Model 37

[kjack1]

Birthday present to me - barely used, barely carried 37 pinned 3”.

M37 - Album on Imgur

Serial number is 200J8x which, of course, can’t be found in the usual sources.

 

[Cal44]

Birthday present to me - barely used, barely carried 37 pinned 3”.

M37 - Album on Imgur

Serial number is 200J8x which, of course, can’t be found in the usual sources.

About 1971 manufacture. It's from the "floating J" period when the J in the serial number "floats" around instead of being the first letter.

 

[kjack1]

Thank you!

 

[haywood]

This is the page for floating J years. I think 1971 and 1972 were the floating J years.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Very nice find, even with the modern grips (it would have had magna grips).

I know the references say '71 - '72 for the floating "j" serial numbers, but there were plenty shipped up through '74, and I have a 3" Model 36-1 (7Jxxxx) that shipped in '76 (probably an anomaly that simply sat on the shelf for a long time).

 

[loknload]

Good catch, nice handgun! I have one just like it that was my first new Smith back in 1975
They are great little handguns and this was my first CCW. Still have it yet today and wouldn’t part with it!

 

[kjack1]

Found a companion “floating J” M36 which is probably easier to date (1J12X) on haywood’s reference page (Thanks again!)

A couple of dings, a little blue loss, and replacement grips, but the price was right.

VA Governor just signed legislation to reinstate the one-gun-a-month restriction which my wife always had in place, but she let me have one more for my birthday.

 

[kjack1]

Found some wood grips for the 37. Not perfect, but close enough to bring a smile to my face.

M37 - Album on Imgur

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

VA Governor just signed legislation to reinstate the one-gun-a-month restriction which my wife always had in place, but she let me have one more for my birthday.

Glad we don't have that here in MA. As long as I've been here, if I had to buy one gun a month, I'd have hundreds by now. That may actually be more than I want.