Model of 1899 Serial numbers

[mikepriwer]

I'm trying to determine when the caliber roll marking on the left side of the barrel was
started, by serial number. From my guns, which are listed below, it starts somewhere
between 3865 and 10471 . Somewhere in this range, the caliber roll marking is
.38 S&W SPECIAL CTG . Secondarily, I am looking to see if there are any 1899's that
have the dual-caliber marking. None of mine do - all of my 1902's have the dual marking.

The information I want is only the serial number and the caliber roll marking on the left
side of the barrel. I'll add them to my list, keeping it updated here. No names will be
attached. You can either respond by posting the information in this thread, or send me a PM, or an email ( [email protected]).

If I can gather enough data, I suspect that there will be a region where some guns have
caliber roll markings, and others do not.

Here is my list, plus any others that are contributed, designated with an "*" after the serial number.

225 no caliber roll marking
1254 no caliber roll marking
1404 no caliber roll marking
1949 no caliber roll marking
3695 no caliber roll marking
3865 no caliber roll marking

10471 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
14048* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
14810 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
17085 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
18291 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
20114 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG

Thanks for your help, Mike Priwer

 

[merl67]

Do you just want 38 special SN or do you also want 32-20 ones too ?

 

[mikepriwer]

merl67

That's a good question, but I don't have any 32-20's any more ! I'm only doing .38's.
Whatever I find here can be used to infer where the point-of-interest is for the 32-20's.
I think I can do that.

Mike Priwer

 

[Muley Gil]

Mine is a .32 Winchester, marked on the left side. Serial number is 4287* and it shipped in September 1901.

 

[red9]

.32-20 target #747 (formerly yours) - 32 WINCHESTER CTG

 

[merl67]

My 32-20 is marked ol the left side .32 Winchester serial number is 2662

 

[mikepriwer]

Does anyone have a 1899 Navy contract gun, and if so, what is the caliber roll marking ? If they were caliber-marked on the barrel, that may have been the beginning of marking all the .38 barrels as .38 Special Ctg.

As to the 32-20's, the model of 1899 was offered with three (3) optional chamberings:
.38 Special, .38 US Service cartridges (meaning .38 long colt), and 32 Winchester.
I think that, in the beginning, the default cartridge marking for .38's was no marking, and
for 32 Winchester, it was marked 32 Winchester. I would think that would be necessary for distinguishing the larger vs smaller caliber. All of the 32 Winchesters seem to be marked.

Note that there was only one model - the 1899 - but it was produced in two different serial number series; one for .38's, and one for 32 Winchester. This was probably done purposely to confuse future collectors; at the time, no one cared about serial number series.

They did something similar with the finish options. Early on, the default was blue, and nickel guns were stamped with an "N" on the barrel, cylinder, etc. Sometime later, they switched, such that the blue guns were marked with a "B", and the nickel guns had no marking. This is what I have been told.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[mikepriwer]

Updated list

I'm trying to determine when the caliber roll marking on the left side of the barrel was
started, by serial number. From my guns, which are listed below, it starts somewhere
between 3865 and 10471 . Somewhere in this range, the caliber roll marking is
.38 S&W SPECIAL CTG . Secondarily, I am looking to see if there are any 1899's that
have the dual-caliber marking. None of mine do - all of my 1902's have the dual marking.

The information I want is only the serial number and the caliber roll marking on the left
side of the barrel. I'll add them to my list, keeping it updated here. No names will be
attached. You can either respond by posting the information in this thread, or send me a PM, or an email ( [email protected]).

If I can gather enough data, I suspect that there will be a region where some guns have
caliber roll markings, and others do not.

Here is my list, plus any others that are contributed, designated with an "*" after the serial number.

