Need help 44 Russian date year of manufacture.

[Hog Leg]

My 44 S&W Russian has a 4 digit number . The butt , cylinder and the underside of the latch has 3820. Is this a official serial number?

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Sam

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Welcome to the Forum!

I pic would be helpful because there were 3 different Russian models.

In general, .44 S&W Russian was made for the Russian Government and
the serial number was stamped on all major parts of the revolver. At the
same time, .44 S&W Russian models that were sold through the Domestic
(non Russian) sales were treated differently.

Civilian made and sold Russian models used a 2 to 4 character 'assembly'
or 'fitting' number that was used on the major parts of the revolver so the
parts that were fitted would be reunited after polishing and finishing.

This fitting number was stamped on the back of the cylinder, the underside
of the barrel latch, the back of the barrel (behind the latch) and on the right
hand side of the grip frame under the grips down near the heal of the butt.

The serial number was stamped on the bottom of the butt and on the inside
of the right hand grip panel.

Please post pics when you can!

Cheers!
Webb

 

[Hog Leg]

I used a magnifying glass and there is no trace of a serial number under the grip panel . As in the photos the four digit number is very sharp. The barrel is 6 in. long.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Okay. This isn't a Russian Model. This is a 'New Model No: 3.' The
standard caliber was .44 S&W Russian, but it isn't a Russian Model.

In the case of the New Model No: 3 (abbreviated NM#3), Those numbers
are the serial number. S&W switch to using serial numbers instead of
fitting numbers when the NM#3 came out.

Cheers!
Webb

P.S. - The grips are somebody's home brew fabrication.

 

[Hog Leg]

Hi There,

Okay. This isn't a Russian Model. This is a 'New Model No: 3.' The
standard caliber was .44 S&W Russian, but it isn't a Russian Model.

In the case of the New Model No: 3 (abbreviated NM#3), Those numbers
are the serial number. S&W switch to using serial numbers instead of
fitting numbers when the NM#3 came out.

Cheers!
Webb

Thanks!! I really like shooting it! Is there a website where I can find out when it was built?
Sam

 

[Boulder350]

The only way to know for sure, when your gun shipped, is by requesting a factory letter from Smith and Wesson Historical Foundation. Smith and Wesson did not ship them in order of serial number, so dates vary. Guns around your serial number often shipped in 1881 or 1882. I had a gun that was about 200 serial numbers below yours and it shipped in 1895.

Letters – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

swhistoricalfoundation.com