I just picked up a new to me Model 64 in excellent condition. It has the marking "MC72" on the left side of the frame under the cylinder. It is in the same style as the markings on the California guns that came on the market last year (CDCxxxx and CYA). Anyone know what the MC72 means? Are these marking done by Smith and Wesson at the factory for contract guns or by the agency that buys them?
If I had to guess I would say that the markings on your revolver are some public safety agency's identifier.
I once owned a 3" Model 64 that had the markings "BPD85" in the same location as the numbers on yours and that Model 64 is now being proudly displayed in a S&W forum member's "Boston Police Department" collection.
Some mid-late '80s LE contract guns have their serial number laser etched or rollmarked there. Is this part of the revolver's serial number? It looks to be factory work in any case.
Just bumping this post to see if anyone else has any thoughts or experience with these markings. I would think that many of these were sold at the same time and someone may have already found the source of the markings. I have queried several "M" counties in California but only got one negative response from Marin County. It's not worth the $50 to me to ask S&W. Just curious.
Model 64 markings?
Linear Mode
