S&W SERIAL # STAMP AREA
Have a S&W MOD 40 38 spec. Centennial, concealed hammer and grip safety. On bottom of butt is stamped 688. On frame below barrel when you open the cylinder is stamped 86816. Which one do I use for the Serial #??
0
-
86816 inside on the crane or on the frame. Serials are found in both places.
He Dog0 -
Crane??? When you swing open the cylinder and your looking at the gun from the hinged cylinder side open, the numbers are on the left side right above the hinged portion, below the barrel in a hard to read area. I guess maybe that is the crane area?? 0 -
Older Smiths did not have serial numbers on the crane.Always use the number on the butt there is in most cases a prefix before the number like CBX 23456.
[:)]
ATF,Eagle Guns0 -
The crane is the hinged part that supports the cylinder when open. Sometimes the number is on the inside of the crane above the hinge, sometimes on the frame opposite that spot on the crane. I have seen a few with the number both places.
He Dog0 -
Thanks HE DOG. 86816 on the crane, and 688 on the butt.
ATF this is an old gun, problably mfg in the early 50's. There is no history of the person I am purchasing it from ever had it registered. So I should go with the 688 for the SN on the butt to register it?? There is no prefix or suffix letters.
thanks,
mike0 -
A three-digit number would be very old indeed. Are you sure some of the number wasn't obliterated? I saw one Model 37 that had a lanyard ring hole drilled right through the serial number.
Still, the butt number is correct.
On later models the number is stamped twice, on the butt and on the frame inside the crane cut.
The number you see on the crane is an assembly number.
nunn
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net0 -
Centennial models 40 & 42 1952-1971 Serial numbers 1-30160.
[:)]
ATF,Eagle Guns0 -
m-40 and 42 had theri own s/n range and the numbering ran from 1 through 30160. Then starting in '71 the "L" prefix was instituted and numbering ran from L1 through L9861.
Manufacturing (both models) runs from 1952 through 1974 and around 40,000 were made.
So early 50's is a good dating for a pistol with a 688 s/n.
As for value the Std Catalog of S&W, Second edition states $400 for one in excellent contidion. Actual market varries by region and desireability.
Under the grip is a storage area for a pin to lock down the safety bar, but most revolvers found have the pin missing.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
To add to what the others have said, technically speaking that gun isn't a Model 40. If the number on the butt is 688, it's from the first year (most likely the first couple of weeks) of production of the model originally known simply as the Centennial. The Centennial was introduced in 1952, which is generally considered to be the 100th anniversary of Smith & Wesson.
The numbers stamped in the area hidden when the cylinder is closed are assembly numbers and were used at the factory to keep parts together after they were fitted and before they were polished and blued (or nickel plated).
If it still has its original grips, the gun's serial number will also be stamped into the inside of the right panel. Be careful removing these, they're pretty fragile at the "horn" area at the top. [:0]
Here's a neat little S&W promotional gizmo from 1952 that I assume was a hand-out to advertise the Centennial models. It's got four lead shot pellets and four holes with the object being to shake it around till all the holes are filled with the shot.....
Ever seen one of these? [8D]
Mark0 -
Ok men here we go again. I looked at the crane area again last night. The numbers 86816 is stamped on the frame below the barrel and also on the swing out portion of the cylinder I guess the crane. Sorry didn't see both before, I used a glass this time. According to NUNN this would be the matching assembly numbers, makes sense to me.
The 688 is very prominent on the butt, no missing or obliterated numbers. The smooth wood grips are in fine condition. I've read about the pin to hold the safety open and I will look to see if is there tonight also to see if there are any stampen numbers under the grip frame. This gun also came with the original box with the instruction papers and it tell about the pin and how to install it. I purchased this gun from my boss's estate along with some other interesting guns.
I'll let you know tomorrow what I find under the grips.
Thanks again.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
10 comments