NOOB here, looks like you guys know what's what! Help!
I just got this S&W 38 Special CTG 4" HB model 10 that is stamped "10-10". It has the stamped serial number matching in both places as "BSP0696". Got it from an online gun shop and is a "police trade-in". Please, anyone know when the 10-10s were made? It also has a small round sticker with "VPA03235". Someone indicated that their thinking was that this was for police in Australia. Does anyone know about this? From what I can tell it's likely not listed in the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson". Will someone PLEASE take a look for me and if the info is there, post the info for me? I'm pretty sure it's probably made around 1980-2000 or so. I expect its not worth much but I love this baby & desire more info just for personal pleasure & satisfaction. But, I don't want to have to spend $30 on the catalog just to find that the s/n info "is not cataloged" there. Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks guys, KK
ps This looks like the average later Model 10 blue, 4", HB, round butt models with holster wear as pictured on the web. Thanks again!

Welcome! The BSP prefix falls into one of the gaps in the SN data, but 1995 is a good guess. The sticker you describe sounds to be an inventory code, possibly for the Victoria Police, but someone here knows the answer for certain. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks Alan. "Victoria Police"...perhaps VPA is "Victoria Police Aresonal" then...May I ask, how did you estimate 1995 as guess on the year?Thanks again! Kelly K

Welcome to the forum from Texas.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

The standard reference book has a table of serial numbers and approximate ship years. In the three-letter prefix years, there are some prefixes associated with specific months (good) but also big gaps. Yours falls into one of the gaps, so it is an estimate on my part and presumes shipping in alphabetical order.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thank you! Texans are friendly! I like the picture of your nice dog!

I see. Thank you Alan. When I contacted the online shop that I got this from, Bud's Guns, no one was able to tell me anything about it. They even took the time to check around and called me back about it only to say that it may have come from Australia. I'm going to check further into the tip from you on the Victory police thing...not a big deal...just would like to satisfy my curiosity now and always like a challenge to find information like this. Thanks again for your nice help and the research work you did for me! GREATLY APPRECIATED! Kelly K

Call Smith & Wesson Customer Service at 1-800-331-0852. Give them the serial number and they can give you the ship date. If you ask real nice they MAY give you the distributor name and location it was shipped to and/or export date. They have given me all the above info on several occasions.

Class III

Class III, Awesome! Thanks so much. You are correct, they gave the info freely. They had the Manufacture date as March 29 1995 and it was shipped to New South Wales 7 days later. Three and a half months ago it was taken back at S&W, reconditioned, and then sold to Buds Guns. I got it 2 days ago from Buds. Thank you again Class III! Thanks to all the rest of the forum too! I got my answers! Case solved!
Thanks again, Kelly K