Smith & Wesson model changes

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Partial list of changes to Smith & Wesson revolvers

S&W revolver names before World War II Name Caliber Frame.22 Hand Ejector Ladysmith 22 Long M.22/32 Target 22 Long Rifle I.22 Outdoorsman 22 Long Rifle K.32 Hand Ejector (round Butt) 32 S&W Long I.32 Regulation Police (Square Butt) 32 S&W Long I.32-20 Hand Ejector 32-20 Win. K.38 Military&Police 38 Spl K.38 Hand Ejector (same as above, withadjustable sights).38 Regulation Police (Square Butt) 38 S&W I.38 Terrier 2" Round Butt 38 S&W I.38/44 Heavy Duty (fixed sights) 38 Spl N.38/44 Outdoorsman (Adj. Sights) 38 Spl N.357 Magnum 357 Mag N.44 HAnd Ejector Military Model 44 Spl N.44 Hand ejector Model 1926 44 Spl N(shrouded extractor rod).45 U.S. Army Revolver, Model 1917 45 ACP N.455 Hand ejector British Service 455 Mark II N

Letter designations assigned S&W Revolvers 1900-193032 Double Action R32 Safety Hammerless G38 Single Action S38 Double Action D38 Safety Hammerless Y44 Double Action L22 Hand Ejector M32 Hand ejector I38 Military and Police K44 Hand Ejector N38 Double Action Perfect P22 Perfect Single Shot T35 Automatic A32 Regulation Police B38 Regulation Police E22/32 Heavy Frame Target V

Factory Model/caliber designation begun in 1930s22/32 Tarket IT22 Square Butt22/32 Kit Gun IT22 Round ButtK-22 Masterpiece KT2232 Hand Ejector I32 Round Butt32 Regulation Police I32 Square ButtK-32 Masterpiece KT3238 Regulation Police I38 Square Butt38 S&W Terrier I32 Round Butt38 Military & Police K3838/44 Heavy Duty N38K-38 Masterpiece KT3838/44 Outdoorsman NT38357 Magnum NT3571926 Model 44 Military N441926 Model 44 Target NT441917 Army N45

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Smith & Wesson model changes

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Model year year Frame Caliber Name intro Discon Size10 1899 K 38 Spl Military & Police10 HB 1960 K 38 Spl Military & Police Heavy Barrel11 1936 1965 K 38 S&W Military & Police12 1953 1986 KA 38 Spl Military & Police Airweight13 1974 K 357 Mag 357 Magnum M&P14 1947 1982 KT 38 Spl K-38 Masterpiece15 1949 KT 38 Spl K-38 Combat Masterpiece16 1947 1973 KT 32 S&W Long K-32 Masterpiece17 1946 KT 22 LR K-22 Masterpiece18 1949 1986 KT 22 LR K-22 Combat Masterpiece19 1955 KT 357 Mag 357 Combat Magnum20 1930 1966 N 38 Spl 38/44 Heavy Duty21 1908 1966 N 44 Spl 1950 Model 44 Military22 1917 1966 N 45 ACP 1950 Model 45 Army23 1931 1966 NT 38 Spl 38/44 Outdoorsman24 1908 1966 NT 44 Spl 1950 Model 44 Target24 1984 1984 NT 44 Spl 7500 units reintroduced25 1955 1983 NT 45 ACP 1955 Model 45 Target25-3 1977 1977 NT 45 Colt 125th Commemorative25-4 1977 1977 NT 45 Colt 125th Delux Comm25-5 1978 NT 45 Colt 45 Colt26 1950 1966 NT 45 ACP 1950 45 Target Light Barrel27 1935 NT 357 Mag 357 Magnum28 1954 1986 NT 357 Mag 357 Highway Patrolman29 1955 NT 44 Mag 44 Magnum30 1896 1976 I&J 32 S&W Long 32 Hand Ejector31 1917 I&J 32 S&W Long 32 Regulation Police32 1936 1974 I&J 38 S&W 38 Terrier33 1917 1974 I&J 38 S&W 38 Regulation Police34 1936 I&J 22 LR 22/32 Kit Gun 4" barrel35 1911 1973 I&J 22 LR 22/32 Target 6" Barrel36 1950 J 38 Spl 38 Chief Special37 1952 JA 38 Spl 38 Chief Special Airweight38 1955 JAC 38 Spl Bodyguard39 1954 1981 Auto 9mm 9mm Double Action both alloy and steel39-1 1960 1960 Auto 38 AMU Commonly called M-52A alloy40 1952 1974 JS 38 Spl Centennial41 1952 Auto 22 LR 22 Semi-Automatic41-1 1960 1972 Auto 22 short 22 Short Semi-Auto42 1953 1974 JAT 38 Spl Centennial Airweight43 1954 1974 JAT 22 LR 22/32 Kit Gun Airweight44 1954 1959 Auto 9mm 9mm Semi, Single Action alloy45 1936 1965 K 22 LR 22 Military & Police46 1959 1968 Auto 22 LR 22 Semi Auto47 Experimental number used on several guns48 1959 1986 KTM 22 WMRF K-22 Masterpiece MRF49 1959 JC 38 Spl Bodyguard Steel Frame50 1955 1975 JT 38 Spl 38 Chief Special Target51 1960 1974 JTM 22 WMRF 22/32 MRF Kit Gun52 1961 Auto 38 Spl 38 Chief Special Target Steel52-A See Model 39-153 1961 1974 KTC 22 Jet 22 center fire magnum54 Experimental never issued55 Experimental never issued56 1962 1963 KT 38 Spl KTX 38 Became Mod 15 2" bl.57 1964 NT 41 Mag 41 Magnum58 1964 1978 N 41 Mag 41 Magnum Military& Police59 1971 1981 Auto 9mm 14 shot 9mm Semi-Auto Alloy60 1965 J 38 Spl 38 Chief Special Stainless61 1970 1973 Auto 22 LR 22 Escort62 Experimental never issued63 1977 JT 22 LR 1977 22/32 Kit Gun Stainless64 1970 K 38 Spl 38 Military&Police Stainless65 1974 K 357 Mag 357 Mag M&P Stainless66 1971 KT 357 Mag 357 Combat Mag Stainless

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Smith & Wesson model changes

67 1972 KT 38 Spl 38 Combat Masterpiece Stainless68 1976 1976 KT 38 Spl California Highway Patrol Model Stainless69/75 Not officially assigned -- used experimentally76 1968 1974 Auto 9mm Machine Pistol77 1970 1978 22 cal Air rifle78 1971 1978 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Pistol79 1971 1978 177 Cal CO2 Pellet Pistol80 1975 1978 177 BB CO2 Semi Auto Rifle

New Model Numbering System--------------------------147-A 1979 1979 9mm 14 shot DA steel frame Model 59325PD 2003 N 6 shot 45 ACP, 2.5" barrel, Scandium Frame329PD 2003 N 6 shot 44 Magnum, Scandium Frame, Stainless Brl, Ti Cylinder340 J 5 shot 357 Magnum, Scandium Frame, shrouded/internal hammer396 L 5 shot 44 Special, 3-1/8" barrel, Aluminum alloy frame439 1979 9mm 8 shot DA Semi Auto Alloy459 1979 9mm 14 shot DA Semi Auto Alloy469 1983 9mm 12 Shot DA Semi Auto Alloy500 2003 X 5 shot 500 S&W Magnum520 1980 1980 N 357 Mag, Fixed Sights539 1980 1983 9mm 8 shot DA semi auto Carbon Steel547 1980 1985 K Steel 9mm Military & Police559 1980 1983 Auto 9mm 14 shot DA Semi Auto Carbon Steel581 1980 L 357 Mag Distinguished Service Magnum586 1980 L 357 Mag Distinguished Combat Magnum610 N 10 mm, 6 shot, stainless624 1985 1986 NT 44 Spl 1985 Target Stainless625 N 45 ACP and 45 Colt Stainless627 N 357 Magnum, Stainless629 1979 NT 44 Mag Stainless629 Classic N 44 Mag, Stainless, full underlug639 1982 Auto 9mm 8 shot DA Semi Auto Stainless645 1985 Auto 45ACP DA Semi Auto Stainless649 1985 JC 38 Spl Bodyguard Stainless650 1982 JM 22 WMRF Service Kit Gun Stainless651 1982 JTM 22 WMRF Target Kit Gun Stainless657 N 41 Magnum, 6 shot, Stainless659 1982 Auto 9mm 14 shot DA semi Auto Stainless669 1985 Auto 9mm 12 shot DA Semi Auto Stainless681 1980 L 357 Mag Distinguished Service Mag Stainless686 1980 L 357 Mag Distinguished Combat Mag Stainless686+ L 357 Mag, 7 shot cylinder, StainlessSW1911 2003 45 ACP 1911

