Dash numbers?

[RicT]

What's the deal with the dash numbers? You know, when someone writes that he has a "39-2", or is looking for a "4513-3", what does that mean? Improvements within the model run, different year models...?

I know about the S&W generation numbers, and the model numbers, but I've never seen anything about the dash numbers.
How can you tell what "dash number" you have? I've got several S&W autos, where should I check for the dash numbers?

Ric T.

 

[SHAMUSPI]

Almost always, it is a change, big or small, in the gun. IE: the 4506 had a square trigger guard. The 4506-1 was rounded to a more traditional (today's) look. When Smith brings out a dash verison, they usually stop production on the non-dash model.

 

[JSR III]

When S&W issued an engineering change to one of their guns, they added a digit to the model number to signify the change. Similarly they added an "S" to the serial number after WWII to signify the addition of the safety block. The unfortunate part is that since different model numbers came out at different times, the -1 change for one model may not signify the same change to another model.

As an example, the 27-1 signifies the 1960 change in the extractor thread from right hand to left hand. For the model 57, the 57-1 change occured in 1982 and involves the elimination of the cylinder counter bore and pinned barrel as well as shortening the cylinder length from 1.75 to 1.67.

I would suggest a copy of the Standard Catalog of S&W as a good reference book. There are 3 editions with the 3rd edition being the most up to date and the thickest. The first came out in 1996 and the second in 2001, so any of the 3 will give you most of the S&W history and information up to the last decade.

 

[RicT]

...
I would suggest a copy of the Standard Catalog of S&W as a good reference book. There are 3 editions with the 3rd edition being the most up to date and the thickest. The first came out in 1996 and the second in 2001, so any of the 3 will give you most of the S&W history and information up to the last decade.

Got the book on order now.
Thanks!

 

[18DAI]

The 3rd generation pistols were not all marked with dash numbers. Some were, like the 4506, and 4516.

As production went on, some improvements and some cost cutting measures were incorporated resulting in a revision of the pistol. Looking at a parts schematic is usually the best way to find what "revision" of a model your pistol is. Customer service would also tell you based on your serial number.

If all that is not confusing enough there were some unofficial dash numbers as well. Again the 4506 and 4516 are good examples. Both of these were made in unofficial "dash 3" models. The boxes were marked with "03", while the frames simply carry the normal model designation. Visually the way to tell is the laser etched S&W logo and model number.

Both of these "dash 3's" are also revision 4 pistols having the wider barrel hoods and other late production model changes. Hope this helps more than it clouds the issue for you. Regards 18DAI.