S&W Serial Numbers

[4D5auto]

Having a bit of a time trying to identify year of manufacture for a .22 Mag S&W revolver. I think it may be a pre 1957 but not sure. I say this because there are numbers in the Crane but not the typical model numbers you see now days, so I don't really know what the model number is. It appears to be a 6" bbl with adjustable sights on a J frame? I am purchasing this .22 from an Estate so I don't yet have it in my possession. I will try to get numbers from the Crane if this helps. Any ideas? Serial numer is K290***
Thanks all.

[003]

The .22 WMR was introduced in 1959 by Winchester, so the revolver in question had to made made later than 1959.

[Canucky]

If your a member of the High Road? You can ask in this thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=372213

[littlejake]

Having a bit of a time trying to identify year of manufacture for a .22 Mag S&W revolver. I think it may be a pre 1957 but not sure. I say this because there are numbers in the Crane but not the typical model numbers you see now days, so I don't really know what the model number is. It appears to be a 6" bbl with adjustable sights on a J frame? I am purchasing this .22 from an Estate so I don't yet have it in my possession. I will try to get numbers from the Crane if this helps. Any ideas? Serial numer is K290***
Thanks all.

It's a K frame revolver. K290*** is early 1957 production.

[003]

Littlejake brings up a good point. I have never seen a 6 inch J frame S&W revolver. Are you sure it is a J frame? or could it be a K? The S&W model 48 is the K frame .22 magnum.

Update
I just reread the original post. Given that the serial number starts with K, is a good indication that it is a K frame, either a model 48, or a pre 48.

[4D5auto]

The "K" is to the far left of the Butt followed by the serial to the far right. I will try to look at it again at lunch today and get bbl length.

[redcliff]

According to SCSW, .22 magnum K frame Model 48's came about in 1959 and started around serial #K348xxx and should have a model number in the crane.

Your reported serial #K290xxx should be a 1957 K-frame and as noted the .22mag caliber wasn't available.

The J-frame Model 51 came about in 1960 but I don't know that a 6" barrel was even offered.

When you see it again be sure to check the serial number on the butt as cranes sometimes have "assembly" numbers and check under the extractor for a matching number on the cylinder.

[4D5auto]

OK, numbers in the Crane is 8 0034, bbl from front to the frame is 5"

Sooo, possibly a model 34?

Nope, now believe it to be a model 48!

[4D5auto]

Looks like this

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=373470298#PIC

[4D5auto]

[QUOTE=redcliff;12690274]According to SCSW, .22 magnum K frame Model 48's came about in 1959 and started around serial #K348xxx and should have a model number in the crane.

Your reported serial #K290xxx should be a 1957 K-frame and as noted the .22mag caliber wasn't available.

Serial # is correct as stated and bbl is likely a 6", 5" to frame, stamped .22 Magnum CTG. on the bbl.

The J-frame Model 51 came about in 1960 but I don't know that a 6" barrel was even offered.

When you see it again be sure to check the serial number on the butt as cranes sometimes have "assembly" numbers and check under the extractor for a matching number on the cylinder.[/QUOT]

***

[Mr. Beretta]

The serial # of the gun is the letter and #'s on the butt of the frame.

Call S&W customer service at 1 800 331 0852. When the recording comes on, press # 7 and speak to a rep. Give him the serial & he'll give you the date.

Good Luck.

[redcliff]

It's sounding like its been re-barelled to .22mag and the cylinder possibly swapped out or re-chambered.

ALL true model 48's should have the model stamped in the crane as they were produced only as "model number" revolvers after S&W adopted that system sometime in 1957. The fact that this appears to be a pre-model # frame, along with the apparently corroborating serial # that dates to 1957 indicates it didn't ship as a .22mag. Of course, errors are made at factories, frames could be misplaced and used at a later date, etc..

You could always spring for a research letter to be sure.

[2761377]

the part on a Colt known as a "crane" in S&W terminology is a "yoke".

pre-model number target K frames will be marked with the serial number at three places on the steel, and the inside of the right grip panel(aka stock).

the butt, which is the legal number; the barrel flat above the ejector rod and the rear face of the cylinder.

any deviation is a sign of non-originality.

further pedantry- after S&W assigned model numbers in 1957, the model and serial number were stamped on the frame's yoke cut-out.

[GM4spd]

S&W yoke cut serial from 1961, Pete