Birthday Gun

digi-shots · #1 08-28-2011, 04:34 PM

Among the various guns that people collect are "Birthday Guns"... those guns that were made or shipped the same year that they were born.

I've been looking for a while and just recently got this one - my husband found it! It's an M&P .38 Special snub nose shipped the same month & year of my birth! It came with matching serial numbered diamond magna grips.

The photo shows a very nice pair of carved Steer Head Pearl Grips that I got from forum member Dan Meigs two years ago. I've been holding onto them looking for that "special K-frame" to put them on!

Feel free to post your "Birthday Gun" and be as creative as you wish!

P.S. Now I'm gonna go eat the cupcake!

sceva · #2 08-28-2011, 04:41 PM

Everyone should heve a Birthday Gun.

Mine is a K-22 shipped to Ohio (My home state) 4 days before I was born.

Horace & Daniel · #3 08-28-2011, 04:43 PM

Sweet snubbie. Love the grips. Do you carry it regularly or does it server double duty as your Birthday/Barbecue Gun?

I didn't even know "birthday" guns existed. Great idea! What would you suggest for a good birthday revolver made/shipped in Dec. 1960 or June 1971? Mine (the craddle-robbing husband) is 1960, while my wife's is 1971.

trouthunterdj · #4 08-28-2011, 04:44 PM

1974 wasn't a collectible year.

ddj

ar15ed · #5 08-28-2011, 05:10 PM

"birthday guns" is about the best excuse for buying more guns i have ever seen! i have several birthday guns, b'day guns for my wife, my son, my dad, even my grandfather. i am still looking for one for my mom's b'day. here is a model 38.

here is a det sp.

here is the det with factory pearls.

i won't bore you with any more!
trout! you have to be kidding! i even have a b'day gun for you!
here is a 42 from 1974!

Iggy · #6 08-28-2011, 06:10 PM

Happy Birthday to ya!!

Ok, lemme see here.... They quit makin' that model back in about... uh, cain't find my book. They ain't made them WK stocks since... Oh yeh, that was about when.. Wait till I git my boots off here, I run out of fingers to count.... I'll git yure birthday corraled here in a minnit.

Anyhow that's a mighty purty gun. I reckon your husband done just fine on that one for sure.

lawandorder · #7 08-28-2011, 06:22 PM

Linda that is plumb purty!

Happy Birthday..........Gun!

trouthunterdj · #8 08-28-2011, 06:27 PM

ar15ed - I am going to have to buy another gun!

ddj

Lee Barner · #9 08-28-2011, 06:53 PM

linda, happy birthday. i've sought those out also. got a K-22, a K-38, 38/44HD that shipped one week after i was born to Lee's Hardware, Shrevport, LA, a colt gov't model, marlin 39A and 336A and a win 75T. fun things to look for. lee

Art Doc · #10 08-28-2011, 07:08 PM

I actually have a bunch of guns made the year I was born but I never went looking for any of them. I just happened to acquire them. The closest known date to my birthday is a 1950 Target Model 44 that shipped April 26, 1955. I was born on April 19.

A member here once had a 357 Magnum that shipped on my birthday and he did offer to sell it to me but I couldn't bring myself to pay the asking price.

lawandorder · #11 08-28-2011, 07:21 PM

Now Lee are you sure they made K22s that long ago?

Robinett_11B · #12 08-28-2011, 07:22 PM

My only birthyear gun...unfortunately, the pick of choice S&W revolvers was pretty much dried up by the time I was born

The hunt remains for a nice one from 1988 to add to the collection...a nice revolver that is!

I know, I know...wrong forum...my only '88 vintage S&W though :/

I've got birthyear guns for other folks though, to be sure

sheriffoconee · #13 08-28-2011, 09:26 PM

My 1958 Model 10 no dash.....got it for 300 bucks at a LGS...I don't believe it had been fired but a few times before I got it...Happy Birthday to me...
[IMG]

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crsides · #14 08-28-2011, 09:39 PM

I'm still looking ... but it gonna be a one liner I know.

Charlie

Biginge · #15 08-28-2011, 09:51 PM

All you younguns are making it hard for me. The only Birthday gun I have is a pre-Victory. Seems they were gearing up for WWII when I arrived. I'll keep searching though.

Yours for more days afield

Bill

ditrina · #16 08-28-2011, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digi-shots

Among the various guns that people collect are "Birthday Guns"... those guns that were made or shipped the same year that they were born.

I've been looking for a while and just recently got this one - my husband found it! It's an M&P .38 Special snub nose shipped the same month & year of my birth! It came with matching serial numbered diamond magna grips.

The photo shows a very nice pair of carved Steer Head Pearl Grips that I got from forum member Dan Meigs two years ago. I've been holding onto them looking for that "special K-frame" to put them on!

