First Year for N Frame and K Frame Model Stamps

[Gun Relics]

Based on DARE's recent thread, I began thinking about the first year for model stamps, which is widely considered to be 1957 and starting with serial number S179,000 on N frames. Looking at my own collection, the closest I have is serial number S178,435 and it shipped February 28, 1958. It is a pre-29. So I checked the database I have, which is small, and didn't see any 57 shipped guns with model number stamps. Interesting enough, not a lot of 1958 shipped guns had model numbers as well.

So for all practical purposes, to me the little evidence I have shows that 1958 is effectively the first year for model stamps to be used on shipped guns. The earliest K frame with a model number I have is a 19 and it shipped in 1958 as well. I assume Smith and Wesson had a large frame inventory for guns being processed with the yoke pre-stamped with assembly numbers and it took them a while to get to the blank yoke frames.

Does anybody have a 1957 gun with a model number stamp?

 

[JP@AK]

Does anybody have a 1957 gun with a model number stamp?

I don't believe any exist.

I do not have a lot of information on the N frames, but I can tell you from a lot of research on the K frames (fixed and target sights) that show 1958 being the earliest for model marked units, with some showing up in 1959 without model marks.

 

[Doc44]

44 Magnums were stamped MOD-29 in the yoke cut at approximately serial number S184000 in late 1958.

Bill

 

[DARE]

DARE here, you probably knew I would venture an opinion. If there were any model marked guns shipped in 1957 it was not very many. I think if you have a model marked gun that shipped in 1958 it should be considered a 1st year gun.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

1957-58

 

[1Celticfozzie]

I just picked up a pre model 14. The serial number dates it to 1958 and it is not marked with a model number. Though per the S&W 5th edition later production would have 10 ribs on the front and rear of the grip frame. Which mine does. So not sure exactly what it is. lol

 

[blackdeuce]

S179137 shipped July 30th, 1958. It's a pre 29.

 

[Gun Relics]

I think Doc44 pretty much cleared it up: Sometimes "common knowledge" isn't. The model stamp mandate went out in 1957, didn't really ship until later 1958, but weren't very common until sometime later. This, of course, will vary somewhat by frame type and model. I'm just happy to have one example of a 1958 shipped gun with a model number stamp - a Model 19 which is a K frame that shipped in September 1958. I think it would be very difficult to find a 1958 shipped N frame with a model number stamp.

 

[DARE]

I agree. Doc44 is very knowledgeable. I was hoping he would weigh in on this.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Naturally I can't speak to anything bigger than a J-frame. The first known 2" Chiefs Special marked MOD-36 is serial number 126017, and it shipped September 4, 1958.

Since you mentioned the model mark and assembly number, it is also the only model-marked revolver I've seen or heard of with the two numbers stamped together.

I also have Chiefs Special Airweight serial number 130794, which shipped in August 1958: it is not model marked, and its assembly number is in the new location on the lower left side of the grip frame.

Here, also, is the first known 3" Chiefs Special with a model stamp. It shipped on October 20, 1958.

 

[Gun Relics]

Naturally I can't speak to anything bigger than a J-frame. The first known 2" Chiefs Special marked MOD-36 is serial number 126017, and it shipped September 4, 1958.

Since you mentioned the model mark and assembly number, it is also the only model-marked revolver I've seen or heard of with the two numbers stamped together.

I also have Chiefs Special Airweight serial number 130794, which shipped in August 1958: it is not model marked, and its assembly number is in the new location on the lower left side of the grip frame.

Here, also, is the first known 3" Chiefs Special with a model stamp. It shipped on October 20, 1958.

Wow, thanks for that. That over-stamp likely means the administration put their foot down and said "stamp those damn things anyway, nobody looks at this stuff!"

 

[two-bit cowboy]

... nobody looks at this stuff!"

Yeah, nobody except some nerdy guy sixty-some years later!