Identification and Year of 38 Spl Ctg Snub Nose No Letter and 5 Digit S.N
I picked up a 38 Snub Nose marked 38 S&W Spl Ctg on the Barrel
The Serial Number has No Letters and it is a 5 Digit Number 956xx Thats from the Butt of the Revolver, The Cylinder and the Grips all have that Number.
I would appreciate any help in Finding what Model, and Approximate Year it was made.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
It's a Chiefs Special from before it became the model 36. I have one with serial 124363, which shipped in 11/57, so yours would be before that. There are folks here who specialize in this model and maintain their own databases, so you're sure to get more info in a short while.
It's a fine-looking specimen you have there. Good find!
Its production year can be narrowed down to between 1955 and the time Andy mentioned, as it no longer has the upper sideplate screw present between 1953 and that year. As such it fits the definition of a “pre-model 36”, meaning it and the guns stamped MOD 36 are pretty much identical. I would guess 1955 but I may be wrong . Enjoy!
I just checked the S&WCA database-- 94290 was 1/57, and 95423 was 3/57. I'd guess yours is from the first half of 1957, though numbers have been known to go out of order sometimes. You could always send off for a letter from Roy Jinks at the SWHF and find out the exact date it shipped, and to whom.
I do appreciate the info to all who helped. I just got it Friday Evening. I couldn’t say No at $250. And it does look good with my M1917, 13-1 with the Thick Heavy 4 Inch Barrel and my 28-2 Highway Patrolman.