Trying to identify revolver

[rastoboy]

Hi,

I picked up a S&W revolver (serial ABU1xxx). The yoke doesn't appear to have a model number on it, but it appears to possibly have "E2"...but it's kinda faded and hard to read, and I might be wrong.

It's a fixed sights snubby with a hand ejector.

Any ideas what the model name and approximate year of manufacture might be would be greatly apprciated.
Best,
Lee

 

[s&wchad]

Welcome aboard!
It should be model marked. Please click on this link and read: To IDENTIFY your Gun >

 

[Alk8944]

Hi,

I picked up a S&W revolver (serial ABU1xxx). The yoke doesn't appear to have a model number on it, but it appears to possibly have "E2"...but it's kinda faded and hard to read, and I might be wrong.

It's a fixed sights snubby with a hand ejector.

Any ideas what the model name and approximate year of manufacture might be would be greatly apprciated.
Best,
Lee

Pictures would help, but can't even begin to guess without caliber and frame material at least, it could b anything from a .22 rim-fire to a .357 Magnum. I have a hard time believing the model number is not stamped in the yoke cut on a gun of this period. BTW, markings stamped or roll-marked in steel simply do not "fade", it simply is not possible. They have been faintly marked in the first place though.Try a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe to read the markings.


"with a hand ejector". All S&W revolvers manufactured since 1937 or so are "hand ejectors", so this doesn't help.

 

[ken158]

A picture will get the results you request

 

[rastoboy]

Sorry about that. It's a 38 special. Here's some pics including the yolk you can see what I mean I hope.

Smith-wesson revolver images

Sorry, had some weird technical issues posting the pics, perhaps because there's more than one image on the imgur link.

 

[199]

Probably a Model 36.

The model number isn't on the yoke, it's on the frame under the yoke. Open the cylinder and look at the frame area normally covered by the yoke.

 

[199]

Oops. I just noticed it has "airweight" on the barrel. I think that's a model 37.

 

[rastoboy]

There it is! It has "mod-37" indeed. So that's most of what I wanted to know, although it'd be nice to have a rough manufacture date if anyone knows.

Thanks, y'all!

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...the right and left photos...

 

[toddimusnimski]

Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson basically says between 1980 and 1983 that all models transitioned to an ABC1234 serial number format (the Model 37 had a single "J" prefix serial number starting in 1969). The pinned barrel was eliminated from the Model 37 in 1982, so with an ABU prefix I reckon yours was shipped shortly after that. "The Book" doesn't specifically list that prefix but lists similar ones as shipping from 82 to 84. On some target grips the date was rubber-stamped inside but I believe your magna grips will instead have the serial number stamped inside. Nice revolver, and Welcome to the Forum!

Todd

 

[rastoboy]

Cool, thanks a bunch!

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Its not on the yoke, it is on the frame under the yoke when it is closed.