I have a S&W 38 spcl serial number c-74xxx. The fourth edition Standard Catalogue of Smith & Wesson says made 1948 to1951. I am hoping to get a closer date. It is a 5 screw 4" in what I would consider 90-95%, except the stocks that are numbered to the pistol have more wear on the right side, not bad but more wear that the rest of the pistol {from carry I would guess}.

I don't track "C" prefixes very closely but I do have two pre Model 10's. They are also a good reminder that S&W does not ship in s/n order.


s/n C113082 shipped 9/1950 and C155209 shipped 5/1950.


If JP@AK sees this thread he will nail it down pretty closely for you. There is a good bet yours shipped in 1948; 1949 at the latest.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Member JP@AK is the local expert on the .38 Military & Police revolvers of this era, but as yours falls almost exactly 1/3 of the way into serial numbers from those three years mentioned, so late 1948 to early 1949 (production date) is a good guess. Its birth or ship date is another question.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

GUNMIKE

.38 M&P with a serial number in the C74xxx range would have been ready to ship in the first half of 1949. Whether it actually went out the door in that period is another question altogether.

Best guess is January to April, 1949. Only a letter can provide certainty.

For what it's worth, all the K frame revolvers had five frame screws until sometime in 1956.

The heavier wear on the right stock panel is from the gun having been carried in a hip holster on the right side for a prolonged period of time.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I envy you with a 1949 S&W. I also am a 1949 year model. I would love to find a birth year S&W.