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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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  #1  
Old 03-05-2012, 11:26 AM
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Default Dating the Model 36 chiefs special

Hi all around,

How can I find out when my M36 chiefs special left the factory. I picked this up at a gun show and it had european proof marks with a 1976 date on the barrel and frame as well as on the cylinder. This would indicate when it was tested and released for sale by the government authority but the actual date of manufacture may be much earlier.

Thanks for some info!
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Old 03-05-2012, 11:51 AM
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You post the serial number on the butt of the revolver with two xx's in the last two positions of the serial number and someone up here will tell you the year of manufacture.
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Old 03-05-2012, 12:22 PM
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wow, thanks ! the serial # is J4684XX
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Old 03-05-2012, 12:25 PM
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That serial number range is '76-'77.
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Old 03-05-2012, 12:38 PM
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Default M-36

How about this one: J2275XX Purcased 10/74.
Thank you.

Stan
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Old 03-05-2012, 06:09 PM
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J100000 - J250000 would be from 1973 - 1974.
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Old 03-05-2012, 06:30 PM
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How about 1852xx - Thanks.
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Old 03-05-2012, 07:51 PM
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Between 1958 and 1961. I would guess 1959 but you would have to letter it to be sure.
And how about some pics? We love pics.
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Old 03-06-2012, 08:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbliss57 View Post
Between 1958 and 1961. I would guess 1959 but you would have to letter it to be sure.
And how about some pics? We love pics.
There is no letter before the serial number. I don't have time to take a decent picture right now but it is nickeled. I do have the original wood grips (square butt J frame) but I keep combat Pachmyers on it because it hurts to shoot with the wood grips. This gun is a model 36 - no dash.
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Old 03-07-2012, 01:48 PM
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Smile M36 Date

I just got a pawn shop beauty yesterday--Serial No. 1J098xx. When was it "born"? Thanks.
Actually, it might be unfired--the slight turn ring could be just handling, dry firing, etc. It's really tight on lockup.
MBliss--Thanks for the quick reply.
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Old 03-07-2012, 02:21 PM
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1982 according to SWSC
Enjoy! Pics?
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Old 03-07-2012, 02:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DOUBLESHOT View Post
There is no letter before the serial number. I don't have time to take a decent picture right now but it is nickeled. I do have the original wood grips (square butt J frame) but I keep combat Pachmyers on it because it hurts to shoot with the wood grips. This gun is a model 36 - no dash.
By "letter" mbliss means you would have to write to Smith & Wesson to ask Roy Jinks to send you a letter that would describe the revolver and give you the date when it left the factory. (There is a fee for this service.)
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Old 12-06-2012, 07:20 PM
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Just picked up a Model 36 (no dash) with a three inch barrel in almost unused condition. The serial number is 5949XX. What would have been its year of manufacture. Thanks in advance for your help.
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Old 12-06-2012, 09:20 PM
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how about a date for this number 408xx
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Old 12-08-2012, 12:12 PM
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May be able to help some other inquiries. I actually got to speak to Roy Jinks yesterday and found out that my Model 36 (no dash) 3" noted above with serial no. 5949XX shipped from the factory in February, 1968. These may help others approximate the manufacture date of their guns.
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Old 12-21-2012, 08:58 AM
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Can anyone provide a manufacture date for the serial number 408xx. Thanks in advance for this information.
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Old 12-29-2012, 02:46 AM
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How about 0606XX?
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Old 08-12-2013, 08:58 PM
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Default model 36 nice no dash specimen

Been doing some shuffling in my collection of S&W. A fellow I traded with some just sold me his model 36 blue steel and after cleaning the gun properly I was just guessing at date of birth....
  • s/n - 7203xx

I am guessing late 60's early 70's, but I am sure some of you experts will be able to help. I'll try and post a picture. This old fellow that sold it to me for $400 is an old cowboy in AZ. I am getting old too. not up to speed on pics. gun looks deep blue when in hand, somehow my cheap phone camera hosed it up. It's a nice compliment to the mint in box 10-7 I scored this weekend off a retired police detective LT. Just need my old model 19 to round out the snubbie set. Got feelers out in AZ. Mine was a 1982 model 19 and that is one of my guns I wish I had back. heavy but it never punished my hands in .357
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Old 08-13-2013, 12:28 PM
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How about 1399XX?
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Old 08-13-2013, 02:02 PM
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Assuming s/n's are as shown (no "j" included), SCSW indicates:
408xx 1953-54
0606xx (leading off with a zero? 606xx would be 1955-56)
7203xx 1968-69
1399xx 1957-62
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Old 08-13-2013, 02:13 PM
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Thank you. There is no J prefix, so I guess 57 to 62. Early gun.
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Old 08-13-2013, 02:20 PM
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Please bear in mind that "leaving the factory" and "date of manufacture" are two very different matters and can be separated by a great deal of time. You would think that if S&W made this or that gun on a certain date it wouldn't be long before they sold and shipped it and often enough you would be correct but it is not at all unusual for that to not be correct - a gun could sit for awhile before it is sold and shipped. Which sometimes makes for a fascinating bit of trivia methinks!