Model and Dash numbering system--------------------------------Model 10 -1 1959 Heavy Barrel -2 1961 Changed extractor rod thread to LH on standard barrel -3 1961 Same as above, for heavy barrel -4 1962 Screw in front of trigger eliminated -5 1962 1/10" to 1/8" front sight, on standard barrel -5 1962 Screw in front of trigger guard eliminated on heavy barrel model -7 1977 Change to put gas ring from yoke to cylinder -8 1977 Change to put gas ring from yoke to cylinder on heavy barrel modelModel 12 1957 -1 1962 Change extractor rod to LH thread, eliminate screw in front of trigger guard -2 1962 Front sight changed from 1/10" to 1/8" -3 1977 Gas ring on yoke to cylinder -4 1984 Change frame thickness to same as all K framesModel 13 No designation used to avoid confusion with air force model 13 air crewmanModel 13 -1 1974 Introduced

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Smith & Wesson model changes

-2 1977 Change back to gas ring on cylinder -3 1982 eliminate cylinder counterboreModel 14,15,16,17,18,48,53 (all start without dash in 1957) -1 1959 Change to LH extractor rod thread -2 1961 Cylinder stop changed, hole in front of trigger guard eliminated -3 1967 Relocation of rear sight leaf screw -4 1977 Changed gas ring from yoke to cylinder19 All of the above changes and -5 1982 Eliminate cylinder counterbore

N-Frame Model Blue------------------

Model 20,21,22,23,24,25 (except 25-5) 26,27,28,29 -1 1960 Change to LH thread -2 1961 Cylinder stop changed, hole in front of trigger guard eliminated -3 1982 Eliminate cylinder counterbore (magnums only) -4 2004 Thunder Ranch 44 Special, fixed sightModel 57 1964 Introduced -1 1982 Eliminate cylinder counterboreModel 629 1980 Introduced -1 1982 Eliminate cylinder counterboreModel 25-5 1978 -5 means 45 Colt caliber 125'th anniversary model, -3 (standard) -4 (delux) both of these used a shorter than standard cylinder. -7 1985 45 Colt, 5" barrel, unfluted cylinderK-Frame Stainless Models------------------------64 1970 Introduced -1 1972 Heavy barrel -2 1977 2" standard barrel, gas ring from yoke to cylinder -3 1977 Same as above, for heavy barrel65 -1 1974 introduced -2 1977 gas ring from yoke to cylinder -3 1982 Eliminate cylinder counterbore66 1971 introduced -1 1977 Gas ring from yoke to cylinder -2 1982 Eliminate cylinder counterbore67 1972 introduced -1 1977 gas ring from yoke to cylinder39 1957 start of model numbering system -1, 1961 Made in 38 AMU cartridge for military 87 made. 52-A -2 1971 Change of extractor41 1957 start of model numbering system -1 1960 22 Short chambering (dash number not always stamped)52 1961 introduced -1 1963 Single action only -2 1971 Changed extractor52-A See model 39-159 1971 introduced, no dash numbers used during production61 1970 introduced in March -1 May '70 Add magazine safety -2 Sep '70 Addition of barrel nut -3 1971 Forged Al frame76 1968 introduced, discontinued 1974 no dash numbers used

Small Frame Revolvers---------------------Model 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 1957 Start of numbering system -1 1961 Change from I frame to J frame36 -1 1967 Indicates 3" heavy barrel37, 38, 40, 42, 43, 49, 63, 649, 650, 651 No dash numbers ued on above numbers60 1965 Introduced -1 1972 Heavy barrel variation made in 1972, not marketed limited production only

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Smith & Wesson model changes

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