Help Identifying 3 newly Acquired S&W .38 Specials

[Clockerman]

Good evening all. Please offer up any information on the identity of my 3 .38 S&W Specials.

The Model 36 Snub serial# is J320748

The next 2" has no model number stamped
Serial # 100996

The 4" has no model number stamped
Serial # C 118382

Thank you for any insight on production dates and any other factoids.

 

[brick]

Welcome to the forum.

The J320748 is 1975-1976.

The 100996 is 1957.

The C118382 is 1948-1951.

I have taken this info from the SCSW 3rd edition.

 

[g8rb8]

The 4" serial # C 118382 is a post WW II .38 Special Military & Police (i.e. a "Pre-model 10). I would guess it is from somewhere between circa 1948 (when the C prefix started) and 1952 when the front sight changed from round blade to ramp.

 

[g8rb8]

The 2" serial # 100996 is a .38 Chiefs Special (i.e. "Pre-Model 36) and would be from sometime after 1955 when the upper sideplate screw was eliminated and 1957 when it became the Model 36. My guess is 1956 as the Standard Catalog of S&W 4th edition lists the last serial number for 1955 as 75000 and the earliest serial number for 1957 as 117770.

 

[JP@AK]

Your .38 Military & Police, serial number C118382, very likely shipped in 1950.