I have a model 37 Air weight, Serial # 1J31XXX . On the yoke it is stamped E6. I am curious to know the age and if possible approximate $ value. It belonged to a friend of mine and his daughter brought it to me to inspected it, clean it. It has been a safe queen and it hasn't been touched since my friend passed away over 15 years ago. The revolver was bone dry and had minor rust on the trigger, hammer and internals. I don't think it was ever lubed. I took it all apart removed the light rust ,cleaned it and oiled it. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Did you check for the "crack"?

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NRA Benefactor

Tyrod, I was not aware of the crack issue. I searched this forum and WOW, learned something new every day. Fortunately mine is not cracked.
Thanks

Thank you both. I learned something today. Is there any consensus on if it's "not if but when" a Model 37 frame cracks. Mine is fine now but I know it was fed +p occasionally. That's why the grips were changed. It was an ankle gun for many years and not shot a whole lot.

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TNZ71, I am not sure about this, but there is definitely an issue with these revolvers. Searching Google and this forum you will find a bunch of people with the same issues. I would not use +P ammunition on these revolvers, why take a chance.

My 37 is +P rated but I don't shoot them very much. I tested SGD 135gr. +P found point of aim and impact for a carry load. I practice with 125gr. and 130gr. standard 38. No cracks so far.

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Two Handguns every day

Mine is cracked. I don't think it ever saw a +P. Like new, ???
Jack

I bet most of them were cracked during barrel installation at the factory.

Has anyone seen one actually fail due to the crack? I'm tempted to buy a cracked one and shoot it until something happens. I suspect nothing would.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

With aluminum J & K frame revolvers, both, there have occasionally been cracked frames. I don't know anything about metallurgy. and I do not have access to S&W records. I do own three 37s, a 642 and a 42, and two 12s. I have in the past owned another 12, and two 42s. Ten revolvers, none cracked. I did see a cracked 42 once in FL, and I bought a cracked 12 for parts on this site many years ago. I have fired +P in the two 12s, and will continue to do so occasionally. I have fired +P in one of the 37s, and it backed up on me, like original 29s sometimes do with heavy loads. For this reason, I never fire +P in any of my aluminum J frames. Actually, I don't fire it in steel, either, except, rarely, my NY-1 Model 60.

From extensive reading and general ignorance, I believe that some aluminum frames crack because the barrel is overtorqued on installation, and that +P ammo has little to nothing to do with whether this will occur. From the background quoted, it appears that this is the consensus of knowledgeable contributors on this site. Also from the background quoted, how the hell would I know?