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03-28-2024, 09:30 AM
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1981 vintage S&W revolvers
For sentimental reasons I would like to have a S&W stainless revolver made in 1981.
@Lou_the_welder was kind enough to post a pic of the page from the Standard catalog of Smith and Wesson 4th Ed. with the three letter prefixes for various dates. Does that apply to all models of S&W revolvers? I'm thinking of a 686 or 629.
Thanks!
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03-28-2024, 12:15 PM
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Yes, but the triple alpha does not apply to all guns made in 1981. There are lots of N and K and J prefix stainless guns from 1981. The 629s made in 1981 had N prefixes.
Jeff
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03-28-2024, 08:37 PM
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Thanks for the reply @22hipower but I'm not sure what your "yes" applies to.
My question pertains only to revolvers if that helps.
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03-28-2024, 08:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveJewels
Thanks for the reply @22hipower but I'm not sure what your "yes" applies to.
My question pertains only to revolvers if that helps.
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His response pertains "only to revolvers" made in 1981. Not all are triple alpha prefix.
Last edited by Rubone; 03-28-2024 at 08:56 PM.
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03-28-2024, 09:50 PM
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To answer the question from the opposite direction - feel free to ask if you find a gun for sale that might be of the correct age. Probably a 686 with the first two letters of the SN prefix being A, or a 629 in the N800000 range. Happy hunting!
__________________
Alan
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03-28-2024, 10:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveJewels
Thanks for the reply @22hipower but I'm not sure what your "yes" applies to.
My question pertains only to revolvers if that helps.
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Yes, triple alpha prefixes applied to N, K, and J frame revolvers. You were asking about 1981 and 629s specifically, but you won't find a triple alpha 629 from 1981. If you find a 4 or 8 3/8 inch P&R 629 you can be almost certain that it is from 1981. The 6 inch 629s came earlier but the P&R 629 in 4 and 8 3/8 was just the one year. To make it a little more complicated, but possibly still 1981, as S&W transitioned to -1s some guns were pinned and not recessed or recessed and not pinned. Look for something in the N865/866XXX range or close, my 4 inch and 8 3/8 inch are both in that range.
Jeff
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03-28-2024, 11:35 PM
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A Model 60 -- stainless Chiefs Special -- from 1981 will be in the
R serial number series in the R265000 - R300000 range.
The first known Model 60s with alphanumeric serial numbers
shipped in February 1983.
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Bob
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