***GRJ***
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Old 08-13-2013, 03:08 PM
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thank you for dating the model 36. For once I am the youngest gun in the batch.

I am going to instinct shoot 25 rounds and target shoot 25 rounds today.

Last edited by LEADNUTS; 08-15-2013 at 12:18 AM. Reason: add pic
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Old 08-15-2013, 12:27 AM
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Default first 5 shots

I went to range and tested the little .38 special at 15 feet. After the first shot with the gun I settled in well. I put the butt end of grip higher up in palm swell and there ya go. Works great, and what a nice trigger pull as these shots were not in single action (where you pull hammer back) so you could really feel the trigger squeeze all the way.

Later I did some instinct combat shooting and it was all in the kill zone but I had shot a bunch of .40 from my G27 over the M36 shots in torso and head. Pretty surprising how accurate a short barrel can be. First time I ever shot a model 36.

Additional : I was so happy I snapped up a pair of stag grips to make it look complete for display purposes and occasional carry.
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Old 08-15-2013, 08:08 PM
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How about a photo of the stags?
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Old 08-15-2013, 08:25 PM
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Default Stags are enroute from midwest seller

I will post a picture of the gun with sambar stag grips once they get to my house. Found em on eBay. i bid at end and won. $109.00.

Some other sellers were wanting $270+ and theirs were less figured than the ones I won, so I am excited as when I first shot this gun. It's a keeper all the way.

On the grips they are highly figured and not those cheap ajax style stags with 90% white material and 10% brown. I'll need to get my grip guy to put in the medallions for 10 bucks but,

On grip colors these are more brown/walnut all the way up and down. I been chomping at the bit. Will try and get a better camera to use since my phone cam is substituting now since my pitbull bit through my battery charger.
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Old 08-17-2013, 03:45 PM
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Default stag

The first time I put stag grips on a Smith and Wesson. The screw provided by eBay seller was way too long(3/4"), but a dremel solved that issue.

I like it either way... in original wood or stag. The stag feels nice in my grip hand. My camera in my phone is not very good at all
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Old 08-28-2013, 12:04 PM
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Default Date Please

S&W, Model 36, 5 shot snub nose at the butt the
Serial# ALA3###?

Thanks!
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Old 08-28-2013, 01:34 PM
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an ALA s/n dates to late 1985 per SCSW.
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Old 09-29-2013, 10:15 PM
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The seller tells me the SN is BA1009, thanks.
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Old 07-18-2014, 02:35 PM
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36 no dash flat latch #1359XX
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Old 07-18-2014, 05:16 PM
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Quote:
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36 no dash flat latch #1359XX
An educated guess - early 1959 shipping.
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Old 09-16-2014, 10:35 PM
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How about Serial # J792XX No dashes
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Old 09-17-2014, 02:01 PM
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1964 3" Tapered barrel, flat latch square butt
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Old 09-17-2014, 07:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DOUBLESHOT View Post
How about 1852xx - Thanks.
I have 1882xx,andwas told by a fellow member 1957. Bob
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Old 09-19-2014, 10:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powerplantpete View Post
May be able to help some other inquiries. I actually got to speak to Roy Jinks yesterday and found out that my Model 36 (no dash) 3" noted above with serial no. 5949XX shipped from the factory in February, 1968. These may help others approximate the manufacture date of their guns.
I'm thinking that may make my 3"er late 60s or early 70s -6162xx

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Old 10-18-2014, 06:35 PM
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Default Strange one

I bought a Model 36 at a local gun store in beautiful condition, hardly fired. It's a nickel, 3 screw, never been refinished from what I can tell but, it says Mod. 36 on the frame in front of the trigger guard and the serial number is 253xx, serial number under the grips matches. According to my copy of the Standard Guide, it should have been made in 1952 or 1953. Problem is that the Mod. 36 would not have been there, am I right? Any thoughts?

