Looking for date of manufacture on two Model 10-5s

[twtalbot]

Hello forum, new member here. This is my first post. I've recently acquired a like new Model 10-5 with a 6" pinned barrel, sn C887133. It has a pair of walnut target grips that I'm sure aren't original to a fixed sight, tapered barrel gun. A quick check of a Smith and Wesson Facebook page showed an approximate date of manufacture of 1966 or 1967. With the possibility that it might have been made the same year I was born and is is such nice condition, I decided to get another to save wear on it. At a small shop, I found a 5" Model 10-5 that had come onto the market after being released from evidence by a local court. It's sound but scuffed enough that I won't mind adding some wear to it. It's sn is C844173, which places it in the same age range as the first one. I was wondering if someone in the forum could narrow down the dates of manufacture a little more than the two year range that I've managed.

 

[wetdog]

Both are 1966-67. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Inusuit]

Based on the Smith and Wesson Standard Catalog 4th Edition, 1966-67 is the shipping date for Serial Numbers C810533-C999999. There are members here who have their own databases for tracking serial numbers. they may be able to narrow it down for you. The best bet may be to request a letter from S&W.

 

[dcopper]

Welcome to the forum from Arkansas! Nice start!

 

[twtalbot]

Thanks. Looks like I'll have to spring for a factory letter to get the exact year. It'd be great if both are 1967.

 

[JH1951]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Glashaus]

Hello twtalbot, welcome to the Forum! Factory letters are nice but 99% of the time will only tell you three things, the date that it was shipped, the configuration that it left the factory and the hardware store that it was shipped to.

I lettered my 10-5 just for the fun of it. Mine, serial # C860XXX was shipped on July 15, 1966

 

[Muss Muggins]

Hello twtalbot, welcome to the Forum! Factory letters are nice but 99% of the time will only tell you three things, the date that it was shipped, the configuration that it left the factory and the hardware store that it was shipped to.

I lettered my 10-5 just for the fun of it. Mine, serial # C860XXX was shipped on July 15, 1966

Those are three pretty cool things to know for an older handgun . . .

 

[Glashaus]

Those are three pretty cool things to know for an older handgun . . .

Oh I know, I have the letters for my older S&W's, just kinda boring for most Model 10-5's. To me letters are worth the money for whatever info they have.

 

[bob42]

I had a 5" 10-5 C8535XX shipped Feb. 1967 which may narrow down your ship date.

 

[twtalbot]

Thanks Glashaus and bob42, I think the info you've provided has got me the info I'm looking for-1966 for the "evidence" gun and 1967, my birth year, for the pristine one.