Year my Model 60 was manufactured

[HickoryC]

I've had my Model 60 for at least 30 years, I believe. I would like to know the year it was manufactured. It is stainless having a serial number prefix of ABR. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[murphydog]

Welcome! It appears to be from early-mid 1983. If you have the original box with end label the question is easy to answer with the Special Order (date) code.

[HickoryC]

Thanks for the help. Yes, I have the box. I don't know how to decipher the date of manufacture.
Product code: 0600092021 X
Spec. Ord: 3125
Above Model No.: 197
Handwritten under Features: 82602-5
Perhaps 3125 is the 125th day of 1983?

[two-bit cowboy]

Howdy, and welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

Yes, 3125 is May 5th, 1983 -- Cinco de Mayo.

That date is reportedly when the revolver was completed and/or packaged.

The Product Code was an early one, before S&W switched to a six-digit PC.

The 197 might be S&W's code for the distributor it was being shipped to. Haven't seen anything definitive on that, though.

The earliest alphanumeric Model 60 serial number I've documented is AAS2345, and it shipped in February 1983. Other 1983 Model 60s I've seen have AAZ, ABH, ABR, ABT, ABU and ACA prefixes.

The handwritten number probably is a shop's internal code.

[HickoryC]

Thanks again. Yes, 40 years ago makes sense. I bought a business that year and needed something smaller than my Model 66.