Help dating Model 36 and 15-3

Scrillahnic · #1 03-22-2012, 11:36 PM

I was given a few of my Dad's S&W revolvers, but I never bothered looking into when they were made or anything like that.

The main gun I am trying to find some information on is an old Model 36 that he purchased back in the day. The serial number on it is 564XXX. I have searched around the internet a little bit and the closest thing I can come up with is somewhere between 1962 and 1969. I wasn't 100% sure if this is even the correct year range or if there was a way to narrow it down more.

Here is a pic of the Model 36

I also have a model 15-3 and the serial number on that one is something along the lines of 16KXXXX. This one is put up at the moment so I don't have any pictures just yet.

Thanks for any help.

Ashlander · #2 03-23-2012, 10:40 AM

Looks like 1977 for the 15-3. I get the same range as you for the 36.

linde · #3 03-23-2012, 12:03 PM

I would estimate late 1967 or possibly early 1968 on the Model 36.

Russ

Goony · #4 03-23-2012, 12:39 PM

I concur with Russ on the dating of the Model 36, leaning toward 1967, but definitely not 1977. Oh, and by the way, welcome to the forum and thanks for posting the nice photo.

Scrillahnic · #5 03-23-2012, 03:12 PM

Thanks for the reply. I built a lightbox to photograph some products and figured I should "shoot" some guns in it. My dad still has 4 or 5 more S&W revolvers in his safe that I need to get my hands on to take some pictures of. The 36 and 15-3 are the only ones I have now but I will be adding more in the future for sure!

I'll add some pictures of the whole S&W family for you guys once I get more shots.

Jerard

Goony · #6 03-23-2012, 03:43 PM

A bit of unsolicited advice - you might want to consider unloading them in the future before "shooting" them, lest you end up really shooting your lightbox.

Scrillahnic · #7 03-24-2012, 01:50 AM

I would usually unload the gun, but I took the picture while we were actually shooting guns out of the back door of the shop and taking pictures. The lightbox was just a few feet away so I just set it in there and took a quick picture.

I should have unloaded it first.

How we shoot out of the back of the shop, because that just sounds kind of weird.