Posted on 05/21/2020 9:32:37 AM PDT by Bell Bouy II
Is it possible to determine year/date of mfg. Curious to know when it was manufactured, does the serial # denote?
You could check with manufacturer based on SN#
Yep, via Blue Book... I have a 19 and matching 29... serial number will tell you date range of mfg.
some number does i beleive- likely the SN- might indicate where it was made too?
Yup- here’ a link:
https://goneoutdoors.com/use-make-model-history-gun-6691421.html
Email Smith & Wesson, tell them the serial number, and they’ll tell you the date. That’s what I did.
My old carry gun. Bought a model 66 in SS circa 75. Both in 2.5 in barrels.
Depending on the year, it might have been handled by my cousin, mother in law, father in law or grandfather.
There were lots of guns being made in Western MA back in the day.
That’s cool.
There are places to check that based on serial number, but if you just want to know if you have a good one, look at the cylinder.
If it has recesses for each round so they sit flush you have a pretty good one. The the base of the round sits completely in the open it’s less desirable.
The Bluing on the earlier 80’s and before is really good.
My uncles and aunts worked at Colt in Htfd and also Royal Typewriter.
All gone bye bye
The 19 went into production as the Combat Magnum in 1955, and was changed to the Model 19 in 1957. In 1959 they went to a left hand thread on the ejector rod and were stamped 19-1, the 19-2 series started in 1961 through 1967 with the 19-3, there were a number of small changes culminating with the deletion of the case head recess and pinned barrel with the 19-5 in 1982.
These model and dash numbers can be found on the frame with the cylinder yoke open. For a more precise year you would have to give the first few numbers of the serial. They all had a K prefix up until about 1970 then switched to a number followed by the K then the rest of the numbers.
This one is nickel or whatever and does have resesed chambers
this is stamped 2K followed by 5 digits
Mod 19-3 2k
1970 2K1 - 2K22037
1971 2K22308 - 2K55996
1972 2K55997 - 2K99999
Thanks from tour info its a 72
That said, S&W were notorious for slipping out certain serial #s for later use, so the only 100% sure way is to contact them directly.
Is Roy Jinks even doing factory letters anymore? He must be in his 80’s.
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