What does the prefix ANR on a Model 36 Chief mean.

Nothing. Serial numbers mean nothing. S&W revolvers of the era of your Model 36 have a serial number sequence consisting of 3 letters, followed by 4 numbers.

Going in order, the 3 alpha, 4 numeric serials numbers would have started with AAA0000 to AAA9999 and followed with AAB0000 to AAB9999. Certain ranges of numbers have been not used or have been reserved, for reasons best explained by the factory.

Thus, ANR0000 to ANR9999 comes before ANS0000 to ANS9999, and after ANQ0000 to ANQ9999.

Thanks Shawn.I have 2 other model 36 and they all started with "J".I hadn't seen ANR prefix and couldn't find it in the S&W 3rd edition book.Or Maybe I just overlooked it.Eye site not what it used to be.Thanks again.

The "J" prefix (which wasn't always a prefix) was used from 1969 to the early 1880's, when S&W switched to the three letter prefix. A listing of serial numbers can be found in the SCSW #3 in Appendix 2 starting on pg. 395.

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