Sidearms & Scatterguns Any Old S & W Experts on the Hide?

[19Scout77]

I am trying to date a 2” barreled square butt k frame. It is a 5 screw and a 399xxx serial number. I am thinking early 1920s, but it looks pretty good for almost 100!

 

[Ankeny]

Manufacture Year by Serial Number
"K" Frame Revolvers - 1899 to 1983:
(Years/Serial Number Range)
Pre-War Years:
1899-1902...........1-20,975
1902-1903...........20,976-33,803
1903-1905...........33,804-62,449
1905-1906...........62,450-73,250
1906-1908...........73,251-120,000
1908-1909...........120,001-146,899
1909-1915...........146,900-241,703
1915-1942...........241,704-1,000,000

I have a pre-war set of diamond grips that will bolt right on that puppy.

 

[19Scout77]

Thanks. I used that to narrow down to 27 years, then found a reference to a 490k as a 1925...and that’s as far as I have gotten.

Your grips sound great but likely more than I paid for the revolver.

 

[Dan M]

A 1920s K frame wouldn’t have a serrated ramp front sight...service sights consist of a half round blade front with rear notch on top strap...if the reported s/n is in the correct range it probably isn’t the original barrel.

 

[19Scout77]

Thanks Dan. What vintage would have that serrated sight like mine?

 

[Dan M]

The change from a 1/10" wide "half round" front sight blade to a 1/8" wide ramp style front sight blade was initiated around 1962, if memory serves me. I need to look up the date to make sure I am giving you some solid info. I need to dig out my copy of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson Firearms... it lists all the revisions and what the revision entailed.

Are there any markings on the frame when you open the cylinder and swing the crane down? It may be simply that someone installed a replacement barrel onto it during some point.

 

[19Scout77]

Thanks. This is definitely an older frame. Without question a 5 screw. SN is 339xxx on both the frame and cylinder. A 4 digit code on the swing arm.

 

[Dan M]

If I had to bet the ranch, my bet is replacement barrel. Hope it shoots well for you. Standard velocity .38 SPL is a lot of fun to shoot.

 

[Downtown]

Dan is correct. The barrel is from a model 10. If the front sight width is one eighth, it's from a 10-5 or later. If it's one tenth, probably 1957-1962. The frame is referred to as "Fourth Change" and square butt frames are much less common than round.

 

[Unknown]

Neat little revolver even if it does have a replacement barrel.

 

[19Scout77]

For the $75 I paid, I think it’s money well spent.

 

[19Scout77]

But I really only bought it so I could get this one with it!!

 

[Dan M]

You did well. Sometimes a package deal is better than buying individually...earlier in my career I bought some guns from a co-worker...a Colt Series 80 Enhanced SS .38 Super, a Hi Power (assembled in Portugal with 6 mags) and a 3” S&W Model 13 for $750 total... all the guns were like new.

 

[19Scout77]

Another little interesting note...check out the ampersand between Smith and Wesson!

 

[19Scout77]

You did well. Sometimes a package deal is better than buying individually...earlier in my career I bought some guns from a co-worker...a Colt Series 80 Enhanced SS .38 Super, a Hi Power (assembled in Portugal with 6 mags) and a 3” S&W Model 13 for $750 total... all the guns were like new.

Mine was actually a 3 gun deal as well! Check out this bad boy that rounded deal! It sure ain’t a High Standard!!!