Model 36-1 serial number help

[tc55da]

I need some help on year identity on a 36-1 serial # 5j8032. I have looked in my Smith Cat. and can not figure this one out. It is my nephew's revolver and he asked me to look it up. I asked him if he is sure of the j location not being the prefix and he said he's sure. I bought the book so I wouldn't have to do this but.......
Thanks,Mike

 

[Cooter Brown]

I think with that wandering "J" it puts it in 71-72. I've got one as well. Great little revolver.

If that date's wrong someone will come along and correct.

 

[tc55da]

Thanks Cooter

 

[tc55da]

Addition to description, nephew said it is a 5 screw. I have not yet seen the revolver.

 

[Hondo44]

Yours is likely to be fairly early 1971.

Dating during the first “floating J” series (1971 – 1972) 1J1 to 999J99 (note the 1st # is incorrect in the SCSW), the “J” is significant to where the s/n falls within the time period. Here is what I believe the s/n sequence looks like:

1J1, 1J2, 1J3, 1J4, 1J5, 1J6, 1J7, 1J8, 1J9, 1J10, 1J11 . . . . . . . . . . 1J9999
2J1, 2J2, 2J3, 2J4, 2J5, 2J6, 2J7, 2J8, 2J9, 2J10, 2J11 . . . . . . . . . . 2J9999
3J1, 3J2, 3J3, 3J4, 3J5, 3J6, 3J7, 3J8, 3J9, 3J10, 3J11 . . . . . . . . . . 3J9999
. . .

10J1, 10J2, 10J3, 10J4, 10J5, 10J6, 10J7, 10J8, 10J9, 10J10 . . . . . 10J999
11J1, 11J2, 11J3, 11J4, 11J5, 11J6, 11J7, 11J8, 11J9, 11J10 . . . . . 11J999
. . .

99J1, 99J2, 99J3, 99J4, 99J5, 99J6, 99J7, 99J8, 99J9, 99J10 . . . . . . 99J999
100J1, 100J2, 100J3, 100J4, 100J5, 100J6, 100J7, 100J8, 100J9 . . . 100J99
101J1, 101J2, 101J3, 101J4, 101J5, 101J6, 101J7, 101J8, 101J9 . . . 101J99
. . .

999J1, 999J2, 999J3, 999J4, 999J5 . . . 999J99

You get the idea. Note in this first series of the floating J s/n format, there are a maximum of six characters; the letter J plus up to five numbers. The later floating J series beginning in 1973 has 7 characters; J plus six numbers.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Hondo, that's great stuff. Thanks for posting it.

 

[jcelect]

Conflicting information! !

Hey tc55da
The information you posted about the description can't be correct!
The cylinder stop screw was elimated in about 1953, the upper side plate screw was elimated in about 1955, the 36-1 denotes the gun as being a 3" Heavy Barrel started in approx. 1967, and the serial number puts the gun in the 70s. Odds are no in favor of it being a 5 screw gun!
jcelect