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Old 10-19-2014, 07:56 AM
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Default Sun Coast

J792XX looks to be 1981.
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Old 10-20-2014, 11:21 AM
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Quote:
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How about Serial # J792XX No dashes
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Originally Posted by j a View Post
J792XX looks to be 1981.

J plus a one to five-digit serial number is 1969-1970 . . . J792XX is likely 1970.

J plus a 6-digit number in the 792XXX s/n range would be 1981.

Russ

Last edited by linde; 10-20-2014 at 05:29 PM. Reason: revise '60-'70 s/n range to include less than five digits
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Old 12-02-2014, 08:55 AM
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Would I be correct in dating my nickle chief with j prefix and followed by 6 digits beginning with 393 at 1975? It seems to be between two dated above.
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Old 12-02-2014, 09:16 AM
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Quote:
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Would I be correct in dating my nickle chief with j prefix and followed by 6 digits beginning with 393 at 1975? It seems to be between two dated above.
The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (3rd) shows:
1976-1977 J370001-J610000

Based on the book I would estimate J393XXX would be 1976 . . . however, these s/n ranges and dates are only approximate since the factory did not ship in s/n sequence. Only a $50 factory letter would provide the true ship date.

Russ
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Old 12-04-2014, 01:38 AM
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What about BRH79xx
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Old 12-04-2014, 11:02 AM
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Many three letter + four number serial numbers have big date gaps in the Standard Catalog of S&W so we often guestimate between ship dates. Some members keep track of nearby s/n's but only a factory letter would tell for sure.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Usweatt2 View Post
What about BRH79xx
Estimate August or September 1994.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ruger 22 View Post
How old would mine be, SN BRR88XX.
Estimate September or October 1994.


Would urge future ship date requests start new threads so they don't get lost.

Russ
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Old 12-04-2014, 09:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ruger 22 View Post
Russ, I agree with you on starting new threads for dating S&W's. Only one problem, I do not know how to get the "new" button to start a new thread. It just used to pop up when I signed on, but lately I have not seen one. Any help would be appreciated.

Dick
When on any of the forum category pages such as "S&W Revolvers 1961 to 1980" you'll see at the top and the bottom of the page a large orange button that says "New Thread". Click on it and you'll be starting a new thread in that category.

You won't see those buttons once you're in a particular thread such as "Dating the Model 36 chiefs special" . . . you need to back up one level higher to the category page.

Hope this helps . . . it's easier to do it than explain it

Russ
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  #45  
Old 12-29-2014, 11:12 AM
Keencutter Keencutter is offline
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Default Possible Age of Model 36 (appreciate response)

Just acquired a Model 36, given to me by brother in law, along with some other firearms. Trying to figure out a rough estimate of manufacture. Any help appreciated. Numbers only no letters: 606747, bottom of grips, behind cylinder- 1588 and looks like a K. Thanks in advance
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  #46  
Old 12-29-2014, 03:09 PM
linde linde is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keencutter View Post
Just acquired a Model 36 . . . Trying to figure out a rough estimate of manufacture . . . . Numbers only no letters: 606747, bottom of grips . . .
My closest Model 36 s/n is 456962 which shipped in January 1967 so I'm going to estimate your 606747 shipped sometime in 1968. Hope others can get closer.

Russ
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Old 02-21-2016, 11:25 PM
shopteacher1 shopteacher1 is offline
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Default Model 36 serial number

I have a Model 36, serial number 7J7461. can someone tell me when it was manufactured?

Thanks,
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Old 03-18-2016, 10:26 PM
wrdwrght wrdwrght is offline
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Hi.

How about BKD3481?
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Old 04-08-2016, 06:02 PM
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Hope this thread will help me out. Just picked up this gem the other day. Really happy with it. Been looking for a while for the right one. It has the original box with it as well.

Curious if anyone can get tell me when it was made. The serial number is J3195XX😉

Any help will be appreciated



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  #50  
Old 04-12-2016, 02:16 PM
7.62X39 7.62X39 is offline
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I'm having a difficult time dating a model 36.
Stamped MOD. 36 by the crane. SN on bottom of grip is 38J3XX. This supposedly was originally owned by former (68-84) Boston Mayor Keven White. I am the 3rd owner.

I'm not finding any listings of SNs that start with 38J

Thank You for any light you can shed on this.
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