225* no caliber roll marking
1254 no caliber roll marking
1404 no caliber roll marking
1949 no caliber roll marking
3695 no caliber roll marking
3865 no caliber roll marking

10471 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
12286* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
13135* S&W 38 MIL (Army Contract)
14048* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
14810 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
17085 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
18291 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
20114 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG

Thanks for your help, Mike Priwer

 

[glowe]

How about 38 MIL used on commercial guns? I believe that is the same as 38 LC?

 

[DWalt]

How about 38 MIL used on commercial guns? I believe that is the same as 38 LC?

I have never seen a barrel stamped as .38 MIL. Have I missed something? I think the usual barrel marking is "U. S. Service CTG" which is the .38 Long Colt.

 

[jsfricks]

3733 with no caliber markings. 38 Special.

 

[mikepriwer]

Getting closer - two more updates

I'm trying to determine when the caliber roll marking on the left side of the barrel was
started, by serial number. From my guns, which are listed below, it starts somewhere
between 3865 and 10471 . Somewhere in this range, the caliber roll marking is
.38 S&W SPECIAL CTG . Secondarily, I am looking to see if there are any 1899's that
have the dual-caliber marking. None of mine do - all of my 1902's have the dual marking.

The information I want is only the serial number and the caliber roll marking on the left
side of the barrel. I'll add them to my list, keeping it updated here. No names will be
attached. You can either respond by posting the information in this thread, or send me a PM, or an email ( [email protected]).

If I can gather enough data, I suspect that there will be a region where some guns have
caliber roll markings, and others do not.

Here is my list, plus any others that are contributed, designated with an "*" after the serial number.

225* no caliber roll marking
1254 no caliber roll marking
1404 no caliber roll marking
1949 no caliber roll marking
3695 no caliber roll marking
3733* no caliber roll marking
3865 no caliber roll marking

8939* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
10471 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
12286* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
13135* S&W 38 MIL (Army Contract)
14048* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
14810 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
17085 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
18291 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
20114 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG

Thanks for your help, Mike Priwer

 

[mikepriwer]

Gary

S&W .38 MIL was used on the 1899 Army contract. I've not seen any commercial guns with that marking.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[glowe]

Mike, sorry for the delay, since I had not taken pictures of this one yet. It shipped in December, 1902. The gun has all matching parts and is a 38 MIL. As I understand it, this gun was shipped after the Model 1902s had made their entrance, so maybe made up with leftover parts for an order??

 

[H Richard]

Mike: S/N 8636 has 38 S&W Special marked on the left side of the barrel.
Dick

 

[glowe]

Mike, forgot another 1899, stamped .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG. Interesting that this one is 2000 higher than the 6" above, but was shipped in February 1902.

 

[mikepriwer]

Gary

I'm guessing that the barrel on 17813 is an Army-contract over-run. Interesting, but seems to fit the story about the company using up spare parts.

Dick

Thanks for this serial number. It closes the center gap in the data. I'm beginning to think that the barrel caliber roll marking started sometime after the Navy contract (6000) and before your gun of 8636.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[mikepriwer]

Narrowing the range even more

Here is the updated list, with the latest four additions:

225* no caliber roll marking
1254 no caliber roll marking
1404 no caliber roll marking
1949 no caliber roll marking
3695 no caliber roll marking
3733* no caliber roll marking
3865 no caliber roll marking
5001 - 6000 Navy Contract no caliber roll marking

7787* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
8636* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
8939* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
10471 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
12286* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
13135* S&W 38 MIL (Army Contract)
14048* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
14669* .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
14810 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
17085 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
17813* S&W 38 MIL Dec 1902 Probably Army contract over-run barrel
18291 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
19759* .38 S&W SPECIAL Feb 1902
20114 .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG

Thanks for your help, Mike Priwer

 

[S&W ucla]

#6181 5" Tgt [has faint 38..... roll mark on left side.] It is well worn with little finish.
UPDATE- Caliber markings are not present.

 

[mikepriwer]

S&W ucla

This is important to this search. Would it be possible to get a closer picture of that roll marking ? Can you make out any other characters in that area ?

Thanks, Mike Priwer