32 DA DOB

[rsl]

Trying to nail down a date of birth on a 32 DA 4th model... Serial number is 55XXX. . Thanks in advance..

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Probably early 1884. My 4th SN 60731 shipped in March 1884. Perhaps, Ed will be along with a more accurate date.

 

[rsl]

32 DA

Any printed evidence of this? The guy selling it will sell it an an antique if I can prove it's pre-99...

 

[H Richard]

The "Book" says a 32 D A 4th Model was mfg from 1883 to 1909, in the S/N range of 43406 to 282,999. Your # 55XXX would have been made in probably 1884 or 1885. They Mfg. roughly 239600 over 1883 to 1909, about 26 years, or about 9215 p/yr. Keeping in mind that S&W did not ship in strict S/N order, it could have been in the vault several years before shipped. Since the cut off date for Antiques is 1898, I would think you are very safe in this qualifying as an Antique..

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I think that my .32 DA shipped in March 1884 and is 5000 units higher in serial number should be sufficient evidence it has plenty of cushion.

 

[rsl]

Thanks for the info... Let's see what happens..

 

[Jim Watson]

Flayderman says the end of 1898 was ABOUT 209300.
You are way earlier than that, so the exact cutoff is probably not important.

But then I don't know how authoritative Flayderman is considered to be in this age of SCSW and the internet.