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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 06-16-2011, 09:54 AM
gkitch gkitch is offline
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Default 3" Model 36-1 odd serial number?

Just recently came into possession of a nice 36-1 with some holster wear, but otherwise quite sound. Ran into a bit of a mystery when trying to date it using the SCS&W by Supica. The serial number is 544J60. I learned the J prefix began in 1969 and the diamond grips deleted in 1967, so will guess that my specimen was made in 1968. The odd thing is the "J" in the middle of the serial number? I can find no reference to such things and am wondering what it might mean, if anything? Help?
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Old 06-16-2011, 10:09 AM
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Look at your book again in the serial number section, it's from the "floating J series" of 1971-1972. Plain as day, sometimes.
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Old 06-16-2011, 10:16 AM
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Look at your book again in the serial number section, it's from the "floating J series" of 1971-1972. Plain as day, sometimes.
OK, still not there. Only J frame numbers I can find are on p. 399. Nothing about a floating j.....wait, now I see it! The J moved around in 71-72. This revolver was likely built in 1972. Thanks!!!

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Old 06-16-2011, 10:49 AM
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One reason it's confusing is the 1971-1972 floating J serial numbers on page 399 in SCSW 3rd has a slight typo . . . it should read 1J1 to 999J99.

Note that the 71-72 floating J period has a total of 6 digits (including the letter J). If the s/n has a total of 7 digits and starts with 1J, it could be from 1983. How's that for being confusing?

Russ
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Old 06-16-2011, 12:38 PM
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GKITCH, I have the same gun you do, 3" model 36 round butt 61J385. I see I have wrote in my book made in 1970? I dont recall how I came to that determination.

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Old 06-16-2011, 04:36 PM
gkitch gkitch is offline
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Default RB vs SB

You have a round butt on yours and mine is square. On the 3" I only seem to encounter the SB. Perhaps it is just the way it is in my area.
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Old 07-18-2011, 03:22 PM
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Hello, guys!

I just ran across this, and I am amazed. The more i learn about these weapons, the more I learn I don't KNOW! LOL

I have:
Model 36 (2" nickel flatch latch, ser # 284XXX)
Model 36-1 (Blued 3" HB , ser #19JXXX)
Model 10-5 (6" taper barrel, ser # C979XXX)

I see that the 36-1 is a Heavy Barrel Floating J (71-72)

Can anyone tell me what year it was made? I was born in '72, and think it would be neat if the weapon was too. (Especially since it was free)

I paid 100$ for the Model 10-5 (target model) It was virtually unfired.

289.00 for the 36 flat latch.

Love these things. Any info that can be shared would be appreciated.

I estimate the 36 is a 1961, the Model 10-5 a 1967, and the 36-1 is hopefully a 1972.

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Old 07-18-2011, 03:37 PM
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No way to be sure on the ship date for your 36-1, it was probably built in 1971 since the SN range went all the way to 999J99 in 1972 but it could have shipped from the factory well out of numerical order. A factory letter would be the only way to be sure.
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Old 07-18-2011, 06:54 PM
Clark B Clark B is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gkitch View Post
You have a round butt on yours and mine is square. On the 3" I only seem to encounter the SB. Perhaps it is just the way it is in my area.
I see SB snubby M36s around these parts every so often. In fact I was looking one over the day I bought my M15-3.
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Old 03-08-2014, 10:49 PM
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Sorry delete

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Old 03-08-2014, 10:52 PM
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Sorry delete

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Old 03-09-2014, 12:25 PM
linde linde is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fryertuck View Post
I have Model 36-1 (Blued 3" HB ser #19JXXX) . . . I see that the 36-1 is a Heavy Barrel Floating J (71-72)

Can anyone tell me what year it was made? I was born in '72, and think it would be neat if the weapon was too. (Especially since it was free) . . . Any info that can be shared would be appreciated. . . the 36-1 is hopefully a 1972.
As murphydog said only a factory letter would say for sure but I'm also going to guesstimate a 19J would have shipped in 1971 . . . sorry.

The second one probably won't be free but if you go in search of a 1972 birthday Model 36-1 consider this rationale . . . IF there were an equal number of “floating J-frames” produced in 1971 and 1972, the dividing line would be near the 56J prefix . . . meaning a 1J1 to 55J999 s/n would be 1971 and a 56J1 to 999J99 would be 1972.

If that's not intuitive consider 1J1 to 1J9999 has 10,000 combinations . . . whereas . . . 999J1 to 999J99 has only 100 combinations.

