Smith & Wesson Manufacture Dates

[Guest pwhphd]

Need assistance with identification of the date of manufacture on the following Smith & Wesson revolvers:

Model 10 .38 special Victory Commercial [s#916XXX]

Model 15-2 .38 special Combat Masterpiece [s#K771XXX]

Model 15-3 .38 special Combat Masterpiece [s#3K3XXX]

Model 18-3 .22 L. Rifle Combat Masterpiece [s#6K24XXX]

Model 37 .38 special Airweight Chief's Special [s#3J3XX]

Model 38 .38 special Airweight Bodyguard [s#30JXXX]

Thank you, for the information.

[gregintenn]

Model 10 .38 special Victory Commercial [s#916XXX]

quote from History of Smith and Wesson by Roy Jinks: "On April 24, 1942, Smith & Wesson's serial numbers on the original .38 M&P series reached 1,000,000, and a new series was started having a V prefix beginning at serial number V1. This series was nicknamed the Victory model to signify the company's hope for a quick victory in World War II." This lead me to believe your's was made in late 41 or probably early 42, and is not a Victory model.

Model 15-2 .38 special Combat Masterpiece [s#K771XXX]

1967

Model 15-3 .38 special Combat Masterpiece [s#3K3XXX]

1971

Model 18-3 .22 L. Rifle Combat Masterpiece [s#6K24XXX]

1974

Model 37 .38 special Airweight Chief's Special [s#3J3XX]

Model 38 .38 special Airweight Bodyguard [s#30JXXX]

1970-1973.

If you own more than a couple of Smith and Wessons, and have more than a passing interest in them, it would be money well spent to purchase the book: History of Smith and Wesson by Roy G. Jinks. Mr. Jinks is the historian at Smith and Wesson, and the foremost authority on the subject.

Edited October 23, 2010 by gregintenn

[enfield]

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson is a good resource too. It's available on Amazon.

[Guest pwhphd]

Thanks for the information. I already have the Standard Catalog of Firearms, but I will purchase both the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson and the History of Smith & Wesson. They may be the only other definitive source more reliable than this Forum. Thanks, again.

[gregintenn]

S&W Forum

Here's your best source for Smith and Wesson information. If these guys don't know it, it ain't known.

[gregintenn]

For a nominal fee, Roy Jinks will write you a letter on Smith and Wesson letterhead, giving all the information available for your revolver; including shipping date, where it was shipped, and in what original configuration it was shipped. These letters are very good investments in the Smith collecting world.

[kb4ns]

For a nominal fee, Roy Jinks will write you a letter on Smith and Wesson letterhead, giving all the information available for your revolver; including shipping date, where it was shipped, and in what original configuration it was shipped. These letters are very good investments in the Smith collecting world.

I was loking at that on the S&W website the other day. It's $50 for the research now. Didn't it used to be much less? I could have sworn that not long ago it was only $20 or $25.

[gregintenn]

I'm not sure, but $50 does seem kinda steep.