Model 36 Strange serial number

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richard_p57

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Hello All
I just picked up a model 36 No dash 1 7/8" barrel nice clean revolver. When my brother (he collects Model 10's) looked in the book for the serial number to date the gun is when the fun started. The serial number is AFW 3543 he found nothing in the book or online that even comes close. Found Model 10's with this number dated mid 80's.. Any insight to the age of this would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Richard
 
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Sounds like a 84-85 era and should not have barrel pin. Post a picture and be sure serial is off butt of gun.
 
In this era, all revolvers had the three-letter/four-digit SN format, so a model 10 could have had a letter/number combination right next to a model 36. The SCSW has gaps in the SN table so estimates (or individuals compiling their own data) help with age estimates. Hope this is helpful.
 
You have a Model 36 from about the start of the Alpha Numeric serial numbers. I have a Model 60 that starts with AFD, and I have jokingly told those who look at it that it stands for "Anchorage Fire Dept". Yours could be "Alaska Fish & Wildlife" ...Kyle
 
ken158,

Thank you that is what I thought. I would love to take picture and post but alas nothing to do it with, yes I still have a Captain Kirk phone.

It does not have a barrel pin. And the serial number is off the bottom/butt of gun.
 
AFW would probably be late 1984 to early 1985 prefix. That's probably as close as you are going to get without a letter. S&W used the three-letter scheme so no two guns made by S&W could possibly have the same SN in order to meet the requirements of GCA-1968.
 
DWalt,

Sorry should have been more specific. When I said "found Model 10's with this number" I should have said this prefix AFW, dated in the 80's.

Richard
 
I must have a real old model 36 no dash !! My ser. Is 641111. Easy to remember , my dad gave it to me when I left to join the coast guard in 1970 at young age of 18. He had 2 new smiths one a 36&one a 37(lite weight). He gave my older bro the first choice, he took the 37.
Have a happy new year!
 
Gripgrabber said:
I must have a real old model 36 no dash !! My ser. Is 641111. Easy to remember , my dad gave it to me when I left to join the coast guard in 1970 at young age of 18. He had 2 new smiths one a 36&one a 37(lite weight). He gave my older bro the first choice, he took the 37.
Have a happy new year!
Click to expand...

Yours probably dates from 1967-68. Excuse me, but I would not call that "real old." And the no-dash version continued in production until about the end of 1987. It was replaced by the Model 36-2 in 1988.
 
Gripgrabber said:
I must have a real old model 36 no dash !! My ser. Is 641111. Easy to remember , my dad gave it to me when I left to join the coast guard in 1970 at young age of 18. He had 2 new smiths one a 36&one a 37(lite weight). He gave my older bro the first choice, he took the 37.
Have a happy new year!
Click to expand...

I show one with a SN not a great deal lower which shipped in early 1968.
 
S&W 36

New to forum, not sure how to ask question about my 36 , so I will ask here ...... My serial number is 6J6730 can anyone tell me the year of manufacture
 
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