Enjoy your 36-1 . . . it's one of my favorites,

Russ
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Old 05-26-2014, 10:12 PM
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I bought my 3"HB 36-1 RB new in 1980... SN is J6418XX To make it more confusing both RB & SB in the same SN sequences. Apparently a lot of depts. issued 3" to female officers & the other details varied with the contract requirements.
It served OD, rare plainclothes needs & for shifts when I was "driving" a dispatch desk. I used a Bianchi IWB. I could conceal it with banna targets, under a sweater... I was a lot thinner, LOL!
Still a sweet gun. Still own it.
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Old 05-26-2014, 10:41 PM
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Default Confusing Serial Number

(Sorry, had to edit)

I have a .38 S&W 36-1 with the serial number ADB58XX which lines up with nothing I can find. Any thoughts?
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Old 05-26-2014, 11:01 PM
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(Sorry, had to edit)

I have a .38 S&W 36-1 with the serial number ADB58XX which lines up with nothing I can find. Any thoughts?
Welcome to the forum. The Standard Catalog of S&W (pg 400) shows ADE6700 in October 1983, so I would estimate your ADB would be September of 1983.

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Old 05-27-2014, 09:12 PM
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Wow, thanks! Very confusing considering all the info above. I appreciate you taking the time to look that up for me.
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Old 06-02-2014, 09:19 PM
fryertuck fryertuck is offline
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Thanks!

Sorry it took so long!
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Old 06-02-2014, 09:36 PM
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Quote:
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Thanks!

Sorry it took so long!
You're welcome. You were correct on the ship years for the model 10 and 36, by the way.

Hope your last 3 years have been good. Don't be a stranger!
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Old 06-16-2015, 07:13 PM
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sorry for the necro-post....

I just purchased a Model 36, 2" barrel, square butt, pinned. In the box with cleaning kit...very, very clean.

S/N 2J28xx so '71-'72?

Conisgnment so I can't DROS until next week, then 10 more days.
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Old 06-16-2015, 07:45 PM
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Very likely produced and shipped in 1971.
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Old 06-27-2015, 08:22 AM
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9 days and counting.....
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Old 06-27-2015, 10:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fryertuck View Post
Hello, guys!

I just ran across this, and I am amazed. The more i learn about these weapons, the more I learn I don't KNOW! LOL

I have:
Model 36 (2" nickel flatch latch, ser # 284XXX)
Model 36-1 (Blued 3" HB , ser #19JXXX)
Model 10-5 (6" taper barrel, ser # C979XXX)

I see that the 36-1 is a Heavy Barrel Floating J (71-72)

Can anyone tell me what year it was made? I was born in '72, and think it would be neat if the weapon was too. (Especially since it was free)

I paid 100$ for the Model 10-5 (target model) It was virtually unfired.

289.00 for the 36 flat latch.

Love these things. Any info that can be shared would be appreciated.

I estimate the 36 is a 1961, the Model 10-5 a 1967, and the 36-1 is hopefully a 1972.

You have some nice Smiths. Welcome to the best forum out there.

Your Chief's Special is a nice one. The added Tyler T-grips are an excellent accessory for carry/shooting as they greatly improve the feel and handling of the revolver while sacrifycing nothing in concealability. The grips have the diamond around the screw-hole, which would be appropriate for the gun. They may have the serial number on the inside panel, confirming originality.

Your 10-5 is a true classic. It is not a "target", as that would be a Model 14 "K-38" with a heavier barrel and adjustable sights. The Model 10s were standard with 2", 3", 4", 5", and 6" tubes with a few 2.5" out there as well. Some of the 4" barrels were heavy and all of the 3" were heavy (I think?). Some had round butts and others square. I traded into a 5" Model 10 from 1960 that is one of my most accurate 38s. One trip to the range and I knew it had become a permanent addition to the collection.
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Old 06-27-2015, 01:28 PM
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Quote:
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sorry for the necro-post....
Very seldom does a term appear that I've never seen on here before. I like it! The gun too!
f.t.
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Old 07-07-2015, 02:25 PM
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9 days and counting.....
I picked this up yesterday, it doesn't look like it was ever even used. The original warranty card and instruction manual are still in the box and the original price was written in the bottom of the box...on sale for "$74.50" reduced from "$85.00"

Now I don't think I would even take this out and shoot it. I guess I'll have to get another one for that.
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Old 07-16-2015, 05:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by feralmerril View Post
GKITCH, I have the same gun you do, 3" model 36 round butt 61J385. I see I have wrote in my book made in 1970? I dont recall how I came to that determination.

The J didn't 'float' in 1970. Yours is from the 1971-1972 period.

Also, GKITCH's is a Mod 36-1, a 3" heavy barrel. Yours is a Mod 36 pre dash with the 3" tapered barrel.



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Old 07-16-2015, 08:49 AM
gkitch gkitch is offline
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Default thanks Jim!

I have never seen these side-by-side before.
Is the tapered barrel more scarce? I seem to mostly encounter the heavy.
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Old 07-16-2015, 03:17 PM
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I would say yes. And sq butts are the scarcest. Although the tapered barrels were made beginning in 1952 on the Baby Chiefs and had a 15 year head start on the heavy barrel, I don't believe they ever sold in the same volume as the HBs.
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