Any S&W revolver buffs out there?

[kb4ns]

The revolver pictured below belongs to my father-in-law. I've figured out so far that it's a pre-WWII Military & Police revolver (.38 Spl). I'm just trying to figure out exactly how old it is.

I know that I can contact S&W and (for a fee, I think) they can research it for me. Does anyone happen to have a list of the serial numbers and their corresponding manufacture years? The serial on this one is 5428XX.

Any help is appreciated!

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I cant help ya man but that is one sweet looking old shooter. Just goes to show how much some things have not changed.

Maybe I can actually help...I just posted the pic and info on my National Gun Board and asked for their imput. If ya dont get an answer here maybe we will there. I also tend to think it is from the WW-II era. But then again I dont know squat about much of nutin.

[kb4ns]

Thanks Sgt. Joe! From what I've found so far, the pre-WWII models did not have a letter in the S/N, so that narrows it down to 1914 to 1942. Hopefully someone will know more about this thing.

[Garufa]

Go over to Davis-Kidd and see if they have a copy of "Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson". It has serial number ranges and descriptions of just about everything S&W produced.

One of these days I might break down and buy it but everytime I find a copy at the bookstore it's been well used. Guess I'm not the only one that goes there just to look up the occasional serial #.

Edited October 10, 2010 by Garufa

[eapking]

I think this revolver site has a S&W serial number list....Handguns: The Revolver Forum - TheFiringLine Forums

[kb4ns]

Thanks EAP. On page 3, there was a fellow talking about his similar revolver with a s/n of 540XXX. He said that a source told him 1927. Apparently S&W changed the ejector rod cap and the one like I have pictured is pre-1930. I'm going to guess that I can safely assume that the one I'm curious about was manufactured between 1927 and 1930. Someone else on there noted that this series of guns isn't extremely detailed in the "Standard Catalog of S&W's", so I guess I'll just save the trip to Davis Kidd (since every trip there causes me to spend too much money ).

This gun currently belongs to my FIL, but sadly he's not going to be with us much longer. He's in the palliative care wing of the hospital. My wife brought it home from his apartment last night so that it didn't "disappear" in the coming days / weeks. I guess sooner or later, I'll request the "research" from S&W themselves since that seems to be the only way to find out 100% on these models.

Thanks y'all!

[eapking]

Thanks EAP. On page 3, there was a fellow talking about his similar revolver with a s/n of 540XXX. He said that a source told him 1927. Apparently S&W changed the ejector rod cap and the one like I have pictured is pre-1930. I'm going to guess that I can safely assume that the one I'm curious about was manufactured between 1927 and 1930. Someone else on there noted that this series of guns isn't extremely detailed in the "Standard Catalog of S&W's", so I guess I'll just save the trip to Davis Kidd (since every trip there causes me to spend too much money ).

This gun currently belongs to my FIL, but sadly he's not going to be with us much longer. He's in the palliative care wing of the hospital. My wife brought it home from his apartment last night so that it didn't "disappear" in the coming days / weeks. I guess sooner or later, I'll request the "research" from S&W themselves since that seems to be the only way to find out 100% on these models.

Thanks y'all!

I have said S&W book. I'll look it up and see what it says.