Model 36-1 date?

[Claysshotgunner]

I am assuming, for what that's worth, that the J is not included in that digit count.

I just picked up a Model 36-1 which has a serial # of 66Jxxx. I make that as 1971-72. Am i correct in that?

[s&wchad]

Yes, you're correct. The 36-1 revision indicates a 3" heavy barrel.

[Claysshotgunner]

Got another question on this gun. It has a red ramp front sight on it, which appears to be original. Else, a very good job. But, it has fixed sights and no target hammer. And a smooth bright trigger. Pachmayer stocks.

Has anyone heard of any red ramps with fixed sight?

Someone also recently duracoted or ceracoted it, so it looks real good right now. Just gonna see how it shoots. Bought it worth the price as a shooter.

[murphydog]

It could be a factory modified front sight, but this is easy to perform. It did not necessarily go with target features or adjustable sights.

The factory trigger on this model was color casehardened and grooved, so all things considered whomever modified this one probably did the front sight insert also.

[Etalksalot]

I did not realize that the -1 was made concurrently to the no dashes. I knew it meant 3 inch heavy barrel, but I thought once they changed the dash number that was it on the previous dash number?? Did I just learn something today? I have 2 that are no dashes and they are from 1971-1972 due to a J In the middle of the serial number. Interesting. Someone fill me in! Did other dash numbers overlap??

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by Etalksalot

I did not realize that the -1 was made concurrently to the no dashes. .... Someone fill me in! Did other dash numbers overlap??

I've not read this anywhere, but it seems my research leads me to believe the no dash became the 36-2 (2") in the late '80s and the -1 became the -3 in the same era. No empirical evidence to support this other than a observation of many '88 and '89 models. Additionally -4 might have replaced -2 and -5 replaced the -3 for a short period during that same era. The -6 seems to be solely offered as a 1989 limited run 3" target model (the SCSW 4th Ed. suggests only 615 were made, but Roy's letters on Model 36 Target models suggest 2,000 36-6s were made). There seem to be lots of -7s, but I've only observed them with 2" barrels. I've only seen photos of two -8s; both were 3" with different configurations, and the -9 was the last pre-lock model in 1999, but it started earlier than that.

Hope this helps.