Feel free to post your "Birthday Gun" and be as creative as you wish!

P.S. Now I'm gonna go eat the cupcake!

Great looking 1986 Model Year Gun

G.T. Smith · #17 08-28-2011, 10:14 PM

Send me one that is dated, 09/29/1950, and I will die happy.
Have a good work week,
gordon

OK Hog Shooter · #18 08-28-2011, 10:22 PM

I've got a 1950 K-22 and Winchester 30-30... the 1950 K-38 ships this week. I'll definitely take some pics when the K-38 arrives. Now that oughta be something!

w10085 · #19 08-28-2011, 10:38 PM

Very nice gun! Here is my 1956 .44 Magnum shipped 5 days before my birthday. The barrel length and nickle are not original and it now sports different grips.

john3136 · #20 08-29-2011, 12:48 AM

I've got a single action only M14 that "the book" says was made the same year as me.
Don't know if it is me, it, ammo or all of the above, but I can't shoot it anywhere near as well as my 686, so it stays in the safe.

Probably won't sell it though, just cos of the year!

Hunt200 · #21 08-29-2011, 01:03 AM

This 10-3 shipped the year I was born.

A10 · #22 08-29-2011, 01:36 AM

I have a 1955 Highway Patrolman (that kinda fits) that I haven't lettered yet....close enough for government work! It's a little worn around the edges and the finish isn't quite as good as the day it was born, kinda like me. The action is smooth as silk, kinda alot not like me. It's also had some parts (grips) replaced, kinda like me also. I guess it'll do.

Hammerdown · #23 08-29-2011, 04:52 AM

Hello
Cool Thread. I Looked long and Hard to land one on my Birthday but found out from MR Jinks that the factory was closed down due to High heat in the First Week of August 1959.

I did locate Two 1959 Guns though one being a Four screw Model 48 First year gun that shipped in December 1959 that was shipped back to the S&W factory and fitted with the optional .22 L.R. cylinder at a later date, and my Model of 1955 Five screw .45 Target revolver shown below that shipped in April 1959....

smokey04 · #24 08-29-2011, 08:08 AM

I have 9. In fact it is the theme of my collection. All are 1911A1s, 2 Colts,2 US&S,2 Ithacas, and 3 Rem-Rands. I'm still looking for S&W Victory and Colt Commando revolvers made in....Ah......1943. Nick

smokey04 · #25 08-29-2011, 08:12 AM

Hammerdown, I love that "convertible" Mod. 48 ! I have several SAA Colts that are "converts" and they are the most useful of utility guns short of .357 Mag. Someday I hope to find a S&W DA like yours. Great piece! Nick

Dave T · #26 08-29-2011, 10:08 AM

I've had sufficient difficulty finding a 1948 N-frame that I don't worry about the month it was shipped, just looking for a birth-year. I'm thinking it will probably end up being one of the 38/44s, either a Heavy Duty or an Outdoorsman, serial number in the 71,000-72,000 range if I'm calculating correctly. Either would be fine.

The only 1948 gun I have now is a Commercial Government Model. Not appropriate picture material for this forum. (smile)

Dave

H Richard · #27 08-29-2011, 11:57 AM

Being born in 1941 makes it a little tougher finding a birth year gun. Just a Pre Victory at this time.

sigp220.45 · #28 08-29-2011, 12:59 PM

Just this one, but I like it. 1959 No-dash Model 19:

snw19_357 · #29 08-29-2011, 01:37 PM

Sweet 19 sigp220.45!

Just the one birthyear gun.

Reddog · #30 08-29-2011, 01:48 PM

Happy Birthday, Linda!
Here's mine! It's awful old, like me! It didn't ship until October, 1935 and I was born in July, but that's close enough.
Dick

McGivern · #31 08-29-2011, 03:08 PM

I have two birthday guns and I wasn't even looking for them. My Reg. Mag. was shipped three days before I was born (6-'35) and my pre 29 was shipped one week before I turned 21. Doesn't get much better than that. Sorry I don't have picture capabilities.

SWP357 · #32 08-29-2011, 04:45 PM

My 686+ 3" was made on my B-Day, unfortunately 56 years after mine!

Memphis · #33 08-29-2011, 10:49 PM

This is the only birthday gun I've ever had and darn near turned a flip when I found it. Per Mr Jinks it was shipped in June 1956. I was shipped on June 20th 1956. I haven't lettered it yet. It is a nice post war Heavy Duty with a 6.5 inch barrel with matching number grips.

Roger

SPEEDGUNNER · #34 08-30-2011, 09:24 AM

How hard (and expensive) would it be for me to find a .44 Magnum made in August 1954? Would that be a pre-29 5-screw? What serial range?

