Anyone know how to determine approx date of manufacture of S&W Model 36 revolver?

[mravel1875]

Bought my 2" Model 36 used in 1990, great little gun, perfect for concealed carry. Other than generic guidance (barrel is not pinned, so after 1982), I can't determine when it was made. Serial # ABL1XXX

 

[outrider58]

Shouldn't it have a J prefix?

 

[John from MD]

Bought my 2" Model 36 used in 1990, great little gun, perfect for concealed carry. Other than generic guidance (barrel is not pinned, so after 1982), I can't determine when it was made. Serial # ABL1XXX

Put a picture up showing the butt number and left side of pistol with cylinder open and maybe I can help.

 

[swinokur]

Write them a letter with serial number.

I did it for my 10xx series of 10mm autos

 

[eruby]

One website maybe:

Serial Number Lookup for S&W J Frame Revolver

Smith and Wesson Serial Number Date of Manufacture J Frame Revolver Lookup. How old is your Smith and Wesson J Frame?

www.mcarbo.com

 

[John from MD]

Write them a letter with serial number.

I did it for my 10xx series of 10mm autos

It's not free.

 

[Bob A]

Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 2nd edition, has the following entries:
Oct 1982 AAF9000
Dec 1982 ABL3999
Jan 1983 ABL4000

So it looks like late 1982.

 

[swinokur]

It's not free.

Cost me zero but this was three years ago

 

[rseymorejr]

Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 2nd edition, has the following entries:
Oct 1982 AAF9000
Dec 1982 ABL3999
Jan 1983 ABL4000

So it looks like late 1982.

Could you see what year CDL4899 would be?

 

[Bob A]

Could you see what year CDL4899 would be?

The CBD thru CDJ is noted beginning Jan 1999
CDR seems to begin at Nov 1999. So it looks like mid-1999.

 

[John from MD]

Cost me zero but this was three years ago

You didn't get a certificate, just a verbal or text date?

 

[rseymorejr]

The CBD thru CDJ is noted beginning Jan 1999
CDR seems to begin at Nov 1999. So it looks like mid-1999.

Thanks!

 

[mravel1875]

Put a picture up showing the butt number and left side of pistol with cylinder open and maybe I can help.

Oops, I forgot to send this to John from MD:

 

[Biggfoot44]

The relevant part about " with cylinder open " is to see the markings on the Frame adjacent to where the yoke closes , not the yoke itself .

It would say 36 or 36- ( something) .

In collector speak , that would be 36 no dash or 36 dash 1 ( or 2 , etc)

 

[John from MD]

About all I can tell you is that S&W started using the letters before the numbers for serial numbers in 1980. The J frames were cut into the program on 1983 but I don't no what letters started the new serial number. So all you know now is that it was built after 1983. You may be able to ask someone on the Smith and Wesson firearms forum and get a better answer.

 

[mravel1875]

The relevant part about " with cylinder open " is to see the markings on the Frame adjacent to where the yoke closes , not the yoke itself .

It would say 36 or 36- ( something) .

In collector speak , that would be 36 no dash or 36 dash 1 ( or 2 , etc)

Yeh I thought the numbers on the yoke meant something. If you zoom in, you can see the frame is stamped "MOD 36"