"VJL"

[JohnHL]

Great info. I have three CS40 models. The two SS models are VJE while the blued is EKY. Good to know that two of them are late production models.

Fear not, Brother URIT!

All of the "CS" models were "late production".

The pistols with the "EK" prefix were the earliest (1999-2001), relatively speaking, with plastic rear sights and single sided safeties.

The "CS" models with the "VJ" prefix were made a short time later (2001-2003) and came with metal rear sights and ambi safeties.

However, all of the "CS" models benefited from the latest in production, materials, and expertise.

John

 

[JohnHL]

True!
I completely forgot one other thing: I was born in 1953, too.
And then there's my badge number.... I was hired in 1979, and my hiring sequence number, 53, is my birth year. 79-53. Cue the "Twilight Zone" theme, please!

"Submitted for your approval..."

Rod

Er, I mean

John

 

[JohnHL]

53 was a very good year........

Overall not really ...... that said I would like a birth year gun..... my first choice would be a .357 4" Combat Magnum..... which is impossible.

Birth year guns (and motorcycles and cars) would be more interesting to me if they weren't so doggone primitive!

About a year back I bought myself a retirement gift ..... a Wilson Combat Centurion...... the Serial # is my month and year of birth 1153..... missed getting my month and day by 24 hours 119..... didn't want to wait for 11953

Even though the numbers are meaningless, it's still special to have a "personal connection".

John

 

[JohnHL]

I have a pre-18 from December 1952. Same DOB as me. And I have a 27-2 and a 66-2 that have 256 as the last three numbers in the Serial Number. So I guess I'm another guy like you.

Welcome to the "digits" club!!

It's always nice when a small detail adds that "extra" touch to something special.

John

 

[JohnHL]

You were born a high school graduate?
Very interesting

Confused me too.

Perhaps Brother xfarfuldog is not constrained by the passage of time in the same way the rest of us are?

John

 

[JohnHL]

I have a Model 19 6 inch that's still NIB. The three digit serial number, 926, is the same as my first badge number I had when I went into law enforcement.

There are some things a person never forgets.

And it's nice to have a memento of those "special" things.

John

 

[JohnHL]

I'm a 1953 also. However, my new 3rd gen starts with "VD"...

While the people our age "survived" the sexual revolution, it's comforting to know your "VD" S&W was born with immunity!

John

 

[JohnHL]

Penicillin is good for that ....... avoid the mercury cure!!!

Don't worry, Bam.

"VD" S&W models are immune!

John

 

[JohnHL]

I have no idea what are the serial numbers on my handguns. I just buy what I want that happens to be available at the time with the right price.

That's the way I was, too...

Until (like others) I discovered my "personal connection".

John

 

[BruceB]

Fear not, Brother URIT!

All of the "CS" models were "late production".

The pistols with the "EK" prefix were the earliest (1999-2001), relatively speaking, with plastic rear sights and single sided safeties.

The "CS" models with the "VJ" prefix were made a short time later (2001-2003) and came with metal rear sights and ambi safeties.

However, all of the "CS" models benefited from the latest in production, materials, and expertise.

John

My CS40 must be an outlier in the serial number range. It's a two-tone, with a 'TDR....' serial, and the date code on the box is '0033' which should be early Feb 2000.

 

[JohnHL]

Never say never with S&W.

Although I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say, all CS models were "millennial" pistols.

John

 

[BAM-BAM]

Hard enough keeping track of the 'dash" numbers

 

[JohnHL]

Curiously, the "latest" 3rd gens in my collection are a 4006TSW ("BAW" 02/04), 4006 ("BDX" 12/06), and CHP4006TSW ("CHP" '07).

John

 

[mikerjf]

Don't worry, Bam.

"VD" S&W models are immune!

John

From "gunorrhea"?

 

[JohnHL]

From "gunorrhea"?

Now that's funny!!!

John

 

[tlawler]

1969 was a great year for Brownings, (and Mustangs, Camaro's, Firebirds, and all, in that order )Jim

Pffft...none of those could hold a candle to this baby!

Well, maybe the Browning

 

[JohnHL]

"Here come da judge!"

I had a 1966 GTO with a 389 "Tri-Power".

Worth almost nothing when I owned it.

Now worth lots!

John

 

[Gunhacker]

Another '53 alumni member here. I've tried to obtain S&W's made in my birth year, but with California's handgun purchasing laws being what they are, it's a real challenge in obtaining older firearms that are known as "off roster" handguns, which for the most part, can only be purchased from a private party, and not at an LGS, unless it's a consignment gun.

It kills me that the trade-in CHP 4006TSW's that (out of state) people post about getting, are generally not available for purchase in the state from which they came, due to their "off roster" status.

So like DR505, I buy what presents itself, when condition and price are right. In CA, the "magical" term "Off Roster" in the description of a handgun for sale, adds quite a premium to the asking price.

 

[xfarfuldog]

Birth year corrected to 1951.

 

[JohnHL]

Another '53 alumni member here. I've tried to obtain S&W's made in my birth year, but with California's handgun purchasing laws being what they are, it's a real challenge in obtaining older firearms that are known as "off roster" handguns, which for the most part, can only be purchased from a private party, and not at an LGS, unless it's a consignment gun.

It kills me that the trade-in CHP 4006TSW's that (out of state) people post about getting, are generally not available for purchase in the state from which they came, due to their "off roster" status.

So like DR505, I buy what presents itself, when condition and price are right. In CA, the "magical" term "Off Roster" in the description of a handgun for sale, adds quite a premium to the asking price.

Conrad, some of my fondest memories were California Days (and nights ), but my interests were a lot more "prurient" back then and, paradoxically, the gun laws were a lot "friendlier".

Just goes to show how out of "sync" I am.

John