Help with a J-Frame Serial (update)

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I have a M-36 3762XX. The book shows a range from 62-69. Can anyone narrow it down a bit?

I now know the gun was shipped on 4-20-65 to Jerry's Sport Center in Olyphant, PA. It was part of a 42 gun shipment and most appear to be police officer guns except for 2 M-52's.

By the way, the total cost for 42 guns was less than $2,000.
 
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Based on this (below), it would seem that your Model 36 would be closer to 1962…

For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50 and pre model number versions.

1950 = start at 1
1952 = 7369 - 21342
1953 = 28916
1955 = 55050 - 75000
1957 = 117770 - 125000
1962 = starts at 295000
1969 = ends at 786544

I’m sure that someone will be by soon to refine the date even further.
 
Model 36 # 3538xx shipped in September, 1964. One would expect that 3762XX would not have shipped prior to that (although just about anything is possible).

One thing to check is the thumbpiece (cylinder release). If it isn't flat, then the revolver is from sometime in 1966 or later.

Bob, our resident expert on the Chiefs Special, should be along soon to help.
 
Here's a view from two near yours in the database.

375846 shipped in January 1965.

377130 shipped in March 1965.

S&W neither completed revolvers nor shipped them in serial number order.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Regarding Jack's note about the thumbpiece, I'd surely bet it's a flat style with 12 ridges between the end caps.
 
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I wouldn't call it a flat style latch, but I don't know that much about latches other than there are different styles.

There are pictures of the gun now in the "For Sale" area.
 
That serial number seems a bit too early to have the contoured thumbpiece unless it got stalled in the production line and didn't get completed till after February '66.

Does the serial number on the butt have a J in front of it? That might be why Jack wanted to "see" the serial number.
 
Without a full serial number, I'd guess 1965.

Here's a few 3762xx serial numbers I pulled:

376205 shipped on Jan. 22, 1965.
376212 shipped on Jan. 22, 1965.
376213 shipped on Feb. 4, 1965.
376215 shipped on Feb. 2, 1965.

Etcetera.

Mike
 
Ah, ha. Very interesting.

Now you've caused a spike in my curiosity.

When you remove the stocks...

1. is there a rework stamp on the left side of the grip handle?
(i.e., 03 72 would indicate it was worked on in March 1972).

2. is the inside of the right stock stamped with the same serial
number?, and

3. is there an N stamped on the bottom of the barrel? If not it
likely left the factory with a blue finish.

Just trying to get a handle on the big picture.
 
As I stated in my ad, the fun is marked R-N. There are some very small letters that could be 1C74. You have to look at them with a magnifying glass to read them. The stock is stamped with a number similar to the serial number except for one number. I am guessing it was stamped improperly.

There is no N as it left the factory blued.
 
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