S&W model 51 Date of Manufacture

[S&W44Special]

New revolver. (just bought this morning)



Serial Number - 53399


Amy help with D.O.M. would be appreciated.


Thanks in advance.

 

[Truckman]

Probably around 1959...Welcome to the forum......Ben

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[MajorD]

Did you get that number off the butt of the gun or in the yoke cut?
Could be a yoke cut assembly number which is NOT the gun serial number. If the gun has oversized grips on it need to take the grips off to get to the serial number.

If there is a serial number on the butt and it has a letter in front of the numbers that is part of the serial number too.

A very common rookie mistake ( but I frequently even see gun and pawn shops make the same mistake) is thinking the assembly number (in the yoke cut when cylinder is open) is a serial number.

The assembly number was used to keep fitted parts together through production before a serial number was assigned to the gun.

S&W at various times did put the guns serial number both in the yoke cut and the bottom of the butt, however this practice varied over time and was not consistent.

The go to serial number is on the butt

 

[S&W44Special]

The serial number is 53399. (Found on the butt).
Received a reply from S&W customer service.
They think it was "possibly made in 1961".
Apparently there is no definitive answer th this question.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

 

[murphydog]

I have a documented ship (sales) date on the same model about 15000 serial numbers later that dates to late 1961. Model 51s were not fast sellers so a date in the late 1950s seems more likely.

A letter of authenticity from the S & W Historical Foundation will give you a brief history of the gun as well as the exact ship date and destination:

Letters – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

 

[Hondo44]

The Model 51 was introduced circa 1960 beginning with # 52637, so yours is very likely 1960, and possibly even 1961.


By about the end of 1959, serial # locations can be found in the following 4 locations:

1. Grip frame butt (K & N frames prefixed by a letter(s) following WWII)

2. Frame in yoke cut

3. Extractor star - backside until ~ 1980 when the new extractor star shape was introduced.

4. Back of right stock, until ~ 1979 when no longer hand fitted, (except for most post war target grips because individual fitting not required).