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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 05-17-2017, 10:05 AM
Wyatt Burp Wyatt Burp is offline
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What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3  
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Default What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3

My 3" Model 13-3 .357 has the number 71X** on the crane with an E5 above it. In that number there is an "X". The asterisks are numbers blanked out. On the but of the gun is # AAW02** (last two numbers hidden here). There are no markings on the frame under the crane. An FBI connection has been passed along with this gun, but I don't know if that's true. Is there any clues here to that by these numbers? And any idea when this gun was made?

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Old 05-17-2017, 10:09 AM
BAM-BAM BAM-BAM is offline
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The number on the butt is the serial number "AAWxxxx" is a 1983 ..... others are assembly 3#s

Last edited by BAM-BAM; 05-17-2017 at 10:12 AM.
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Old 05-17-2017, 10:11 AM
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What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3  
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The s/n dates to about 1983, but that is no indication of FBI ownership. Only a Historical letter could possibly give you that. I do believe some heavy barrel Mod 13's were in use by the FBI.

You may want to review this posting, just a couple below your posting.

The FBI S&W Model 13 .357 Magnum M&P
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Last edited by H Richard; 05-17-2017 at 10:16 AM.
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Old 05-17-2017, 11:49 AM
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The number on your Smith & Wesson's yoke is called the "assembly number". ("Crane" is Colt nomenclature). If you remove your grips you will see that same number inscribed on the grip frame. It is also inscribed on the backside of the side plate.

The assembly number is used to keep these three matched fitted parts together during production. The number is not unique and can be recycled over months and years and used on another guns.
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Old 05-17-2017, 11:59 AM
Pisgah Pisgah is offline
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Originally Posted by Kernel Crittenden View Post
The number on your Smith & Wesson's yolk is called the "assembly number". ("Crane" is Colt nomenclature).
And "yolk" is the orange part of an egg. The term is "yoke".
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Old 05-17-2017, 03:33 PM
Tyrod Tyrod is offline
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What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3 What are these numbers on my 3" Model 13-3  
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I saw a yoke on a team of oxen once. Not something I'd want to do.
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Old 05-18-2017, 06:58 AM
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The number on your Smith & Wesson's yolk.....
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Old 05-18-2017, 09:26 AM
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I saw a yoke on a team of oxen once. Not something I'd want to do.
Yoke is something used to keep things in tandem, it works well for oxen and machined parts. It also works in a marriage as long as both are facing the same direction, ain't words fun.
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Old 05-18-2017, 10:29 AM
Wyatt Burp Wyatt Burp is offline
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Yoke is something used to keep things in tandem, it works well for oxen and machined parts. It also works in a marriage as long as both are facing the same direction, ain't words fun.
Looks like I called a yolk a crane. Boy do I have egg on my face!
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Old 05-18-2017, 10:46 AM
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Looks like I called a yolk a crane. Boy do I have egg on my face!
That kind of thing can get you fried on a S&W site.
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