pre model 27 5 screw

[Hank08]

I just bought a 5 screw S&W .357 N frame 3 1/2" barrel serial # 150xxx.  I know it was made after 1948 and before 1957 but can anyone give me a closer date of manufacture.
Thanks, Hank08

[Hammerdown]

I just bought a 5 screw S&W .357 N frame 3 1/2" barrel serial # 150xxx.  I know it was made after 1948 and before 1957 but can anyone give me a closer date of manufacture.
Thanks, Hank08

Hello  Hank08
There is no fool proof way to date your revolver without getting a factory History letter for it which tells exactly when that serial number left the factory. The problem is that all N-Frame revolvers shared the same S-Prefix serial bank being the 38-44 HD , 38-44 Outdoorsman, Pre-21, Pre-23 Pre-24, Pre-25, Pre-26 and Pre-27s so nailing down an exact date would be almost impssible but I would say your left in the Mid 1950's time span around 1954-1957 time span because it is a Five screw model does not matter when it left the factory either as I have a .45 Target revolver being a Pre-25 that left in December 1959 and is in Serial sequence of 160XXX.... Hammerdown

[Hank08]

Thanks, Hammerdown, I knew that the different N frame models shared S serial #s but was hoping you or someone might have the numbers broken down into blocks and yrs. per model.  Does S&W have that info?  I looked in Jinks's book but only found the after 48 and before 57 info. I understand that sometime it was yrs. after a change before the old parts were used up. thanks again.
Hank08

[williamlayton]

Hammerdown is my hero.
Blessings

[Hammerdown]

Thanks, Hammerdown, I knew that the different N frame models shared S serial #s but was hoping you or someone might have the numbers broken down into blocks and yrs. per model.  Does S&W have that info?  I looked in Jinks's book but only found the after 48 and before 57 info. I understand that sometime it was yrs. after a change before the old parts were used up. thanks again.
Hank08

Hello Hank
Nailing down an exact shipping date for your Pre-27 would be almost Impossible as S&W did not ship the guns made out according to their serial numbers back then, many were in the vault storage and just grabbed to fill customer order's, as they were called for you have to keep in mind that S&W was in a Business to sell Gun's   and they shipped guns out as they were needed not as they were serial numbered. I have a Pre-27 shown below that shipped in July 1955 that is over 12,000  number's apart being lower in sequence than yours. As I said, They followed no Rules back then as my Model of 1955 Target revolver chambered in .45 ACP Cartridge was shipped in December 1959 and we all know that S&W stopped the Five screw configuration frames in Late 1955 span, so this one must have been way back in the safe to have shipped that Late. A Factory letter is the Only True way to know when your gun shipped as no Reference book can nail down an exact date of shipping time as Far too Many were made way before they shipped out of the factory, and sent as they were called for by sales not Particular serial number order... Hammerdown

[williamlayton]

Hammerdown
Does some of this happen because after standard production weapons are produced---a distributor may take some special order weapons--comm's or whatever--that were produced while the standards were sitting in the vault?
Blessings

[Hammerdown]

Hammerdown
Does some of this happen because after standard production weapons are produced---a distributor may take some special order weapons--comm's or whatever--that were produced while the standards were sitting in the vault?
Blessings

Hello William
The way it worked was S&W would run a Line of revolver's on their production days and the ones that were not needed right away, got squirreld away for shipping at a Later date. They just grabbed them out of the company revolver vault as they needed to fill customer's orders so this is why we saw no certain order to the serial number's when they were shipped...