Model 38 odd #.

[justinvan]

Picked up a model 38 airweight today... I have the catalog but the serial doesn't jive with what I am finding. Its a pinned 3 screw with the model # 38 by the hinge and 36j4xx on the bottom of the frame. Am I missing something or is this an odd #?
Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[murphydog]

From 1971 to '72 certain J frames used six total characters, starting with 1J1 and ending with 999J99, the so-called "floating J" series. Your model 38 likely is from the first of these two years. Hope this is helpful.

 

[justinvan]

Thanks for the info... while I am no expert I have tried to educate myself on my collection of S&W revolvers and this is the first I have heard of the "floating J".

 

[JP@AK]

You should also be aware that there is a later J sequence with a J that moved down the line. It first appears in 1982 and continues to the end of the J series in 1983. The difference is that there are 6 numeric digits, unlike the 1971-72 floating J, which only had 5 numeric digits.