Help me identify my M37?

[limhyl]

I just picked this up today. All I know is it's a 38 SPL Airweight, probably a M37, and very vintage. Stamped on the frame and visible when the cylinder is opened is the number 30079 below the letter J. On the butt end of the grip is the serial number 61867.

Can you guys tell me when it was made and any other useful details? I plan to rotate this with my M36 as a daily carry. Also would like to know if occasional use of +P cartridges is ok for this vintage?

 

[Hondo44]

Nice catch. Yes a Pre model 37, built on the Model of 1953 New J frame.

Likely shipped mid 1955.

The #30079 below the letter J is an assembly #. The J is an inspector stamp.

Airweight Model (pre model 37):
It's reported that the 1st Mod of 1953 Airweight was introduced 9-12-1952. Reports indicate that airweights are between 240XX shipped April 7, 1953 (w/alloy cyl), up to at least #131612 (w/steel cyl).

Earliest Airweights in the #24-27,000 range had aluminum cylinders, about 3777 made (lowest known 240XX shipped April 7, 1953, alloy cyl # 43926, shipped in January, 1954, highest known, # 82317, a 3 screw). US Air Force batch #AF1795- AF2399. C.1954 changed to steel cylinders due to weakness; a steel cyl reported as low as #43750 & #438XX with old hammer, shipped 1956!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Also would like to know if occasional use of +P cartridges is ok for this vintage?

If you call S&W and ask, they'll tell you they do not recommend shooting +P in non-model marked guns. Your pre-37 is essentially the same as the model marked guns that came along a couple of years later. Also, at the time this gun was manufactured, standard pressures were approximately the same as +P pressures today. IIRC, SAAMI reduced the pressures for a standard load in the 1970's making the old standard load the +P load. Depending on whom you read, the reason was more accurate pressure measurement when shifting over to a piezoelectric pressure sensor from the old copper sensor which resulted in measured peak pressures being higher than the old CUP system registered. So, your gun was designed to shoot standard .38 Special which at the time was what is today +P. I'll leave you with this bit of info and you decide.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Good lookin' Airweight. I have 105xxx with 3-screws on the side plate; I'm betting yours is a 4-screw version.

With the cylinder out, as in your second photo, look at the bottom of the frame where the barrel goes through to see if the frame is cracked. It happens on these old aluminum frames. Hope not, but regardless I would recommend going easy on the ammo choices.

 

[limhyl]

Thank you everyone for this great and detailed information. I did check for cracks and didn't find any. The original owner was over 80 and had rarely fired it. The side plate has three screws and were easy to loosen to pop the side plate off. It was very dry so I gave it some quality lube and the trigger pull is very smooth now. I paid $350 and think it was a pretty good deal.

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