I have a 640-1 in .357 and a serial number of BSY89xx. I bought it in 1995 so "assumed" that was the DOM.

Now I see postings here on model 640 with serial numbers of CACxxxx for 1994-1995.........

Anyone have a source for the BSY89xx number?

Thanks

I think '94 - '95 is correct.

Concerning the 3 letter & 4 digit serial numbers...

"Beginning in the transition years 1980 - 1983 with a three letter serial prefix and a four digit number. All other models produced are the L frames. These are approximate serial number start dates. NOTE: The collector must keep in mind that not all serial numbers were used to completion. Thus as an example there may have been only 200 of serial number "BVA" used in October of 2003 with the remainder or a portion used sometime later. The collector will find large gaps in any serial sequence. At other times, three letter serial number prefixes were used out of sequence ahead of time they were normally would have rolled around, sometimes for special prouduction items."

(above is from the Standard Catalog of S&W, 3rd Ed.)

... so basically what I read from that is that close is as good as it gets on dates of mfg. on alpha numeric serial numbers.

GF

Sometime between August 1994 and January 1996 according to the book.

The magnum 640 was introduced in 1995/1996 according to the book.

With all that said, who knows? S&W does crazy things with production and serial numbers. Using old numbers for new guns etc.

If you have the original box, we can give an exact date.

__________________
Centennial Every Day

Some of the early 640s had a CEN prefix, out of alphabetical order in the series, probably just because someone at the factory thought it would be cool . As long as a gun has a unique SN they don't need to be in order.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220