357 Magnum ammunition with increased velocity and greater primer sensitivity.Īlthough there have been very few reported incidents of cylinder binding, in view of our concern for our customer's safety and the reliability of Smith & Wesson products in all circumstances, we issue the following warning: Recent developments in ammunition manufacture emphasize the production of. Mishandling a revolver while freeing the cylinder can result in accidental discharge.Ĭylinder binding can result from a number of causes, including characteristics of an individual revolver or the use of ammunition, which does not conform to industry pressure specifications or is particularly fast burning. L-frame revolvers bearing model numbers:Ĭylinder binding can cause a failure to fire. 357 Magnum ammunition has resulted in unacceptable cylinder binding.
It at least one case a gun has a 5-screw serial and was built as a 4-screw gun.ĭ420,001 – D510,000………Late 1972 – Early 73ĭ510,001 – D659,901………Late 1973 – Early 1974ĭ659.902 – D75000……….RECALL: Reports have been received from the field where the combination of a SMITH & WESSON L-FRAME 357 MAGNUM REVOLVER and some.
It's possible that a large block of serial numbers that appear to be from 1954-55 were not actually used until 1957-58. In one known example a gun with serial S136431 was not shipped until June of 1958. *Note that a number of N frames with serials in the S138000-S140000 range (and the range may be wider either way) are seen that were shipped much later than the serial would suggest should be the case. I dug a little deeper in the link in the above link and this is all I found: 4 1977 Changed gas ring from yoke to cylinder 3 1967 Relocation of rear sight leaf screw
2 1961 Cylinder stop changed, hole in front of trigger 1 1959 Change to LH extractor rod thread 2 1977 Change back to gas ring on cylinder Model 13 No designation used to avoid confusion with air force model 4 1984 Change frame thickness to same as all K frames 1 1962 Change extractor rod to LH thread, eliminate 8 1977 Change to put gas ring from yoke to cylinder 7 1977 Change to put gas ring from yoke to cylinder 5 1962 Screw in front of trigger guard eliminated on
5 1962 1/10" to 1/8" front sight, on standard barrel 4 1962 Screw in front of trigger eliminated 2 1961 Changed extractor rod thread to LH on standard barrel This is about the best you'll get without somebody who has the book of serial numbers manufacture date: