Mystery (to me, anyway) Model 36

[5Wire]

It's in great shape. Tight lockup, very close barrel/cylinder gap, barely visible turn line, no leading to speak of on the cylinder face, recoil shield or around the forcing cone. No rust, clean, sharp bore, and cylinder bores. Some minor holster wear at the muzzle and on the cylinder. It came with a black Bianchi #5 Chief's Special holster and you can see where the rubbing would occur. (I'll post photos ASAP)

Model 36 no dash. Parenthetical remarks via SCS&W3
Serial No: 655JXX

2-in Pinned, slightly tapered Barrel (pin eliminated in 1982).
Modern Thumbpiece (during or after 1966)
Square Butt. The pinned 2-inch barrel and the square butt isn't referred to in SCS&W3 that I could find.
Non Diamond Grips numbered to the gun (at or after 1968)

I don't know how to date this by serial number: it doesn't have A "J" prefix (1969 or earlier) but it has a "J" in the Serial number at the fourth character position. SCSW3 indicates serial numbers with a "J" prefix with a "J" at the fourth character position and gives the range as: J1-999J99 indicating a date range of 1971-1972. The J1 is throwing me but I think it's because beginning with 1 doesn't have enough digits to put the "J" at the fourth position without leading zeroes.

Maybe the numbering scheme would proceed like this. below?

J1
J2
J3
...
J99
1J00
1J01
...
1J99
2J00
etc.

I'm guessing 1971-1972 because of the "J" in the serial number. Probably 1972.

I'd appreciate any help clarifying this.

 

[bamabiker]

Those floating J serial numbers can be a little confusing but I think you got it right...1972.

 

[fyimo]

Those floating J serial numbers can be a little confusing but I think you got it right...1972.

+1 on it being a 1972

 

[5Wire]

Thanks, bamabiker, fyimo.

 

[Arisin Wind]

1972 it is.

 

[S-WLover]

I have a list of the serial nos. and the years they were made.
Anyone care to have a copy?
I'm new here and do not know where to post the list.
Need some help...

 

[5Wire]

S-Wlover, Welcome!

I don't know which subforum is better but if you have the numbers by date, why not post at least the 1961-1980 range in this subforum?

I and a lot of other forum members have a copy of The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson in one or more of its three editions. This book—by Forum member, Jim Supica and Richard Nahas—contains serialization tables. Is that your source?

I'd like to see what you have, in any case.

 

[S-WLover]

5wire....you did not say which Frame style you are looking for, so I will post the J frame nos....
J Serial Prefix
Models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50
1969-1970 J1-J99999
1971-1972 J1-J999J99 (not a misprint, this is correct)
1973-1974 J100000-J250000
1975-1976 J250001-J370000
1976-1977 J370001-J610000
1977-1978 J610001-J670000
1979-1980 J670001-J760000
1981 J760001-J915400
1982 J915401-1J18600
1983 1J18601-xxxx
I'll post other frame info once I get the paper copy transfered to MS- Word so I can copy and paste. Got to go shooting this morning with my buddies.
Transfer may take until the end of this week. I sent a message to you.
I'll be glad to post the nos here soon.
There are many frame styles in the date you have requested....I'll start a new post and place them there asap!

 

[5Wire]

Sorry, I assumed that the Model 36 in my post implied the J-Frame. The info you posted looks like what is in the Standard Catalog of S&W. Thanks.