All I have to go on is what I think is a serial number (4K55925), possibly dating to around 1973.

What model 357 might this be?

Did you open the cylinder and look on the frame under the crane?

A picture would help.

4K55925 appears to be a serial number for a 1973 production K frame revolver.

But there's no way to tell an exact model number from just the serial. In order to narrow it down further we'll need some pictures, or at least a description of some of the features including finish and fixed/adjustable sights.

For example, these four models are all .357 K Frames from that era:

Model 13 = blued or nickel finish with fixed sights
Model 19 = blued or nickel finish with adjustable sights
Model 65 = stainless with fixed sights
Model 66 = stainless with adjustable sights

That serial could potentially be any of those models.

As noted by 92fstech, model number will be marked on the frame under the yoke, like on this Model 13:

I'm not with the gun, so I can't look to see about any other info, and I can't post a picture. It's actually coming up for sale in the future. I will send a screen shot to RogueJSK. Maybe that will help more.

Here's the photo that BigJoe sent. Appears to be a S&W Model 66 with a 4" barrel. The grips are replacements.




Would have originally looked more like this:

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Here's the photo that BigJoe sent. Appears to be a S&W Model 66 with a 4" barrel. The grips are replacements.

...........

Thank you!!!

If you are looking, and the price is good, looks like a buy.

Nice gun, but those grips gotta go!

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Here's the photo that BigJoe sent. Appears to be a S&W Model 66 with a 4" barrel. The grips are replacements.




Would have originally looked more like this:

Maybe it’s just me, but in that photo (Big Joe’s photo) the finish looks blued to me, not stainless.

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:

Maybe it’s just me, but in that photo (Big Joe’s photo) the finish looks blued to me, not stainless.

Then it's a model 19. Same gun, different steel.
M19 blued, M66 stainless.

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:
Maybe it’s just me, but in that photo (Big Joe’s photo) the finish looks blued to me, not stainless.

It's just you.

It's not blued. It's merely in poor lighting.

Another clue is the matte stainless trigger and hammer. A blued Model 19 would have also had a case hardened finish on its hammer and trigger, with the distinctive mottled/swirled look:



Even the nickel Model 19s had that:

It's probably the lighting, but the flutes of the cylinder don't look right and the rear sight screw looks out of proportion. Is that a pin or screw at the rear top of the trigger guard?

I agree with Rogue if thats a .357, it's probably a 66.

Should be a screw above the trigger, and appears to match the other screws in size and shape, despite the blurry and dark photo.

Rear sight screw looks normal to me. (The slotted head on the right side is larger than on the left side.)

Agreed that the flutes may be appearing slightly different to you due to the poor lighting.


Here are some bigger photos of a 1973 66 in better lighting for comparison:

Early Model 66. The early ones had a stainless steel rear sight which disappeared under some lighting conditions. Easy enough to change if desired.
I would put a temporary color on it if it bothered me while shooting it, I think it’s a neat feature.
Cool gun!

OZ

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Should be a screw above the trigger, and appears to match the other screws in size and shape, despite the blurry and dark photo.

Rear sight screw looks normal to me. (The slotted head on the right side is larger than on the left side.)

Agreed that the flutes may be appearing slightly different to you due to the poor lighting.

I suspect you are right. I also realized that the grips might be throwing off my sense of position and proportion.

quote:

Here's the photo that BigJoe sent. Appears to be a S&W Model 66 with a 4" barrel. The grips are replacements.