J-frame Serial/year Listing in a Single Thread?

[MasterGuns]

Is there a single thread in the forum that tries to track serial numbers for mfr years? If so, can you point me to it?

I'm specifically talking something like this below, which I found somewhere on the web. I'm trying to find one of these models made in my birth year 1966. If I can get a decent idea of a serial number range to be looking for, it would be most helpful:
-------------------------------------------------
For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50 and pre model number versions.

1950 = start at 1
1952 = 7369 - 21342
1953 = 28916
1955 = 55050 - 75000
1957 = 117770 - 125000
1962 = starts at 295000
1969 = ends at 786544

J serial Prefix serial numbers.
For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50.

1969-1970 = J1 - J99999
1971-1972 = 1J1 - 999J99
1973-1974 = J100000 - J250000
1975-1976 = J250001 - J370000
1976-1977 = J370001 - J610000
1977-1978 = J610001 - J670000
1979-1980 = J670001 - J760000
1981 = J760001 - J915400
1982 = J915401 - 1J18600
1983 = 1J18601 - 1JXXXX

1955 - 4 screw side plate ends
1957 - stamping of model number at 125000
1966 - flat latch ends
1968 - diamond grips end
1975 - heavy barrel standard
1982 - end pinned barrel
----------------------------------------------

 

[murphydog]

This looks to be a direct quote from the Standard Catalog of S & W, 3rd edition. The information is obviously available if you buy (borrow, etc.) the book, but the material in it has been copyrighted. Best to buy a copy and feed the addiction like everyone else here .

 

[Old TexMex]

...and buy a used one, (S&W is doing pretty well at the moment) so someone like me can have a little more cash toward another K frame!

 

[MasterGuns]

Thank you for that info.

 

[hotrod150]

I've got a couple pages from this site bookmarked-- one shows the above j-frame info (plus K & N frame info), and the other the model 60s/n series. I don't know how to do it, but can someone cut paste drag or otherwise add the M60 info here? Then I'll just have one page to bookmark.
In fact, maybe the serial number/date info for all the frame sizes could be put into one thread & be made into a "sticky"?

 

[Dogmann]

Can you tell me what year a Model 36 SB with serial 525*** was made? Approx?

 

[Benton Quest]

...and buy a used one, (S&W is doing pretty well at the moment) so someone like me can have a little more cash toward another K frame!

I don't think S&W gets a whole lot from the book sales.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

 

[Absalom]

Can you tell me what year a Model 36 SB with serial 525*** was made? Approx?

Best guess would be 1967.

 

[Dogmann]

What would the serial range be for a 1969 gun?

 

[H Richard]

S&W gets nothing from the book sales, it is written by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas. The 4th edition is the current version.

 

[Absalom]

What would the serial range be for a 1969 gun?

Beyond the serial ranges copied from the SCSW, posted above, I do not believe any better defined ranges exist for the J-frames.

You get guesses like mine above by extrapolating from (often sparse) collected data points consisting of confirmed lettered specimen presented here or elsewhere. With a bit of forum searching, you can find quite a bit. But it’s never definite. And even the SCSW ranges do not reflect shipping irregularities.

So if you want a 1969 gun, your only way is to find some lettered guns from that year and note the serials, or find a gun as close as possible to the 786544 end serial given for 1969 in the list above.

 

[Dogmann]

I’m looking at a Model 36 with a letter J in the middle of the serial
Numbers. I do not see that type of serial in the beginning post.

 

[Absalom]

I’m looking at a Model 36 with a letter J in the middle of the serial
Numbers. I do not see that type of serial in the beginning post.

Actually, you will if you look closely

The “floating J” appears for a short time in 1971/72 and once again beginning in 1982.

 

[Dogmann]

575J** ?......

 

[Dogmann]

Also a 168J** ?.....?

 

[Bumpus13]

Buy the book. It’s a great reference, and you’ll learn a lot about these fine firearms.

Downside? It’ll end up costing you a whole bunch of loot, as you discover models you never knew existed that you now must own!

 

[Dogmann]

Is the 4th ed better or any different then the 2nd ed?

 

[tjpopkin]

4th edition

more up-to-date with more current values and lots of nice photos...
if I say so for myself...

 

[muddocktor]

I bought the Kindle edition before the 4th edition was released, so when the 4th edition came out I bought the book instead. The pictures in the book are much nicer to look at as compared to the Kindle edition. Like tjpopkin said, the 4th edition has more up to date info and more realistic nowadays pricing.

 

[Dogmann]

So would a Serial J116*** , be a 69-70 Gun?