Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980
o

Notices

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


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-03-2014, 06:13 PM
lot_45 lot_45 is offline
Member
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number  
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 114
Likes: 2
Liked 58 Times in 20 Posts
Default 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number

I have been looking for a shooter grade 36 with 3 inch barrel and decided to buy one previously owned by a NYPD LEO. I would like some information about the serial number. It is not the typical J prefix or non J numerical. Clearly stamped on the butt is 545J83. It has a pinned barrel and grips are not diamond. It is a 36-1 heavy barrel square butt. Thanks in advance.
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number-dscf1308-jpg_thumbnail0-1-jpg
Attached Images
File Type: jpg dscf1308.jpg_thumbnail0 (1).jpg (89.0 KB, 256 views)

Last edited by lot_45; 08-03-2014 at 06:14 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-03-2014, 06:23 PM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is offline
Member
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,617
Likes: 1,554
Liked 8,618 Times in 3,453 Posts
Default

It is from the "floating J" period, 1971-72. Since there are 3 digits, and a fairly high number, ahead of the J it would fall somewhere in 1972.

For a gun manufactured during these 2 years there is nothing at all unusual about it!
__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 08-03-2014, 06:28 PM
lot_45 lot_45 is offline
Member
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number  
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 114
Likes: 2
Liked 58 Times in 20 Posts
Default

Thanks for the information. Where would I find reference to the "floating J" in the SWSC. I sure did overlook it.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-03-2014, 08:08 PM
murphydog's Avatar
murphydog murphydog is offline
Moderator
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,787
Likes: 938
Liked 18,880 Times in 9,242 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lot_45 View Post
Thanks for the information. Where would I find reference to the "floating J" in the SWSC. I sure did overlook it.
There is a typo in the SCSW 3rd edition...1971-'72 should be "1"J1-999J99 with a maximum of 6 characters. There was a later J frame SN series starting with 1J, but with up to 7 characters.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 08-03-2014, 09:37 PM
lot_45 lot_45 is offline
Member
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number  
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 114
Likes: 2
Liked 58 Times in 20 Posts
Default

Thanks to all that replied. Still learning...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-04-2014, 12:47 AM
M3Stuart's Avatar
M3Stuart M3Stuart is offline
Member
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number  
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Northeast Texas
Posts: 2,861
Likes: 921
Liked 1,326 Times in 723 Posts
Default

I also got one of those recently and had the same question. 71-72 depending on the sequence. Great gun.
__________________
But then, what do I know?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-04-2014, 10:42 AM
feralmerril feralmerril is offline
Absent Comrade
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: utah
Posts: 13,063
Likes: 2,547
Liked 7,201 Times in 3,064 Posts
Default

I also have a round butt pencil barrel 3" version. Mine is probley 1971 as it is 60Jxx. I have put on some goodyears. The gun has been fast becoming my most carried. At first I had more or less ignored it. Its a 3" like my model 66-3 that I carried mostly .38 special anyway. So what I have here, is a gun that in the real world gives up one shot but weighs half as much to pack. I was lucky a few years ago and bought this off GB. It was advertized as "Being in good condition". It came NIB unfired!




Last edited by feralmerril; 08-04-2014 at 10:44 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #8  
Old 08-04-2014, 01:23 PM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
36 3" with unfamiliar serial number 36 3" with unfamiliar serial number  
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 20,362
Likes: 24,260
Liked 16,154 Times in 7,408 Posts
Default

Those are excellent little field and defense guns. I think you'll like it.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What serial number signals an "early" Chief's Special? bushmaster1313 S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 9 02-05-2017 12:04 AM
N Frame serial number question? What was the last "N" pefix serial number? RogerA S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 1 08-09-2015 09:55 AM
"Rare" 2.5" 686 1984 Lew Horton (Serial Number Zero) snakeman99 S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 8 09-16-2013 10:11 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:49 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)