J Frame SN oddity (letter in place of number)

[Teddydog]

I saw a J Frame with an odd serial number. Model 37 Cheif's Special Airweight. SN was 770Jxx. I don't see any reference to a letter in the middle of a SN for these guns. Based on the box and other things, and assuming the J is actually a number, it would be a 1968/9 gun, I think. But the butt AND box both pretty clearly show a "J" (non-serif) as the 4th digit.

If it was just poorly struck and it really a 0 missing about 1/3 of the imprint, would the BOX also carry this mistake? I don't have it in hand to put it under a magnifying glass.

Any thoughts?

Rob

 

[Kansasgunner]

No mistake on that serial number. That’s an example of the famed “floating“ J from 1982/1983. Probably 1983 with that number. When two-bit cowboy sees your post he can probably get closer.

 

[Teddydog]

Interesting. Have not heard of that before. The gun has a pinned barrel and is a no Dash 37.

Any extra (or decreased) value or interest associated with the Floating J?

Rob

 

[Hondo44]

I don't see any reference to a letter in the middle of a SN for these guns.

Rob

Rob, references did you use? I don't know of any that have M37 serial #s that don't show the j series.

No extra for a J serial #.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Not really a big deal. In 1982 j frame serial numbers hit J999999. Then I believe it went 1J00001 and the J moved farther down with succeeding numbers. Starting in 1980 and into 1983 S&W went to the triple alpha numbers that we have today. The triple alpha phased in at different times for different frames and models.

 

[murphydog]

Tim is close.

The “floating J” serial number format is seen on guns from 1971-‘72, with the later ones shipping into 1973. For some reason S & W was locked into the J and five digit format and used up J 00001 to J 99999 fairly quickly, so used this series as a follow on. Right after this they moved to the J and six digits, which lasted until the three letter/four digits for J frames started in the early ‘80s.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Alan is correct, the true floating Js were 1971/72. That’s what happens when I’m sure I’m right and don’t check my facts before typing.
In 1982 & 1983 there were only 1Jxxxxx, the J never moved out of that position.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Chiefs serial numbers began at 1 (1950/51) and along with Bodyguards (Models 38 & 49) ran through 786544 in 1969. The next serial number series began at J1 in 1969 and ran through J99999 in mid-1970. My last example in this series (J75846), shipped in May 1970.

S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks calls the series you're inquiring about the “roving J” serial number series: up to five numbers starting at 1J1, with no more than three numbers before the J and from one to four numbers after the J. I have no clue where the term "floating J" originated.

S&W shipped my earliest Chiefs Special in the series (2J4177) in May 1970. The series presumably ran to 999J99 in 1973, but some in this series didn’t ship till years later. The serial number after 1J9999 was 2J1, and the one after 99J999 was 100J1.

The next serial number series extended the original J serial number series by adding one number. J100000 began in 1973 and ran to J999999 in 1982.

The next serial number series extended the roving J series. It began at 1J00000 (six numbers) and ran till 1983. Dr. Jinks said, "1J47502" was the last serial number in this series.

In 1983 S&W merged J-frames into its universal three-letter, four-number system initiated in 1980 with the launch of its L-frame revolvers (e.g., ABC1234).

One of Roy’s factory letters says the first J-frame stamped in this new serial number series was AAM1839.

Hope this helps.

 

[Teddydog]

Rob, references did you use? I don't know of any that have M37 serial #s that don't show the j series.

No extra for a J serial #.

Thanks Jim and everyone else. I was looking at the SCSW Second Edition.

Now that I know what I'm looking at and focusing on 1971/2, I see the entry for "1J1 - 999J99" and understand the significance. Without the background info, that didn't make sense to me in the chart. Especially under the bold heading "J Serial Prefix", since a "J" in the middle doesn't fit the definition of "Prefix".

I guess it is one of those things that now that I know it exists, it is easy to see and of course searching "floating J" led me to more info.

Rob

 

[Model1567]

In 1983 S&W merged J-frames into its universal three-letter, four-number system initiated in 1980 with the launch of its L-frame revolvers (e.g., ABC1234).

This is great info Cowboy. Thank you for that nugget. Currently trying to help someone date their J-frame and this really helps.