As a service to our shoppers and the Guns America community, here are our notes on production dates for Smith & Wesson Revolvers with 3 Letter Serial Number Prefixes. Some of this is from Supica's and Nahas's Appendices, and some from our own records. We do not have time to answer questions about serialization.
- SMITH & WESSON MODEL 57 REVOLVER 41 MAG CALModel: 57 Caliber / Gauge:.41 Mag Barrel Length: 8.5' Serial Number: S280045. On Feb 05, 2018.
- We do not have time to answer questions about serialization. Smith & Wesson will issue a letter for a $50 fee. 1980 AAA 1981 AAD 2120 Oct 1982 AAF9000 Dec. 1982 ABL3 3999 Jan. 1983 ABL 40000 Oct. 1983 ADE 6700 Dec. 1983 ADT 2999 Jan 1984 ADT 3000 AET prefix 66-2 Grips dated 5/13/83 HG7568 from 2012 Nov. 1984 AEV-ARJ Jan. 1985 AHA 0667 Jul.
- Phone: (717) 762-4010. Active Listings: 18. Seller Type: FFL Dealer. Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. Payment Methods: USPS Money Order, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Smith & Wesson Model 57. Description: Attention.41 Magnum fans we have a very clean Smith and Wesson Model 57 with just a.
S&W is known to hold blocks of numbers for some purposes. It means if they want to build a comemmorative, all the guns have sequential numbers. Or sometimes, anyhow. It doesn't mean they were all completed the same day or week, just that someone went to the effort to assure they had similar numbers.
From what I can glean from the books on the subject, S&W logs in guns when they move from production/inspection to the 'vault', the place where they're shipped from. The letters we beg from Roy indicate another date, the date they're shipped from the vault. It may be important that those may be the same day, or a date years later.
Some guns were hot sellers. S&W is a business. They, like all other business entities have cash flow problems and concerns. If they have a completed gun, and a willing customer, they ship it. They also completed some batch blocks of guns. Its just cheaper and easier to build the same configuration guns at the same time. Even if there isn't a ready and willing customer.
We also know S&W made some ugly ducklings. Many of us don't feel that way today... But there was a time frame where you almost couldn't give away a Heavy Duty or Outdoorsman. Or K32s. So they languished. Probably in the vault.
All an adjacent serial number means is that the guns were probably in production at the same time, maybe even side by side for a few steps in the production process, maybe separated on different racks, too. We just don't know and Roy hasn't indicated if records exist of various guns in various stages. Its probably safe to say many gun frames were sequentially numbered at about the same time. Its an internal control issue.
But we also find guns from time to time where the factory has no records of them existing. Its not unusual for one of us to blow our meager allowances on letters. Only to get one back that says 'Open on Company books.' We have no idea what that phrase really means, but probably any of a number of things, including stolen (lunchbox guns), destroyed during production, pulled out for some reason and never shipped or sold, given to an employee for whatever reason, etc. I've got a beautiful early Centennial that came back that way. It just happens.
We seem to read way to much into serial numbers. A lot of are willing to pay a premium, some time a multiple of fair market, just to obtain a desireable number. I've done it before and I'll do it again. The family (my family) owns 2 637s. Younger son covets the one with a 'CCW' prefix. Two reasons, he doesn't clean his guns, and the CCW is new/pristine, and its just a cool number. Sebago Son owns a K22. He mercilessly lofts it over my head because he located it in a chicken coop, and because it has K117 on the underside. All I've managed to score are K155 and K166. And I was mad at Blake (one of our posters) because he let K141 escape to an unwashed heathen owner. The guy who owned K137 wouldn't sell it to me, nor would the owner of K188.
So maybe I should rephrase the first sentence of that last paragraph. I read way too much into serial numbers! :)
Smith & Wesson Model 57
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: Model 57, the .41 Magnum Target
Serial Number: N324501
Year of Manufacture: 1975-1976
Caliber: .41 Magnum
Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”. The left side of the grip frame is marked “G14 / 7444C G5” with “RE” in a circle. The right side of the grip frame is marked with “W” in a square and “E” in a circle. The yoke cut is marked “N324501 / MOD 57-0” (the model is stamped over “?9-2”.) The first number largely illegible but we believe it to be a “2”. Corrected factory stamping errors such as this are known. The yoke is marked “74440”. The butt is marked “N324501”. The right side of the barrel is marked “41 MAGNUM” and the right side of the frame is marked with the four line Marcas Registradas address. The right sideplate is marked with the S&W logo.
Barrel Length: 8 3/8” Pinned Barrel
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a red insert serrated ramp on an elevated base. The rear sight is an S&W adjustable micrometer click white outline square notch.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are oversized Goncalo Alves Target stocks with brass colored S&W medallions on them. There are two compressions on the front portion of the right grip. The top arch of the right grip has a small spot where the lacquer is missing. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is the lightest dragline on the cylinder. There are a couple of compression marks below the finish on the left side of the frame. These are covered by the grips. The S&W logo on the right sideplate is slightly thinned. . The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a blue felt lined wooden box with a cardboard outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has a matching end label. The felt lined plastic interior is cracked at the backstrap. The original cleaning rod, bore mop, brush, and screwdriver are included. The original owner’s manual and various other pamphlets are included along with the original S&W wrapping paper. The exterior of the wooden box rates in about Excellent Condition.
Our Assessment: While some think of the S&W .41 Remington Magnum as the DIRTY HARRY .44 magnum’s little brother, it was originally designed by Elmer Keith to be the “Ultimate Cop’s gun” more powerful than the .357 magnum and with less kick than the big .44. The Model 41 never took off as a service sidearm, but this Excellent condition specimen would make a fantastic addition to any magnum caliber hand loader’s or Smith & Wesson enthusiast’s collection.