Pondering postwar S62xxx serial numbers

[The Gila Bender]

Last night, while thumbing the classic "History of Smith & Wesson" by our own Roy G. Jinks, I became curious about postwar N-frames and when they returned to commercial production. The first run of the .38/44 Heavy Duty was completed June 6, 1946 and the first serial number was S62940. The first post war production .44 Military was S62489 completed June 18, 1946. And .38/44 Outdoorsman production began August 10, 1946 but no serial number was given. The book states that the .357 Magnum was reintroduced December 16, 1948 at serial number S72000, but I thought a handful of postwar transitional .357's were produced prior to that date.

This was all the justification I needed to open the vault and inspect my postwar transitional N frames for S62xxx serial numbers. I have but one, a 6-1/2" blue .44 Military with lanyard ring, serial S62697, shipped October 3, 1946 to Schwabacher Hardware Co., Seattle WA, one of a shipment of 50 delivered to the Washington State Patrol.

So who has a postwar N frame with a S62xxx serial number? Here's my WSP .44 3rd Model Transitional:

 

[beagleye]

The long action .44 military with 6.5" barrel is one of the coolest guns S&W ever made, IMHO.

 

[quinn]

Best I can do is a transitional HD, S72xxx which shipped in April, 1949. Son had a 1946 HD which he offered me but I let slip away. Don't know the SN on that one.

 

[The Gila Bender]

The earliest 1946 N frames in my possession are:
S63104, .44 3rd Military, 5", blue, shipped July 14, 1946.
S68780, .44 3rd Military, 5", blue, shipped August 5, 1946.

 

[RSinOR]

My earliest transitional N frame is a 38/44 HD, S662xx that Roy says shipped in July 1946

 

[beagleye]

The earliest 1946 N frames in my possession are:
S63104, .44 3rd Military, 5", blue, shipped July 14, 1946.
S68780, .44 3rd Military, 5", blue, shipped August 5, 1946.

Did that 4" 38/44 head on down the road? What was the range on that one, 68 thousand?

 

[The Gila Bender]

Did that 4" 38/44 head on down the road? What was the range on that one, 68 thousand?

Heck no, it's still with me. 66 thousand. Needs a letter!

 

[iskra]

Well GB, et al… You've hit 'soft spot central' with me. My favorite group of Smiths, these early postwar "S" serial prefix "transitionals". Best of old and new in combo of bit newer safety engineering and yet older Smith "long action" craftsmanship! Such conclusion objectively debatable of course and many, many other fine Smiths. But these guns, despite only few specimens, for me the ultimate.
Within my small gaggle, the 44 Spl chambering, my preference, but not to turn away from any nice Smith S frame PWT.
My transitional S frame hand ejectors:
38/44: 4" S63K,
5" S65K.
44 Spl: 5" S68K
6 1/2" S63K
Honorable mention, Transitional Targets:
38/44 Target, S69
44 Spl: Target S71

Best!
John

 

[1Aspenhill]

I have 84ea HD S62XXX serial numbers in my database. The first 45 are 6.5 in HDs. S693XX is the first Outdoorsman I have in my database. They were in the S70 and S71xxx serial number range and from what I know, they did not go into the S72xxx range.

 

[CptCurl]

. . .

I have but one, a 6-1/2" blue .44 Military with lanyard ring, serial S62697, shipped October 3, 1946 to Schwabacher Hardware Co., Seattle WA, one of many delivered to the Washington State Patrol.

. . .

Mine beats your shipping date, but it's a higher number. It's a .44 Military with 6-1/2" barrel, s/n S63507. It shipped on July 18, 1946.

No lanyard ring on mine.

Curl

 

[iskra]

I have 84ea HD S62XXX serial numbers in my database. The first 45 are 6.5 in HDs. S693XX is the first Outdoorsman I have in my database. They were in the S70 and S71xxx serial number range and from what I know, they did not go into the S72xxx range.

My two Transitional Outdoorsman Models are 69951 & 71073. Didn't know you were even collecting data on these models. Thanks for the SN parameter observations which as you can see, mine parallel nicely!

I'd like to offer an observation concerning your S&W boxes utilization dates. My belief that many Smiths across the years shipped considerably later than produced. Consequently, in boxes not 'technically' production dates coordinating to box era matches.
My 6 1/2" 44 Spl in 63K SN, with gold box! Not SN marked and can't say it original but think it likely! My 44 Spl Transition Target SN 71K also with gold box. Perhaps not original box but just how many such marked boxes floating around if not! My Transition Outdoorsman noted above 71K also with gold box and seeming 'likely' correct.

Best and thanks so much for all your collector work/expertise and great Website!

John

 

[1Aspenhill]

I have a maroon box for my Transition Outdoorsman.

 

[JSR III]

FWIW, .38/44 OD S69847 and .38/44 HD S67706 both shipped in August of 1946.