Model 37 Called My Name

[JohnnyW]

I walked by the display case at the range a couple weeks ago and noticed a small S&W revolver sitting on top of a little blue box. Turns out it was a consignment they had from an estate sale. I recognized it as what we used to call a "Chief Special". It was in great shape and came with the original box, waxed paper wrap, cleaning tools and documentation. It hadn't been shot much. There was hardly a visible mark on the cylinder from the lock up lug. Long story short, it called my name and I answered.

I've been trying to figure out a birthdate. The frame under the crane is stamped "MOD. 37" (no dash) and has three screws in the side plate and a pinned barrel. The serial number is"3J65XX". From what I can glean from the SCSW it could have been made in 1969, but the "3" before the "J" in the serial number is a puzzle. I can't locate any reference to any number being before the "J" in the serial number in my SCSW.

Hoping for some sage wisdom from you smart guys. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

By the way this is my first post.

 

[JP@AK]

One digit before the J and four digits after the J puts it in the "roving J" period - 1970-1973. My guess is 1971, but Two-bit Cowboy (Bob) will be along to nail it down for you.

Page 489 in the 4th Edition; page 584 in the 5th Edition.

 

[usedkid]

Post 1983...

 

[JP@AK]

Post 1983...

Absolutely not! JohnnyW's serial number has 1 digit ahead of the J and only four digits after the J (five total digits). In 1982 and beyond, there were always five digits following the J (total six digits).

 

[dobegrant]

Welcome from Arizona, you did a good thing listening and heeding the lonely call from a classic revolver, congratulations

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

Anything post 1983 would have the triple alpha prefix serial number. I agree with JP@AK, 1971.

 

[JohnnyW]

One digit before the J and four digits after the J puts it in the "roving J" period - 1970-1973. My guess is 1971, but Two-bit Cowboy (Bob) will be along to nail it down for you.

Page 489 in the 4th Edition; page 584 in the 5th Edition.

Appreciate the info. It took me a bit to do a little research on "roving J" but I think I got there. The year 1971 makes sense.

Many thanks

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard, JohnnyW,

Based on others in my extensive database, Smith & Wesson likely shipped yours in the fall of 1970.

It's a neat and long-misunderstood serial range that began at 1J1 and ended at 999J99. There were in the neighborhood of 260,000 Chiefs and Bodyguards produced in the range between 1970 and 1973. Smith & Wesson's equipment could only stamp six characters on a J-frame's small butt during the era, and that's what resulted in the "roving J series" serial numbers. The series ended at 999J99 in 1973, and the company had obtained equipment capable of stamping seven digits on the J-frame's small butt before that.

The serial series before yours ran J1 - J99999 in 1969 and 1970. The one after yours ran J100000 - J999999 from 1973 - 1983.

Hope this helps.