Another New Guy

[phubai8]

Hello all. I am brand new to this forum: another new guy and I'm looking for info on a Model 38 (I think). It is a Bodyguard Airweight but it is not marked as a model 38. Inside the crane it has four digits "1935" which do not match the serial number on the butt. The serial number is five digits beginning with 74XXX. From what I've read on other sites, they first made the Bodyguard in 1955 and started using model numbers in 1957. I'm guessing it is pre-1957. Does this make sense? Any help would be appreciated. By the way, this looks like a very interesting site and I hope to learn a lot here.

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. You can ignore the numbers stamped on the frame surface that is hidden when the yoke is closed. Those are process control numbers that have no use or meaning once the serial number is stamped on the butt, barrel, cylinder and a couple of other places that are harder to see.

Sounds like you could have a Pre-model 38 built, as you suggested, about 1955 or 1956. Can you post photos of it? That serial number is quite low for a Pre-38, and yours could be one of the first ones made. The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson reports that the lowest serial number on a production Bodyguard Airweight is 73780, and you would have to be within 1220 of that number.

These guns were numbered in the Chiefs Special serial number series, so not all of the guns near your number will necessarily be Bodyguards. (Thought they might be; I just don't know.)

 

[phubai8]

DCWilson Thank you for the response. I should be able to post pictures but will not be able to get to it tonight. The serial number is within 800 of 73780. The cylinder release is flat (?). At first I thought it a replacement until I saw pics of another like it on gunbroker.com. The finish is quite worn and the gun has obviously seen a lot of use but when I saw it at a gun show I felt like I had to have it. A friend tells me it is ugly as sin but I like it. I've only fired a few rounds through it but am considerig making it a carry gun.

 

[Deacon KC]

Welcome to the place!

 

[phubai8]

Model 38

DCWilson

I have tried attaching pictures of the model 38. Does this help in pinning it down to a more specific date? Hope this works and thanks again for the help.

Mike

 

[phubai8]

Deacon KC

Thanks for the welcome. Do you know much about these Model 38s?

Mike

 

[DCWilson]

Nice looking specimen.

Serial numbers near the one on your gun were shipping in mid to late 1956. Without a factory letter that's about as close as you can get.

One of the problems with dating S&Ws is that serial numbers can be rough but not certain indicators of approximate shipping dates. That's because the company had no policy of shipping in serial number order. They would record serial numbers as they shipped guns, but nothing prevented a gun with a lower serial number from being shipped months after a gun with a higher one.

 

[phubai8]

DC

Thanks much for the info. That's good to know about the serial numbers verus shipping dates. Sounds like it's safe to say this is a pre-1957 Airweight Bodyguard. As such, does it have any collector value? It brings back some strong memories of Nam and I'm considering having it engraved. If for no other reason, just to commemorate the fact that I survived it...

 

[jws6145]

Howdy and Welcome to the forum from Odessa, Tx.

 

[mikepriwer]

If you carried, or used, the gun in Vietnam, then document all of that.
Do it on paper, not on the gun. The gun should be left in original-
factory condition. Wear is acceptable, but permanently altering the
gun is not.

Mike Priwer

 

[phubai8]

Mike
You have a very valid point. The gun used in Nam is gone forever. This was a replacement found at a gun show recently. Even if not great I guess there is some collector value and I should respect that. However, I still would like to use it as an every day carry gun. My first love is the 1911 platform and I have several but I'm rather small and it's vertually impossible to carry a 1911 without it being obvious. The Airweight fits the bill for what I want.
Regards,
Mike B

 

[phubai8]

JWS

Thanks for the welcome and Howdy from South MS. Been through Midland/Odessa a few times back in another life with the Army. This looks like a very informative site and I'll be checking in more often.

Mike B