Date of Model 2 Army Revolver

[oldrdawg]

Being new to collecting the older S&Ws, I'm hoping someone can refer me to a resource for dating early S&W revolvers with any kind of specificity based on serial numbers. I have a Model 2 Army with serial number 70XX and was wondering when it was manufactured. Any guidance? Thanks much.

 

[iby]

#2

You are in the right place.
Hang on and you will learn.
Yours is likely 1861

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! The Bible for S&W collectors is the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica and Nahas, fourth edition.

Guy

 

[Books]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! The Bible for S&W collectors is the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica and Nahas, fourth edition.

Guy

Amen!

Books

 

[H Richard]

The #2, Old Army revolver was mfg from 1861 to 1874, with 77,155 made during that time. It was most probably made in 1862, however S&W's are not mfg in chronological order by S/N, so the only way to get a "shipping date", (Mfg dates were not recorded, just shipping dates) would require a Historical Letter where the records would be researched and the actual date can be usually determined, and to where it originally shipped when it left the factory.

Here is a link to the download for a letter request form (located above in the heading "downloads"):
http://smith-wessonforum.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=17

The Historical letter costs $100.

 

[murphydog]

This is a good website from a student of the model 2:

Smith and Wesson Model 2 Army Revolver

 

[oldrdawg]

Thank you

Thanks for the insight and guidance. It was stunningly helpful. I've added my piece to the listing of the Model 2 project.

 

[glowe]

My #1 reference pick is still Neal & Jinks bible, Smith & Wesson 1857 - 1945.

 

[Sam Ferguson]

I too just bought a No. 2 today. SN 2599*. I hears somewhere that the * indicated it had been factory reworked?
The S&W literature has been buffed off of the barrel, with only the faintest remainder visible under magnification. Whats up?

 

[opoefc]

Sam The "star" stamp was applied by the factory when the gun was returned for repairs, etc. Look under the left grip and there should be a date code that gives the month & Yr. the repair was made. Example "6.18" would indicate june 1918. Some past owner has over buffed your gun and removed the stamping. That was not the factory. SN 2599 is an early "two pin" gun, circa 1861 maybe.