S&W Model 68-1

[dexstoy]

I'm trying to find out what the manufacture dates are of this gun. Also what would be the estimated value. This baby has been hiding in a gun case for the last 25+ years and hardly been shot if at all. The ex-step mom can't give up any of those secrets anymore.

[tmh1]

Introduced in 1968, last produced in 1988. Standard Catalog of S&W shows values from $750 (as new, in box) to $250 ("good").

It definitely is a "-1"? The SCSW specifies "68-1: Example has been reported but not verified." Maybe you've got something pretty unusual? Pics don't look like a pinned barrel, which would nominally make it a -2 (starting manufacture in 1982).

[Gryff]

Post the serial number from the bottom of the grip. This will help with finding the production date.

Values seem to range from $400 to $700.

[The Gleam]

Is it Double-action only? Or does it still have it's single and double action capability?

Is it marked LAPD or possibly CHP, or as is often the case - is it overstamped as OHB?

Does it have any other numbers or rollmarks elsewhere on it indicating a police-department property/inventory?

I have one: marked "Los Angeles Police Dept", DAO only, .38 Special. I had to get it knowing the ridiculous reasons behind it, and honestly, I thought the DAO feature was rather cool.

[dexstoy]

More info

This is chambered in 357. This was never issued to the police. It is a double action.

Model 68-1



SN ADE2609



And some more Numbers.

[The Gleam]

This is chambered in 357. This was never issued to the police.

Model 68-1

SN ADE2609

And some more Numbers.

Interesting - all of the Model 68's were model 66 conversions or 66 overstamps, all converted to .38 Special. Made from 1977 to 1988. I wonder if that is a screw up in having intended to be stamped 681? (But the serial number seems to fall in line with the model 68 production changes with the 68-2 as noted below. AND... I just noticed yours does not have a pinned barrel, meaning that change would have occurred with the 68-1 and not the 68-2 as depicted, making yours a milestone exception and possibly changing documentation as we know it.)

I think it's correct to say that the 68-1 is extremely rare if you can verify this as a true 68-1 and not a 681 rollmark screw up.

However... Jim Supica's & Richard Nahas' "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" on page 185 of the 2nd Edition under the section "model 68: .38 Special" - for engineering and production changes lists the following and merely says:

68 1977 Introduction
68-1 Example not yet found or observed
68-2 Eliminate pinned barrel, three letter serial prefix

So I would fire off a request for a factory letter to Roy Jinks immediately, without delay. You could be sitting on one of the rarest S&W revolvers from the 1980's that would make a Colt Python look pedestrian.

Drooling.... chomping at bit.

[The Gleam]

Lookie here.... last time I checked cost was about $50 per gun, but in your case, and for this gun, I think it would be well worth it. There is no better person to contact for a defining and positive ID of your potential 68-1 than Roy Jinks, factory historian for S&W. It will also add gobs of value to your gun with letter in hand validating it.

http://theswca.org/

Word Document of factory request form can be found HERE:

http://theswca.org/factory_letter.html

PDF Document of factory letter request form:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/LOA.pdf

Good luck... but I think you've already found a good amount of some.

[The Gleam]

P.S. --- When you DO get the letter, you've gots to, gots to, gots to post it here.

[dexstoy]

P.S. --- When you DO get the letter, you've gots to, gots to, gots to post it here.

Thanks for your help, I'm going to be sending the letter in the morning.

[The Gleam]

Thanks for your help, I'm going to be sending the letter in the morning.

In your case, you should also print some color prints/photos of the above photos you took, and send it along with the letter as further and additional evidence for him to review. If yours is the exception to the rule, your pics of the serial number and roll-marks will help him better determine details in his records (or lack thereof).

Exciting to say the least.

[trashman]

Exciting find!.....looking forward to whatever you hear back from jinks!

[Snapping Twig]

They never made a 68!

It is in fact a 681 that's mis stamped.

Happens with regularity.

Please verify this for yourself, but trust me, it's a 681.

[The Gleam]

They never made a 68!

It is in fact a 681 that's mis stamped.

Happens with regularity.

Please verify this for yourself, but trust me, it's a 681.

What, and sell it to you for the price of a 66? Me first. Either you are joking, or you speak too soon, and should stick around and learn a thing or two before giving such wrong answers or advice.

S&W made a 68. And a 68-1, and a 68-2. Done. Confirmed. Verified. Documented by several people, including myself - owning one as well.

And no, I don't trust you - or at least your eye for detail. See above for the "verify" you seek. Having read through this very short thread you would have known this to be true.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=14989737&postcount=6

[ck66]

Looks like a mis stamped L frame 681. Notice the full length ejector shroud and fixed sights that a 681 would have. The 68 would be a K frame with adjustable sights and typical K frame ejector shoud.

681 google image search https://www.google.com/search?q=s%26...w&ved=0CC0QsAQ

68 google image search https://www.google.com/search?q=s%26...Q&ved=0CB8QsAQ

[ljnowell]

What, and sell it to you for the price of a 66? Me first. Either you are joking, or you speak too soon, and should stick around and learn a thing or two before giving such wrong answers or advice.



S&W made a 68. And a 68-1, and a 68-2. Done. Confirmed. Verified. Documented by several people, including myself - owning one as well.



And no, I don't trust you - or at least your eye for detail. See above for the "verify" you seek. Having read through this very short thread you would have known this to be true.



http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...37&postcount=6

Weren't the model 68s k frames though? This pistol sure appears to be an L frame.


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