1st Year Pre-28 S-Prefix has no S/N marked on cylinder?

THREEDFLYER · #1 08-30-2017, 12:40 AM

Was oiling up the 4" Pre-28 with S/N S11183X and noticed that there is no S/N present on the cylinder. This is one of the more scarce 4-screw Pre-28's according to the catalog. Based on the production being 8,427 units for the first year (1954) I am going to assume this is a first year Pre-28.

It also has target style stocks....but no S/N is present on them.

There are no markings indicating this one was sent back to the factory for any work and it's not refinished.

Can you guys tell me if there was a point in the mid 1950's when S&W may not have stamped the S/N on the cylinders? The S/N is present on the barrel and the butt as usual.

JP@AK · #2 08-30-2017, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THREEDFLYER

Was oiling up the 4" Pre-28 with S/N S11183X and noticed that there is no S/N present on the cylinder. This is one of the more scarce 4-screw Pre-28's according to the catalog. Based on the production being 8,427 units for the first year (1954) I am going to assume this is a first year Pre-28.

It also has target style stocks....but no S/N is present on them.

There are no markings indicating this one was sent back to the factory for any work and it's not refinished.

Can you guys tell me if there was a point in the mid 1950's when S&W may not have stamped the S/N on the cylinders? The S/N is present on the barrel and the butt as usual.

The earliest one I've found that lacks the serial number on the barrel flat and cylinder is a K-38 Masterpiece that left the factory in November, 1956. I previously owned that gun, but it got traded off to fill a gap in my K-38 collection. I don't presently own an N frame from between the years 1951 and 1956, but I once had a .357 Magnum that shipped in May, 1952, that had all the numbers in the expected locations, including on the Magna stocks.

two-bit cowboy · #3 08-30-2017, 02:06 AM

For reference: I have Highway Patrolman S121610 with the sn on the cylinder and all the other suspected places. Folks here believe it's a 1954 gun, too.

Doc44 · #4 08-30-2017, 08:43 AM

Tom...the cylinder may have missed the numbering step, or possibly could have been replaced during a rework during manufacture. I have two 44 Magnums from 1956 that do not have the serial number on the cylinder and have a lightly stamped R on the bottom left side of the grip frame indicating they were reworked during manufacture.

Also, your HP has a 5-screw frame.

Bill

Muley Gil · #5 08-30-2017, 09:14 AM

Did you check the back of the ejector star for a number?

THREEDFLYER · #6 08-30-2017, 09:21 AM

I checked the grip frame and upon close inspection see NO markings.

I also stand corrected, mine is indeed a 5-Screw.

THREEDFLYER · #7 08-30-2017, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

Did you check the back of the ejector star for a number?

Yes, I checked.....there are some very faint numbers that are nearly impossible to make out.....but the numbers that I can read are not part of the guns S/N.

Doc44 · #8 08-30-2017, 10:31 AM

Sometimes parts were not numbered. It didn't happen often, but...

Bill

Wiregrassguy · #9 08-30-2017, 11:31 AM

Tom, open the cylinder and turn it to where you can see the yoke arm through one of the chambers. I believe they were still stamping the SN there at that time. If it is there, it should match the barrel and butt.

stroker · #10 08-30-2017, 12:07 PM

Tom
I have pre-28 serial #S111,839. It has the serial number stamped on the rear of the cylinder.

TLflag · #11 08-30-2017, 05:20 PM

I have Pre-28; 104040; all 5 serial numbers including stocks. Pre-28 112933; all 5 serials numbers. Pre-28 119298; all 5 serial numbers.

Hope this helps

THREEDFLYER · #12 08-30-2017, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

Tom, open the cylinder and turn it to where you can see the yoke arm through one of the chambers. I believe they were still stamping the SN there at that time. If it is there, it should match the barrel and butt.

I took a look through the chamber and there is no markings on the yoke arm.

The only marking on the cylinder face is a small capital letter "H"

Wiregrassguy · #13 08-31-2017, 07:53 AM

Hmmm. My HP SN S1263XX has the SN on the yoke arm and cylinder face. You might check the assembly numbers in the yoke against the one on the back of the side plate. If those don't match, I think you probably have a replaced yoke/cylinder assembly.

black88is · #14 09-03-2017, 09:43 AM

Pre model 28, 4" barrel, #1133xx, with non-relieved targets. I believe to be early 1954

The Gila Bender · #15 09-03-2017, 11:11 AM

HP #S114081 shipped 7/20/54 has serial number stamped in all the right places.

DWalt · #16 09-03-2017, 08:27 PM

Sometime in the late 1950s, around the time model numbering started, S&W ceased stamping SNs on most of the traditional areas such as the barrel, cylinder, and grips. Yours is from a little earlier than the late 1950s, so there must be another explanation.

Doc44 · #17 09-03-2017, 08:45 PM

S&W stopped stamping the serial number on the barrel and cylinder when they discontinued the Soft Fitting Operation in May 1957. The cylinder and yoke were replaced during a rework operation during manufacture or they were just not stamped with the serial number. No way to know for sure (and it doesn't really matter in any case).

Bill