Date this for me please.

[bigi]

SW 629-3 Classic s/n TJA80xx or D46xx. Any input appreciated. Many Thanks

 

[bamabiker]

Nice looking M629. What dash number is it or is it a no dash? The SCSW is not clear on that serial prefix so I don't know what year it comes from.
From looking at the pictures I believe it has K frame grips on it.

 

[diamonback68]

The reason no one is responding is we don't think there is such a serial number with TJA prefix. Did you take this number off the butt of the grip frame.

 

[bigi]

to the top

 

[bamabiker]

The M629-3 Classic started in 1990 and the -4 came in 1993. Looking in the SCSW the serial prefix should start with a B in this time frame. You need to take off the grips and look at the bottom of the butt to find the serial number. If that's where you are gettin the TJA number then I don't know what you have.

 

[bigi]

Sorry guys, the gun is in transit to me, need to be patient, many thanks.

 

[youngda9]

It's got K/L frame grips on it...see how they don't fit at the top of the backstrap. Nice looking 4"er !

 

[bigi]

Finally arrived, and the grips are fine, grain matches, correct medalions and stamped Feb 20 1992. The pictures are not showing it well. S/N is TJA80XX. Funny had to take the grips off to find it. Thanks for the info.

 

[bigi]

So no one can date this? Is it because its a Canadian revolver? S/N was under the grips, bottom of butt not on the crane as most are, just the model was there.

 

[diamonback68]

It's not that bigi, it's just that there is no Smith that we know of that has a TJA prefix in the serial number. Maybe a call to Smith may help. Sometimes they did have special serial numbered runs of guns for certain distributors, but not in regular production runs.

 

[DCWilson]

Kind of a mystery. There are some semiautos whose serial numbers start with a TJ, and I found Internet references to a couple of 29s from 1991 whose serial numbers begin TJB. I think you can date your gun to the early 1990s from the fact that it is a dash-three, but I believe it will take a factory letter focused on that serial number to pick the specific date on which it went somewhere. Maybe it was a special order that was numbered in a reserved serial number range, or maybe it was a production overrun that was numbered outside of a reserved serial range to keep from confusing collectors of a limited-run model.

Either way, it looks like a nice gun and should be a great shooter. Is that a five-inch barrel? Putting together some conclusions from statements scattered in SCSW, I believe those are a little less common on the 29 and 629 Classics of the early 1990s than guns that had other barrel lengths.

 

[bigi]

Yes its a 5". Thanks all. Seller (not original owner) believes its a 1992.

 

[The Gila Bender]

TJA serial prefix

Here's mine, 629-3 Classic 6.5" serial number TJA2555. The box label Julian date is 0276, which I believe to be October 3, 1990.

 

[toad67]

When I read the title to your thread I was hoping it was about a gun and not your sister