How to Identify/Date a S&W

According to the 4th edition, "AHP" is one of the prefix groups listed in 1985.

HOWEVER, hearing stories of S&W manufacturing practices, this is not a guarantee that 1985 was the only year of manufacture for "AHP" marked firearms.
Interesting. I have the 2nd edition . . . and to prove your point, the dates changed between editions!
 
"IF" it's an early Chief's Special I would say about 1956. But the grips look wrong for that era.

If you could get a better shot, the entire gun in one frame, both sides, with a clear view of what is written on the sides of the barrel I could give you a better idea of what you have.
 
"IF" it's an early Chief's Special I would say about 1956. But the grips look wrong for that era.

If you could get a better shot, the entire gun in one frame, both sides, with a clear view of what is written on the sides of the barrel I could give you a better idea of what you have.
 

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Well, this is getting mighty interesting. This just might be a .38/32 Terrier (Postwar) - "Pre-Model 32". That is the only explanation for the .38 S&W caliber. But the grips still are a mystery.

Where are you located?
 
Did you get that gun from Four Seasons? How about some pics
My friend did actually, yes. (I was there with her when she bought it.) She just became a NES member, so hopefully she’ll jump in here eventually and post some pics. It’s a gorgeous gun and a sweet shooter!
 
The last picture is your serial number.

According to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson:

1978/79 - 25K0001-56K9999

added: That should be a Model 66, probably a -1. You should see a 66-1 stamped inside the crane.
 
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My son just picked up a 15-1
Very little wear so it's in awesome shape for a 60 year old gun.
Will need to grab some picks
 
My son just picked up a 15-1
Very little wear so it's in awesome shape for a 60 year old gun.
Will need to grab some picks

The S&W Model 15 is my favorite revolver. Probably because it was the first firearm I ever shot at age 17 in 1967. Two years later I was an instructor and range officer for basic cadets with this firearm.
 
The last picture is your serial number.

According to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson:

1978/79 - 25K0001-56K9999
Thank you! I know very little about S&W revolvers. Is there anything I should know about it? is this a model 19? Any good ways to figure out pricing?
 
Thank you! I know very little about S&W revolvers. Is there anything I should know about it? is this a model 19? Any good ways to figure out pricing?

See my post (#197) and what I added. I believe that it is a Model 66-1. The finish looks a little rough, but if it's in good mechanical condition, I'd start the bidding at (maybe) $750.

However my estimate of value may not correspond with what real experts would say.
 
See my post (#197) and what I added. I believe that it is a Model 66-1. The finish looks a little rough, but if it's in good mechanical condition, I'd start the bidding at (maybe) $750.

However my estimate of value may not correspond with what real experts would say.

I had to look up with the crane was. But now that I know, its a model 19-4
 
686 no dash 6"
BPL5277
thank you!
Is there any value, I'm from Norway and going to change the gun to 80mm barrel and shoot 9mm with clips... make it competitiongun...
 
posting above continued here.........

DATING A S&W
Please note that this list is a general guide and not meant to be exact. There is some dispute regarding the dates on some serial numbers and your gun may actually be a year off from what is listed. The precise shipping date as "lettered" can be several years off depending on model. For the exact date on your gun request the letter from S&W Historian Roy Jinks.

Pre-War N frame.

Year/Beginning Serial

1908….. 1-------------1926….. 25000
1909….. 2050----------1927….. 28500
1910….. 5000----------1928….. 29500
1911….. 7050----------1929….. 30000
1912….. 9100----------1930….. 34000
1913….. 11150---------1931….. 36000
1914….. 13200---------1932….. 38375
1915….. 15250---------1933….. 41200
1916….. 15500---------1934….. 43350
1917….. 16000---------1935….. 45500
1918-1919 None--------1936….. 47200
1920….. 16200---------1937….. 48700
1921….. 16300---------1938….. 52000
1922….. 18400---------1939….. 57200
1923….. 19600---------1940….. 59000
1924….. 20800---------1941….. 62350
1925….. 22000---------1942-1945 None

Post-War S Series N frames:

S62,489 – S67,999……..1946 - Early 1947
S68,000 – S71,999……….Late 1947 – Early 1948
S72,000 – S72,499……….Late 1948 - Early 1949
S72,500 – S74,999……….Late 1949 – Early 1950
S75,000 – S80,499……….Late 1950 – Early 1951
S80,500 – S85,999……….Late 1952 – Early 1952
S86,000 – S94,999…….…Late 1952 – Early 1953
S95,000 – S102,999…….Late 1953 – Early 1954
S103,000 – S139,999……Late 1954 – Early 1955*
S140,000 – S149,999….Late 1955 – Early 1956
S150,000 – S175,999……Late 1956 – Early 1957
S176,000 – S181,999……Late 1957 – Early 1958
S182,000 – S194,499……Late 1958 – Early 1959
S194,500 – S206.999……Late 1959 – Early 1960
S207,000 – S219,999……Late 1960 – Early 1961
S220,000 – S227,999……Late 1961 – Early 1962
S228,000 – S231,999……Late 1962 – Early 1963
S232,000 – S235.999……Late 1963 – Early 1964
S236,000 – S257,999……Late 1964 – Early 1965
S258,000 – S261,999……Late 1965 – Early 1966
S262,000 – S289,999……Late 1966 – Early 1967
S290,000 – S304,999……Late 1967 – Early 1968
S305,000 – S329,999……Late 1968 – Early 1969
S330,000 – S333,454……Late 1969 – Early 1970


*Note that a number of N frames with serials in the S138000-S140000 range (and the range may be wider either way) are seen that were shipped much later than the serial would suggest should be the case. In one known example a gun with serial S136431 was not shipped until June of 1958. It's possible that a large block of serial numbers that appear to be from 1954-55 were not actually used until 1957-58. It at least one case a gun has a 5-screw serial and was built as a 4-screw gun.


