S&W Model 36 No-Dash, Manufacturing Date?

[R61414]

A friend of mine has acquired a S&W Model 36, No-Dash, 3" barrel, Blue. He would like to know the year it was manufactured. I tried looking it up in my S&W Standard Catalog but cannot find the serial number of his gun in the catalog. It is SN #45J458. What am I missing?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks calls the serial number series the "roving J series." He said the series began at 1J1 in 1970 and ended at 999J99 in 1973. Sandwiched amid two to five digits, one to three digits before it and one to four after it, the J made its methodical march to the right. Serial number 9J9999 preceded 10J1, serial number 99J999 preceded 100J1 and so forth.

Your friend's Model 36 likely shipped in the summer of '71.

 

[R61414]

two-bit cowboy

Thank you for your insightful and quick response. We thought it was probably early 70's but I did not know anything about the "Roving J Series" but that makes a lot of sense. Thanks again!