As in the J frame Models 36, 37, 38, 49 and 50 from '69 to '83.

I've heard this mentioned here before. And I've noticed that the "J" in some J frame models have the letter in different places in the series of numbers on the butt.

Mod 36


I assume this one's from 1969 or '70. On others I have the J is before the numbers, some like this one in second place and on a later J frame it's spaced away from the serial number.
AND to confuse me more, the Standard Cat. of S&W 3rd ED lists all serial prefixes as J first. Until '83 and then it's a "1" before the "J".

Why did they move the letter around? Did this designate a production change?
No other frame size has a number anywhere but first in line before the serial number.

GF

In 1971-'72 the factory put a number (1-999) in front of the J, followed by another number, up to a total of six total characters. So you can find 1J1111, 22J222, 333J33, etc., therefore the term "floating J".

I think the SCSW table has a typo, these years are listed as starting with "J1" when it should read "1J1". I doubt there was a reason, except needed to have unique SNs and keeping to five numbers and the letter J.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks Murph!

That's something I've noticed for years about J frames from that era, never knew why 'til now.

GF