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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 07-25-2016, 08:24 AM
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Does anybody have any idea as to when a M27 with serial number N1996XX might have shipped. The numbers in the book are a bit mixed up with no way to clearly determine a date. I figure it's between 1974 and 1977, but who knows. Just thought the maybe someone may have gotten one lettered close to mine. Thanks.
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Old 07-25-2016, 08:32 AM
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According to SCSW ed 3 probably late 1973. S/N N100000 was 1973 and S/N N200000 was 1974-77.

But only a letter would tell you shipping date for sure.
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Old 07-25-2016, 10:29 AM
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N2062xx shipped in 2/75.
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Old 07-25-2016, 08:32 PM
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Wow! Thanks! That's really pinning it down.
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Old 07-25-2016, 09:53 PM
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I'm thinking Sep/Oct time frame 1974, give or take......
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Old 07-26-2016, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by DocB View Post
Does anybody have any idea as to when a M27 with serial number N1996XX might have shipped. The numbers in the book are a bit mixed up with no way to clearly determine a date.
Doc
Let's be very clear on this. NO ONE can give you a month and year of shipment for any S&W revolver without first doing a search of the associated shipping records. Anything else is pure guesswork. This is especially true with the N prefix numbers.

N prefix numbers were assigned in blocks to specific model production. Within those blocks they were normally used in rough sequential order for assembly but then normally went into the vault for future shipment, which was not in serial order.

But the blocks of numbers themselves were not used in sequential order. They were used as planned runs of a particular model entered the assembly process. So, for example, a run of Model 57 revolvers might be assembled before a run of Model 28 HPs, even though the HP frames might carry serial numbers lower (even significantly lower) than those on the .41 magnums. (You can see this system reflected in the footnote on p. 398 of SCSW 3d.)

As a result, the N serial numbers and associated dates in the Standard Catalog are approximations only. They are not reliable beyond that level. What I can tell you is that N199xxx was scheduled for use in 1975. The serial number span scheduled for 1975-1977 went from N190000 to N430000. The scheduled span for 1978 started at N300000. Notice the overlap! Short of a factory letter, there is no way you can know even approximately, and definitely not with any degree of certainty, when it was actually shipped, let alone when it was assembled.

When someone says, "I have one with a serial number only one thousand numbers higher than yours and it shipped on xyz date," it really tells you nothing with respect to your gun, particularly if the two numbers in question are not on the same model. This is generally true with all S&W revolvers, but it is especially the case with the N prefix N frame revolvers.
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Old 07-26-2016, 01:48 PM
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and that is why I got an "S" prefix N frame.
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Old 07-26-2016, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by JP@AK View Post
Doc
Let's be very clear on this. NO ONE can give you a month and year of shipment for any S&W revolver without first doing a search of the associated shipping records. Anything else is pure guesswork. This is especially true with the N prefix numbers.

N prefix numbers were assigned in blocks to specific model production. Within those blocks they were normally used in rough sequential order for assembly but then normally went into the vault for future shipment, which was not in serial order.

But the blocks of numbers themselves were not used in sequential order. They were used as planned runs of a particular model entered the assembly process. So, for example, a run of Model 57 revolvers might be assembled before a run of Model 28 HPs, even though the HP frames might carry serial numbers lower (even significantly lower) than those on the .41 magnums. (You can see this system reflected in the footnote on p. 398 of SCSW 3d.)

As a result, the N serial numbers and associated dates in the Standard Catalog are approximations only. They are not reliable beyond that level. What I can tell you is that N199xxx was scheduled for use in 1975. The serial number span scheduled for 1975-1977 went from N190000 to N430000. The scheduled span for 1978 started at N300000. Notice the overlap! Short of a factory letter, there is no way you can know even approximately, and definitely not with any degree of certainty, when it was actually shipped, let alone when it was assembled.

When someone says, "I have one with a serial number only one thousand numbers higher than yours and it shipped on xyz date," it really tells you nothing with respect to your gun, particularly if the two numbers in question are not on the same model. This is generally true with all S&W revolvers, but it is especially the case with the N prefix N frame revolvers.

One of the best explanations I've seen in 10 years..
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Old 08-16-2016, 12:24 PM
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Model 57 N347XXX Can anyone estimate a mfg date for this fine revolver?
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Old 08-16-2016, 12:42 PM
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N347XXX dates to the second half of 1976.

Bill
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