Dating serial numbers 1905 4th change.

[cobblefield]

I have two Hand Ejector Models of 1905 4th Change and would like to get a closer date range than the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson can give which 1915-1942. The two revolvers I own have 524xxx and 477xxx serial numbers. Is there a data base I can reference or can anyone give an educated estimate that gets closer to a more concise date? Any help is appreciated. Thank for looking.

 

[Frailer]

Circa 1924 for 477xxx and circa 1927 for 524xxx.

 

[Sevens]

There is not a published database however maybe that changes when the new SCSW 5th Edition is shipped?

They did not ship in order but I can still take an educated guess and it’s often interesting to try — and then hear some other opinions also.

I’ll say the 524xxx might be in the 1925 range and the 477xxx may be in the middle of 1924.

 

[4K2022]

Tahoe,, a beautiful place. Around 1926 ?? Markings began to appear on the Hammers and Triggers,,, until wartime ish.” I agree about the thrill of GUESSWORK,, with these old K Frames! Then the LERK also BEGINS to appear.?,?. I’ve been trying to connect these two visual changes, with dates.

 

[glowe]

I have charted the database for 38 M&Ps. sn 477,000 range would likely to have been shipped in 1924 and sn 524,000 range in 1926. For newer members, LERK is a misnomer, and often misused acronym, for post-WWII guns with barrel shaped knobs. The pre-1927 M&Ps had a mushroom shaped extractor rod knob.

 

[Sevens]

and 524,000 in 1296.

DEFINITELY an early 4th Change here, wow!

 

[JP@AK]

To reinforce Gary's estimate, this one is serial number 531541 and it shipped to Los Angeles on February 17, 1926.

 

[cobblefield]

1905 Serial numbers

You guys are the best. I sure do thank you for your research that helps a lot. I’ll post some pics of these revolvers since you guys went to the trouble to look this up. All the best!

 

[cobblefield]

Now for the 1926 model.

 

[rct269]

Best I had was 404219 and 594161----shipped September 9, 1922 and August 23, 1928 respectively---both targets, which tended to hang around for a spell; while the fixed sight guns seemed to go out as soon as the paint was dry!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[glowe]

Nice condition for both guns. The later M&P does not have original stocks, since they should both have the round top service stocks. Magna stocks as shown did not exist until the mid-1930s. If interested in originality, the older style can often be found on ebay if one occasionally searches for them.

 

[4K2022]

I thought I was editing

 

[glowe]

Patent dates were stamped on the trigger and hammer from around 1929 to the beginning of WWII. Serial range estimates are 595,000 to 700,000 in the K frames. Mushroom shaped knob was ordered changed to the barrel shape on 1/22/27 ending all the large knobs in 1927/1928, later on 32-20s.

 

[cobblefield]

Glowe you are absolutely correct on the grips. I have some correct grips on the way. Both of these revolvers have not been shot much. The recoil shield looks amazing.

 

[Fortcouragearmory]

Glowe, I also have a 1905, 4th Change serial #335XXX. Are these the correct grips for it?

 

[JP@AK]

I'm not Gary, but no. Those are from the WWII period, used on the Victory Model during the war.

Here's what they looked like during the 1920s:

Here's a Victory Model from the 1940s, wearing its correct stocks (it has been refinished as you can tell from the sideplate fit).

 

[LtBob]

I just received my "letter" from S&W dating my 4th change. Because it was re-barreled, it has a different SN on barrel. Frame SN528XXX - DEC. 1925. Barrel SN284XXX - NOV. 1917.