Model 30 questions please
- Thread starter kc-130nav
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Anything is possible.
Under "normal" circumstances no one can answer your question with any degree of accuracy. As you may very well already know, you can determine the shipping date/destination/configuration with a letter of authenticity from the S&W Historical Foundation. The cost varies between $75 and $100 depending upon your affiliation with the Collectors group and the Historical Foundation----either or both.
We play games guessing ship dates by way of serial numbers---which comes under the heading of fun for the feeble minded---but we do it anyway---as an alternative to doing nothing---and besides that, we get close more often than not.
As an aside, while perhaps most folks get a letter to determine the shipping date, I've always been more interested in learning of the recipient---especially if turns out to be someone other than a distributor---those being the majority.
I recall one such letter on a 22/40 that ended with "This is a very important revolver." It is such as that which makes letters worth their weight in diamonds!!
Ralph Tremaine
Under "normal" circumstances no one can answer your question with any degree of accuracy. As you may very well already know, you can determine the shipping date/destination/configuration with a letter of authenticity from the S&W Historical Foundation. The cost varies between $75 and $100 depending upon your affiliation with the Collectors group and the Historical Foundation----either or both.
We play games guessing ship dates by way of serial numbers---which comes under the heading of fun for the feeble minded---but we do it anyway---as an alternative to doing nothing---and besides that, we get close more often than not.
As an aside, while perhaps most folks get a letter to determine the shipping date, I've always been more interested in learning of the recipient---especially if turns out to be someone other than a distributor---those being the majority.
I recall one such letter on a 22/40 that ended with "This is a very important revolver." It is such as that which makes letters worth their weight in diamonds!!
Ralph Tremaine
Closest one I have is 695837 which shipped in February, 1961. Yours probably shipped before that but as Ralph notes S&W didn't ship them in order and examples of some models sat in the vault for years before going out the door. Fun little guns, enjoy.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Green Frog
Member
All of that being said, we can still narrow it down a little. From 1946 to 1960, the serial numbers ran from about the mid 500,000s to the early 700,000s, so if you would like a good estimate, I can put you tentatively in the mid-late 1950s. The use of model numbers began for this gun in 1957, so that will narrow it down a little more.
HTH ~ Froggie
HTH ~ Froggie
Green Frog
Member
BTW, my journey into the I frames began seriously with a slightly earlier 2" version of the 32 HE, one that still has a leaf mainspring instead of the coil one found on yours. Other than that, they are pretty much identical, and are entirely too much fun! Mine is in heavy rotation for EDC.
Froggie
Froggie
And to illustrate Ralph and Jeff's posts:
Pre-Model 30 serial 671620 shipped in April 1959.
Pre-Model 30 serial 674598 shipped in November 1958.
Pre-Model 30 serial 676684 shipped in October 1958.
Model 30 serial 678842 shipped in September 1959.
Pre-Model 30 serial 671620 shipped in April 1959.
Pre-Model 30 serial 674598 shipped in November 1958.
Pre-Model 30 serial 676684 shipped in October 1958.
Model 30 serial 678842 shipped in September 1959.
Speaking of sitting in the vault for years--------the tale of two 3rd Model Single Shots: #4807 was completed May 9, 1911. 4826 was completed June 21, 1911. (My first thought was maybe these guns were completed on the same day----so I asked Jinks---big mistake, that one!)
On the other hand, having been told time and time again that completion dates are not available, these two were available---fancy that!!
Anyhow, 4826 was shipped June 24, 1911---as in RIGHT NOW!!!! 4807, on the other hand was shipped November 11, 1915. Now there's a very good reason for the snappy service on 4826---it was a special order for a single unit ---sold before it was made. 4807 was not so fortunate!
And after telling me these things, Jinks added a little scolding shot---goes like this: "This certainly establishes that they were not produced in the same production lot of Perfected Single Shot Pistols."
Yes, SIR!!----it certainly does!
Ralph Tremaine
On the other hand, having been told time and time again that completion dates are not available, these two were available---fancy that!!
Anyhow, 4826 was shipped June 24, 1911---as in RIGHT NOW!!!! 4807, on the other hand was shipped November 11, 1915. Now there's a very good reason for the snappy service on 4826---it was a special order for a single unit ---sold before it was made. 4807 was not so fortunate!
And after telling me these things, Jinks added a little scolding shot---goes like this: "This certainly establishes that they were not produced in the same production lot of Perfected Single Shot Pistols."
Yes, SIR!!----it certainly does!
Ralph Tremaine
