My dad might have a lead on two S&W revolvers...

1.) SN 85Kxxx, 6" 38 special doesnt know the model
2.) SN K32xxxx, 6" 22lr, doesnt know the model

he wrote down the SN but didnt know to gather the model numbers...he says neither gun had a model number on the inside of the frame by the crane....

Can anyone help me out when these guns might have been made?

The 38 Special was manufactured in 1981
This could either have been a Model 10 or Model 14 depending on if it had fixed or adjustable sights respectively
I lean toward the Model 14, also commonly known as the K38 or more properly the 38 Masterpiece since I am not sure if 6" model 10s were still being produced by 1981

The 22LR was manufactured in 1959
This was most likely a Model 17, also commonly known as the K22 or more properly the 22 Masterpiece

Thanks, I will let him know!

Only adjustable sighted guns had a K in the serial number, so 1981 would have been a model 14 likely with a dash number for example like a 14-4.
The 1959 22 May not have a model number as these started in 57 but older non model marked frames were used up for a number of years before they were gone

try here

https://www.northeastshooters....fy-date-a-s-w.68254/

Dates and models look right, but keep in mind, S&W doesn't list manufacture dates, but shipping dates.

quote:

Originally posted by gunsmoke92:
Dates and models look right, but keep in mind, S&W doesn't list manufacture dates, but shipping dates.

Actually,
Smith and Wesson does not list any dates at all.

Prior to computerization in the early 1980s Smith and Wesson only kept track of when one of their products left the factory.

Post computerization, 98+% of the time the Date of Manufacture is printed right on the box in a little code and DOM is now a stored number

The serial number lists that are published in the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson (and copied across the Internet) is an approximate list of manufacture dates, not shipping dates.

It is not possible to create a list of shipping dates since firearms did not ship in in sequential order. However groups of frames were numbered sequentially.