help dating S&W model 36

[Pocono]

Need some help from the Smith and Wesson guru's. My wife purchased a model 36 before we were married from a gun show. I've been researching the internet for quite some time and getting alot of conflicting information. I'm getting differing opinions as to where the serial number is. Some references are saying the butt of the handle and some say inside the hinge. On the grip butt there is a prefix of AEJ which I find no reference. The following numbers are 9093. The revolver is stamped with model 36 inside the hinge which I see means after 1957. The serial numbers that I found on the internet do not make sense with the numbers that I am finding. The number inside the hinge which some references that I found say that this is the serial number is 61479. The info that I've seen reference XX's following numbers - that is not the case with this. The gun is; I believe a 2 screw (?) and the grip is rounded wood diamond. The barrel release is not the older flat from what I can tell but curved. I see reference to "pinning" but am not sure what that means. This started because I was thinking of us trading it in so she could have a lighter carry such as the new Ruger LCR. Would appreciate input from those in the know. Thank's

[Flash]

Need some help from the Smith and Wesson guru's.


. Thank's

Well the REAL S&W gurus mostly hang out at:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/

Those guys can tell you when it was made, when it shipped, who the first purchaser was and what he ate for breakfast on the day he first shot it. Or pretty nearly that.

Uderstand puh-lease, I am not dissing the resident authorities - but those guys over there would feel slighted if they didn't get thhis question about once an hour or so.

Flash

[Search1953]

Boy what a dope I am.
For a minute or so I thought he was trying to go on a date with his gun

DUHH

[87th PVI]

Boy what a dope I am.
For a minute or so I thought he was trying to go on a date with his gun

DUHH

I knew what he meant, but when I read the title to the thread I couldn't help but think, well first you compliment her, then caress her a little, & it'll go from there!

[1blindref]

Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson is the bible and source book of S&W's.

The serial number on S&W wheel guns is found on the bottom butt strap of your gun. All S&W's wheel gun serial numbers are found there.

Off the top of my head, your gun was made sometime after 1982, but I'll check my catalog for you when I get home from work.

The numbers on the crane are the model number (for S&W's made after 1957) and production numbers used when making the gun.

"Pinning" reffers to the barrel being pinned into the frame of the gun. All S&W wheel guns had pinned barrels up until 1981 / 1982.

These are two model 66's. If you look at about a half inch past where the barrel meets the frame, you'll see a small pin on the gun on the left. The one on the right doesn't have a pin.

The gun on the left is a 66-1 that was made in 1980.
The gun on the right is a 66-2 that was made in 1985.




Hope this helps.

[Pizza Bob]

Something does not jive with what you are saying. You are correct in that the "Model 36" was not stamped inside the crane on the frame until 1957 and after - but that occurred at serial number 125000 - so it makes no sense that yours is stamped with a model number, but has a 5-digit serial number. The dash numbers, after the model number, i.e. 36-3 or 36-10, represent engineering changes. If yours is not stamped "Model 36", then the numbers inside the crane are production numbers and the serial number will be on the bottom of the grip frame and possibly on the cylinder.

If the grips are original to the gun, and have a diamond around the screw, then it was produced prior to 1968, when these were discontinued.

The "pinned barrel" was eliminated in 1982 - this was simply a pin driven through the topstrap of the frame, above the barrel's forcing cone, that prevented the barrel from moving.

Please recheck the serial number.

HTH

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[Pocono]

Thanks for the input so far. Funny stuff about dating... Thanks 1blindref, I'll look for the pinning tonight and I appreciate you looking in your catalog. Thanks PizzaBob you brought up the point that I found - the numbers just don't make any sense. As far as the grips; there is not a diamond around the screw. Thanks again.

[Pizza Bob]

How about some photographs? Gun, area under the crane and bottom of grip frame should do it.

[Pocono]

pictures will be forthcoming tonight.

[1blindref]

The serial number of the gun is located here:



The numbers in the crane area are production numbers used in making the gun.