What's up with J frame serial #'s?

[MTC(SS)Ret]

I have a Model 36 no dash, serial # 2032XX. I have done some online research, gotten feedback from several forum members, and have even received an answer from S&W. There is a gap in the serial numbers that end at 125000 in 1957 until 1962 when the numbers start again at 295000.
When I contacted S&W and asked about the date of birth of my 36 their reply was "sometime between 1957 and 1962".
Were the factory records for the 1957-1962 production lost?
Are these missing serial numbers for those 5 years listed in the SCSW?

 

[DARE]

SCSW shows the same information. #125,000 in 1957, #295,000 in 1962. 170,000 numbers in 5 years. 34,000 per year. So maybe 1959 for your gun if the numbers evenly distributed among the years.
Probably have one of our experts along that can give you a close guess.

 

[darg]

My 36 no dash’s serial number is 1655xx, so I would be in that gap too?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

OP: I list a fair few Chiefs in that "gap" as you call it. I even own four of them.

I'd suggest yours likely shipped in late 1960 or early 1961.

 

[DARE]

^^^^

Expert

 

[two-bit cowboy]

^^^^

Expert

... in training.

 

[Hondo44]

It’s not a gap. Serial numbers aren’t always listed in one year groups, that’s all it is.

 

[jcelect]

Serial numbers

When you look at all the different models that share the same serial numbering system there is no gap! The models 36,37,38, & 49 were all numbered in this system! The Standard Catalog shows the model 50 in this system also, but those guns were in the floating J series!
jcelect