Is there a pre-19 Combat Magnum of that vintage? That would be cool too.

I want one.

bmcgilvray · #35 08-30-2011, 10:54 AM

The only firearm that qualifies around here as a birth-year gun is this brand-X Colt Officer's Model Match. Despite its 54 years it is very accurate and works as well as ever, something I can't seem to quite accomplish these days.

suckersrus · #36 08-30-2011, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digi-shots

....Feel free to post your "Birthday Gun" and be as creative as you wish! ....

No one has a rifle?
I'm still looking for a handgun or two.

1952 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 308.
The first year that Winchester made the Featherweight was 1952.
The first year Winchester chambered the 308 was 1952.
In case you didn't see this coming, I was born in 1952.

I'm so old I used my C&R license to make the purchase.

Stocked by Accurate Innovations, Inc.
Custom Replacement Gunstocks, Rifle Stocks - Quality, Accuracy, Aluminum Chassis - Accurate Innovations

I also have a couple Winchester Model 94's from 1952 and a Marlin 336 from 1952. Hey, I have grandsons!

Cake for a birthday? Now that is a good idea! Why didn't I think of that? No more guns for me, I want cake. Haha.

LOBO · #37 08-31-2011, 06:08 PM

Same year as me.....1976.

29-2, 4"

With a work of art by Charlie May.....

pace40 · #38 08-31-2011, 08:44 PM

What a cool thread, Linda.

This 357 Hand Ejector was born in 1955 like me.

Some guy named Jarvis scratched it all up before it left the factory though.

DCWilson · #39 08-31-2011, 09:18 PM

Linda, nice little heater. Happy Birthday.

I was born halfway between the planet's first two nuclear exposions (Trinity and Hiroshima), so the gun I am looking for will have to be a Victory with a S/N around 790000, I believe. One of these days...

I do have a couple of near birthday anniversary guns, including a .38/44 HD shipped just a few days before my first birthday. If S&W had shipped it to Austin instead of Chicago, it might have arrived on the day itself!

This one...

ditrina · #40 08-31-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pace40

What a cool thread, Linda.

This 357 Hand Ejector was born in 1955 like me.

Some guy named Jarvis scratched it all up before it left the factory though.

It took a bit for my heart to start up again..

BUT I still have no breath in my body....

OMG.. What a treasure...

j38 · #41 08-31-2011, 10:39 PM

This 5-inch M&P shipped February of 1951, while my "ship" date is November, 1951. .... actually, February of 1951 was probably my manufacture date - so I guess this gun is right on!

I also have a very nice Colt 1911 from 1951.

Jerry

625smith · #42 08-31-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suckersrus

No one has a rifle?
I'm still looking for a handgun

Here is the one that is very close to my birthday. Remington 40XB .22 LR barrel date of 12/1964. I don't have a birthday S&W yet.

arjay · #43 09-01-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEEDGUNNER

How hard (and expensive) would it be for me to find a .44 Magnum made in August 1954? Would that be a pre-29 5-screw? What serial range?

Is there a pre-19 Combat Magnum of that vintage? That would be cool too.

I want one.

That's a tough one.I think they started production of the 44 at the end of '55, beginning of 56. I finally found a 57-58 4 screw 44 which is just 3 years newer than I am.

ArkieVol · #44 09-07-2011, 01:47 AM

I've been looking for a "birthday gun" for a long time and have hit all around it but can't seem to find an exact date. However, last week I got a call from my local gun shop to help them identify a revolver a customer had brought in to sell (I'm their #1 S&W buyer

). They thought it was an old M&P so I went to check it out. It wasn't an M&P.

It was a 95% 1939, SN 576xx, 38/44 Outdoorsman with pristine pre-war Magna stocks. I was two years old when it was made but I figured that was close enough...no way I was going to pass it up. I'll just lie about my age

.

DRYHEAT · #45 05-07-2013, 01:20 PM

As close as I have come so far: shipped exactly 7 days after I was; Nov. 20, 1947

M&P .38 Special

BAM-BAM · #46 05-07-2013, 01:49 PM

I've been looking for a birth year gun for the last couple of years..(Nov. 1953) without any luck...........sometimes I wonder if/how the Korean War affected S&Ws commercial production????

I really would like a pre-19 4 inch ........ ya I know; not possible!!!! LOL Or a 3 1/2" Pre-Model 27.....haven't seen one of those around here in at least 10-15 years..........

But the last model 17 I found/purchased is now "offically" my wife's as she's claimed it as her birth year gun (1959). Someday the boys will get the 1948 and 1957 pre-17s........

1blindref · #47 05-07-2013, 01:56 PM

Here's mine - shipped a few months after me in 1963