I have a model 36 with the serial # J253704. What was the aprox date of manufacture ?

Welcome to the forum.....

Build date 1975.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Is this a "Chief" model ? Thank you for the info, much appreciated !!

Correct, the ".38 Chiefs Special", assigned and marked as model 36 in 1957, with model number designation beginning at ser# 125,000.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Hello, I have one with serial J851xx, pinned barrel

Does anyone have an approx date for this?

Thanks!

I have a 2" model 36 serial number 81446 it also has 2 & F What year is it?, Thanks Scottsrich

Howdy folks and welcome aboard.

For future inquiries you might want to start a new thread so your request doesn't get disregarded or lost in the shuffle.

sky.hawk: That numbering system started with J1 in 1969 and ran to J99999 in 1970. S&W likely shipped yours in the summer of 1970. The company didn't ship in serial number order so there's no guarantee.

Scottsrich: It sounds to me as though you have given us an assembly number found on the frame and also on the yoke near the MOD. 36 stamp.

The serial number is on the bottom of the butt. If you have target or banana grips you'll have to remove them to see it.

Also, we like photos!

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I have a S&W Mod. 36 with a serial # 501603. Can you tell me when it was made?

I picked up a Chiefs Special on Gunbroker bearing a serial number of 716517. Can anyone provide a rough estimate of the manufacture date?

The best reference for serial number date ranges is the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, currently in its 4th Edition. This book is invaluable to most of us Collectors. In addition, joining the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association gets you access to Dr. Roy Jinks, THE S&W factory historian who routinely answers ship date questions for Forum and SWCA Members.

Both the book and SWCA Membership are super great tools for those with interest in all things Smith & Wesson.

For LoveMan posting above, my Model 36 no-dash is just 61 numbers off from your serial number and mine shipped in January 1967 per Dr. Jinks. Mine has the original box, documents, and vapor paper wrapping. Yours MAY have shipped around the same time but the only way to know for sure is to ask Dr. Jinks (for free)....or send for a Letter of Authenticity ($100) thenn you'll have all the details in a written letter.

Good Luck with your Model 36....they are fine guns and iconic snubbies!

Attached Images

	M 36-A.jpg (85.4 KB, 47 views)
	M 36-B.jpg (88.5 KB, 45 views)
	M 36-E.jpg (95.4 KB, 37 views)
	M 36-F.jpg (79.6 KB, 42 views)
	M 36-G.jpg (51.7 KB, 38 views)

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

Probably 1968 or 69.

Just picked up my first S&W.. model 36 .. wierd sr# of ANP 0063 Seems to be an somewhat early gun as the hammer contains the firing pin. I know little of the S&W brand except by reputation. I also have a Dan Wesson (Monson) that is an exceptional revolver.

After first range trip total of 15 rounds, called Factory, was given RMA # and sent to factory as fired brass will not eject. Two chambers seem to really hang up..scoring the brass on the way out!!

So Ill ask the forum brain-trust for any info on production date and ideas relative to the cylinder issue would be appreciated.

Thanks Navydad

Hello friends. I bought a Smith & Wesson Model 36 with a snubby barrel today and I am wondering what year it was made. It has the serial number J269837 on the bottom of the butt. It also has a number on the crane 73814. Does this mean that the crane was replaced with another part due to the serial being different? Many thanks in advance if anyone can answer those questions. It's such a nice revolver and I love that it is so small. Very easy to conceal in my sweatshirt front pocket. Cheers all and have a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

I’ll leave the date of manufacture to a member who isn’t cooking dinner at the moment. But the number under the crane is an assembly number and not the serial number. The number on the bottom of the butt is the serial number.

Ok. Thank you kindly sir. I was wondering why there was two different numbers. Love this little revolver. Cheers and have a wonderful day.

TaRanTula; Welcome to the Forum. As I posted above some years ago, the best source is the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. I'm looking at 4th Edition (the latest at this point in time) and it shows your gun to be probably 1975. The serial number ranges started that year with J250001 and ended with J370000.

From what I understand from this Forum is that the serial number ranges shown in SCSW are "assignments" from company records, and indicate the year that frames were stamped. It very well could be that your exact gun was not assembled, finished, test fired, boxed and shipped until months later.

This is why collectors strive to find out the official "ship date" because that is the actual "birth date" of the gun with a specific serial number.

I'm only an accumulator, not a purist collector, so other Members may correct me if I'm wrong with any of the above.

As our respected leader (Dr. Roy Jinks) always says "Hope this helps".

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570