Dating a S&W

You can call S&W with the s/n if it's a fairly recent model (last 40 years or so) and they will tell you over the phone. Older stuff, I think they want $35 or something to research it.
 
Hitzy said:
You can call S&W with the s/n if it's a fairly recent model (last 40 years or so) and they will tell you over the phone. Older stuff, I think they want $35 or something to research it.
That's interesting. I didn't think they would tell you over the phone. Doesn't Colt charge a rather big fee for checking dates?

X 4 ... I thought you were dating some babe that worked at S&W... too bad... :rolleyes:


Fudd
 
ditchpickle said:
How can I find out when my Smith and Wesson revolver was made? Is there an online source, or a book?
The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson -- Second Edition by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas has manufacture dates of most S&W models by serial number.
 
Yes, if you got the book (catalog), you could tell approximately which year it was manufactured.

If you don't have the book, or don't know who has the book, my suggestion is that you log into S&W Forum (smith-wessonforum.com) and ask the people there. Many of them are experts of S&W revolvers and have the book.

If your gun looks like a collectable piece, and you want more information such as when it was manufactured, when it was shipped, and where (to whom) it was shipped to, at what price, you have to send a cheque of US$35 to the historian in S&W, whose name is Roy Jinks. He will look for all historical records in the company, and send a Letter of Authentication to you.

But this usually takes 2 - 4 months.

However, it is worth the wait if your gun is old but in good condition. The letter adds value to the resale price.
 
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If you do a detailed internet search on the model-lettering specifics, you may come up with a forum thread that answers your question. I have found many pistols, revolvers that had full threads on dating info I needed - some S&W too.
 
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