Model 65-4 birthdate?
1)When would an S&W model 65-4, have been made, with a serial number of BTP3906. This has a 4" barrel and factory walnut square butt, grips(NIB)?
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My guess would be 1988. 0 -
1)When did the first -4 change take place, for the model 65-4?
2)Can anyone, more accurately, place the actual year of production, for a model 65-4, with serial number BTP3906?
3)Would this gun, have been made in the Bangor-Punta era-or, not?
NOTE: All I have to go by, is a listing(By Roy Jinks)shown in the July 1986 issue of American Rifleman(Page 78, Table V)that the model 65, -3 change, took place in 1982(The elimination of the cylinder counterbore). However, the -4 change, was not shown. And, I don't have any later(Updated)information(For this Table V)? I will appreciate, anyone's input on this?0 -
Per my records the only year the 65-4 was made was 1988. Bangor-Punta was gone in 1983. 0 -
What was the -4 change, in the S&W Model 65-4, exactly? 0 -
I forgot to also ask, if the S&W Model 65-4, was any better or worse, than the Model 65's, made in the Bangor-Punta years(On the average)? 0 -
The -4 was for a new yoke retention system on the 4" square butt revolver. As far as being better or worse than the Bangor-Punta, I cannot say. I have owned S&W revolvers from very old to very new and have had no problems with any of them. I personally like the older firearms (1975-1985) and greatly dislike the firing pins in the frame. Just personal preference. 0 -
1988 for chage 65-4 is right on, but the s/n don't track, per my Standard Catalog of S&W 1988 runs from AYY1139 through BBT2293 and a BTP3906 not occuring until after August of 1994 so sumpin ain't computin here folks ...
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
Contender Man:
I just got the Standard Catalog of S&W. However, I can't find the BTP serial number prefix(Or, the complete S/N BTP3906)for the S&W Model 65-4? What page did you find this serial number, to be in(Showing the gun to have been made in the latter part of 1994(As you had said))?0 -
The book provides the letter codes in year and month increments, but not all years have all 12 months listed, and not all letter codes are listed so the inference is that a code such as the one you gave lies alphabetecially (sp?) between codes that are listed. So in your case the BTP ruled out 1988 so my estimate was based on where those letters fell.
Now that you have the book read the intro to the section on serialization. In that writeup the authors explain that serial numbers are not a precise means of establishing a guns year of manufacture, especially in N frame revolvers, but here we are dealing with a K frame.
The "dash" number is a good indicator of a date range, and in this case it is actually more precise as that change number came into being in 1988 and was superceded in 1985.
As for the page ... it is 296 and I looked at Aug. of 1994 as starting with "BRFxxxx" and the prefixes running from that point into the "C's". But to further the point I am trying to make about the lack of precision; from Aug. 1994 until Feb. of 1995 the listed "C" series runs from CAF through CBD and Feb. 1995 starts with CLS, yet August 1997 shows CBN and a somewhat sequential alpha pattern going forward until Oct. of 2000 which is the last entry. And where in the heck did ULT/LGT come from in March of 1997.
Probably should have put all of this in the first reply, but, opted not to because of length and the possibility that your s/n was a typo, so I opted to save the "verbage" for when I received a response.
You've picked youself up a good resource, but as you go along collecting Smiths your going to find a lot of instances that are less than logical in the s/n world, and even to a certain extent in the change to numbered models. But, to me, that's what makes it all interesting.
For an exact date of mfg., only Smith can crack that riddle so you will have to contact them. I haven't gotten a factory letter in a few years so I can't tell you what today's charge might be, and I'm not sure you want to go to that expense for a M-65 circa 1988-199?
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
Aimhigh - I have that revolver though not close to NIB condition. Mine is a Mod 65-4 Sq Butt 4" with s/n BSE3066. I have not been curious as to its date of manufacture but I have asked for and received a couple of Mr Jenks' "short letters" on other handguns. This letter will tell you when your revolver was made and its original retail date. This short letter is free, at least mine were and that was only a short time ago. As Contender noted the S&W detail letter will tell you more but at a fee that my used shooters did not warrant. 0 -
Great suggestion. Pieces I've asked for letters on have been rarer (Model 2's and 3's, etc.) and while it has been a number of years I think I last paid like $25.
I've been collecting for 35+ years and you think you have learned a lot, then something simple like this "short letter" comes along. I've got reference books coming out my "kazoo" including all of Jenks and I can't remember any mention of a "short letter", maybe this is a somewhat recent thing or I just never said the secret word. I mean why mention you have a free product when there is one your selling. But it makes a lot of sense ... if all someone wanted to know was when a gun was built then a "factory letter" would be overkill for a relatively modern and common firearm.
Again the saying that you can learn something new everyday is proven to be true.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0
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