I have a buddy with a 686, serial#ABV449X. I was wondering if someone could help with the date.

I need to order a book on S&W's revolvers. Which would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

June/July 1987.

What sort of book? The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson is available at Amazon. Jerry Kuhnhausen has the best informational/gunsmithing/reference book for learning about what's under the sideplate.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Thanks, Armorer!

Sorry, the book I wanted info on was one containing serial# ranges and model info. So, I guess that would be the latest edition of The Standard Catalog Smith and Wesson?? Didn't know if there may be another I didn't know about.

This gun most likely left the factory in Springfield, Mass, in....

April - August 1983.

Perhaps armorer951 read it wrong and posted the date for AVB. If the SCoSW says "1987" in my view it would be incorrect, or at least it would not agree with the ABV Smiths I've seen; all with 1983 date codes.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I think armorer got your alpha mixed up - the date should be 1983 for ABV.
AVB would be '87.

oops - looks like the col beat me by a minute.

Sad....so I find that, along with my other faults, I'm also dyslexic. (AKA: careless)

Thanks guys for being kind, and not unleashing a bunch of exclamation points on me.

__________________
Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I've done it myself so many times I remember can't.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~