX range. That's seems too early for that high a number. Ed.

Thanks to Guy and Gary for explaining the expression 'take someone's date to the bank'. I'm always eager to learn.
But now, can you tell me where I have to go to get Ed's informations ?

opoefc (Ed) shared the ship date for your Model 2 in post #7. Enjoy your Model 2.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Oh, Okay. Thanks, Gary.

[IMG][/IMG]Ed, this is exactly the information I’ve been looking for. I inherited a #2 from my grandfather s/n 20452 and haven’t been able to find out anything about it. All matching numbers. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I will post a few photos as soon as I figure out how.