Model 48 no dash serial number is 1973 number while no dashes were 1959???

Barney1002 · Dec 24, 2023

i bought my 48 no dash online a while back with matched 22 LR cylinder. Both cylinders shoot to the same point. It is fantastic. It is also pristine with box etc. The 48 no dash was made in 1959. My serial number on butt of frame and on frame in crane area has a 5K prefix. That dates it to 1973. Is it a 1959 or a 1973? This has me wondering about Smith's numbering consistency. Help please

murphydog · Dec 24, 2023

Welcome! Does your gun have a screw at the front base of the trigger guard? If so it is an early model 48, but if not it likely just missed having the “dash” or engineering change number stamped on it.

22hipower · Dec 24, 2023

Probably someone just forgot to add the -3. Pictures might help but that's my guess. Little mistakes like that happened, and not all that infrequently. Nice that you have both cylinders, presumably neither cylinder has an SN stamped on it. Enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Rubone · Dec 24, 2023

Is it a 4 screw? Pictures of what you have can help. Is the 5 you are referring to really an "S"?

Retired W4 · Dec 24, 2023

from what I've seen the model 48 is the most mis-marked model in the S&W line up. You need to go by features and SN and not what you see under the yoke.

Doc44 · Dec 24, 2023

Based on the serial number, your Model 48 dates to 73/74. The stamping in the yoke cut is incomplete and should be MOD. 48-3. S&W did not always stamp the -number in the yoke cut. No idea why.

Bill

glenncal1 · Dec 26, 2023

I too had a Model 48 no dash that should have been a -3 based on serial number. As W4 stated the 48's seem to be mis-marked quite a bit, but other models have the issue as well. There are many posts in the forum about various model stamping anomolies.

JP@AK · Dec 26, 2023

Barney1002 said:
My serial number on butt of frame and on frame in crane area has a 5K prefix. That dates it to 1973. Is it a 1959 or a 1973?

With that serial number, it should be a -3. You can check that by determining where the foward-most screw is located on the rear sight (sight leaf screw). Is it directly above the barrel/cylinder gap? If not, it is a dash 3.

Barney1002 · Dec 26, 2023

Thanks to all for the help. It is pretty clear I have a 48-3 not a 48 no dash. Other than the academics, I really do not care. It is a mint condition 50 year old revolver that shoots bug holes.

Model 48 no dash serial number is 1973 number while no dashes were 1959???

Barney1002

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