N Series N Frames:

N1 – N60,000………….......1970-72
N60,001 – N 190,000…...1972-74
N190,001 – N430,000…...1975 – 77
N430.001 – N 550,000…..1978
N550,001 – N580,000….. 1979
N580,001 – N790,000…...1980
N790,001 – N932,999...…1980-83

Post-War S Series K Frames:

S811,120 – S999,999…….1946 – 48

C Series K Frames: (Fixed Sight Models)

C1 - C233,999………….....1948 – 52
C236,004 – C261,483…….1953
C277,555 – C314,031….…1954 – 56
C402,924 – C405,018…….1957
C405,019 – C429,740…..1958 – 59
C429,741 – C474,148…….1960
C474,149 – C622,699…….1961 – 62
C622,700 – C810,532…….1963 – 65
C810,533 – C999,999…..1966 – 67

D Series K Frames: (Fixed Sight Models)

D1 – D90,000…………….....1968
D90,001 – D330,000……..1969 -70
D330,001 – D420,000………1971 – Early 72
D420,001 – D510,000………Late 1972 – Early 73
D510,001 – D659,901………Late 1973 – Early 1974
D659.902 – D75000………..Late 1974 – Early 1975
D750,001 – D870,000………Late 1975 – Early 1976
D870,001 – D999,999………Late 1976 – Early 1977
2D00001 - 2D80,000……….1977
2D80,001 – 2D99,999………1978
4D00001 – 6D10,000……….1979
6D10,0001 – 7D10,000……1980
7D10,001 – 9D44,500…..1981
9D44,501 – 17D8,900………1982
17D8,901 – 21D0883……….1983

K Series K Frames (Adjustable Sight Models)

K101 – K614……………......1946
K615 – K18,731…………....1947
K18,732 – K73,121……..…1948
K73,122 – K84,149……..…1949
K84,150 – K104,047…...1950
K104,048 – K136,690...1951
K136,691 – K175,637...1952
K175,638 – K210,095...1953
K210,096 – K231,255...1954
K231,256 – K266,154...1955
K266,155 – K288,988...1956
K288,989 – K317,822...1957
K317,823 – K350,547...1958
K350,548 – K386,804...1959
K386,805 – K429,894...1960
K429,895 – K468,098...1961
K468,099 – K515,478...1962
K515,479 – K553,999....1963
K555,000 – K605.877....1964
K605,878 – K658.986....1965
K658,987 – K715,996....1966
K715,997 – K779.162....1967
K779,163 – K848,781....1968
K848,782 – K946,391....1969
K946,382 – K999,999....1970
1K1 – 1K39,500.........1970
2K1 – 2K22.037.........1970
1K39,501 – 1K999,999...1971
2K22,038 – 2K55,996....1971
3K1 – 3K73,962.........1971
2K55,997 – 2K99,999....1972
3K31,280 – 5K6,616.....1972
4K1 – 4K1,627..........1972
4K1,628 – 4K54,104.....1973
5K6,617 – 5K73,962.....1973
4K54,105 – 4K99,999....1974
5K73,963 – 6K58,917....1974
7K1 – 7K26,043.........1974
7K26,044 – 7K70,577....1975
6K98,918 – 8K20,763....1975
8K20,764 – 9K1.........1975
8K20,000 – 9K100,000...1975
9K1,001 – 9K99,999.....1976
10K001 – 24K9,999......1977
25K001 – 56K9,999......1978 – 79
57K001 – 91K6,800......1980
91K6,801 – 124K000.....1981
125K000 – 269K9,999....1982
270K000 – 311K273......1983

1980 Three-Letter Prefix Series Begins at AAA000
Newby here. Need help with sourcing missing screw and further identification of this inherited firearm. Thanks in advance.
 

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Looks like you have a .38 Military & Police (postwar) Pre-Model 10. I estimate it was produced around 1951.

Numrich has a LOT of gun parts, you can probably find it there. Give me a little time (it's a busy day today) and I can help you locate the exact part.

 
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Looks like you have a .38 Military & Police (postwar) Pre-Model 10. I estimate it was produced around 1951.

Numrich has a LOT of gun parts, you can probably find it there. Give me a little time (it's a busy day today) and I can help you locate the exact part.

Beautiful. Thanks so much.
Looks like you have a .38 Military & Police (postwar) Pre-Model 10. I estimate it was produced around 1951.

Numrich has a LOT of gun parts, you can probably find it there. Give me a little time (it's a busy day today) and I can help you locate the exact part.

crazy site. Found a bunch of screws but not the one I think I need but again…feeling a bit blind in this search.
 
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