38 S&W Safety Hammerless date of Manufacture info?
I've got another old gun to get rid of, think it is a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless in 38 S&W. Five shot, nickle, SN in the 17xxx range. Last date on the top of the barrel is AUG 4 85. Barrel is about 3 1/4" long, and the grips appear to be pearl. If I am reading my blue book right, the SN range puts it in about 1887 to 1890, making it an antique and therefore legal to ship to an individual. Is there a place I can look this up to be sure? Or should I just send it to an FFL when I put it on the auction side?
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You can call Smith & Wesson at 1-800-331-0852 - tell them you need a date of mfg. If necessary they will connect you with the historian Mr. Jinks.
Best Regards:
AdamsQuailHunter
When facing multiple bad guys - first take out the one that is the most dangerous - that's the one with the shotgun!0 -
Were S&W revolvers consecutively numbered? If so, my S&W .32 top break, although not hammerless, has a SerNo of 19XXX. And the last patent date marking is 1880. It was mf'd in 1882.
I strongly, almost absolutely believe that your firearm is pre-1899, classifying it as an antique, best, Joe.0 -
.38 S & W ammo,is still readily available. Make sure you do your homework before shipping it.
Even though it might have been made before 1898. You don't want to be shipping it to an individual, in one of the leftie states like CA or MA. That might cause you more grief, than the Smith is worth.0
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