Help with Year of manufacture

[Tazman1602]

Hey all,

Never knew you couldn't look up Smith Year of manufacture on the web.

I've got a few Smiths but am largely a Ruger guy, however, due to a brand new Uberti almost coming apart in my hand, yesterday my wife made me promise NOT to get another one. Asked me if I would please buy a Ruger, Smith, or other pistol she trusted. Uberti issue scared her.

Anyway I was looking at Rugers when she picked up a new 686 and told me it just exuded quality -- and it did. The minute I picked it up I knew it was for me.

Anyway I've got a few Smiths like I said and know the years on all of them except this one I've got to ask about -- guess I'm going to have to buy the book because the new 686 has really got my attention.

The one I need help with - I've had it so long now I'm going to have to put it through its paces but I'd like to know when it was manufactured so here goes:

Model: 66 on crane yoke, other numbers too but 66 is model no dash
Barrel: 4"
Action: DA/SA
Cylinder: 6 rounds
Serial: 9K40xxx
Strain screw: Yes
Rear Sight: Adjustable blued post war


Any help appreciated

Art

PS --- oops
Caliber: .357 Magnum

 

[Hawg Rider]

1976 According to SCSW

Welcome to the S&W Forum. Stick around and we're liable to ween you away from those Rugers! Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (SCSW) 4th Edition says that s/n's 9K10001 thru 9K99999 were manufactured in 1976. As you probably know, the Model 66 was introduced in 1970 as the .357 Combat Magnum Stainless...a stainless steel version of the venerable Model 19 (K-frame revolver). The Model 66 was available with 2-1/2", 4", and 6" barrels. The 686 that you and your wife were looking at is a slightly larger L-frame, but still smaller than the N-frames.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

The S&W historian, Roy Jinks, owns the old shipping records. It appears that the old manufacturing records no longer exist. The BATF-E accepts the shipping dates when it come to C&R and antique status.

 

[kscharlie]

...

The BATF-E accepts the shipping dates when it come to C&R and antique status.

Yeah, and we all know how well S&W did in shipping guns in serial number order. So without a factory letter, we have no idea when a particular gun was shipped. I rather doubt that BATF knows, either. I would assume (and I hate to do that) BATF accepts the approximate published dates of serial numbers. Not that it makes much difference in this particular case, but I have a Model of 1955, 5-screw, non-model marked, with serial number that the book says 1955, but Roy says it shipped in 1959.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

Sounds like you've got a great wife and a great older Smith, too.

Stick around and enjoy all this site has to offer.

Bob