S&w
 

Anybody out there that can me the date of manufacture for a Model 18 no dash serial number 3496XX K? I believe this to be very early, possibly around 1960.

Thanks

Steve:

Your Smith & Wesson started off as model K-22 Combat masterpiece. 1957 was the year when the first stamped model 18 was produced. The model 18-1 came out in early 1959 was change extractor rod, right hand to left hand thread.

A K serial prefix was early postwar product and has 6 grove backstrap/forestrap.

Your serial number puts it in 1958 production date.

Hope this information helps. It came from the book Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, Second Edition. There is a newer version of this book on the market as well.

Hope this information helps.

You can contact Smith & Wesson at 1-800-331-0852.

Regards,

George

Steve,
If the K is a prefix to the serial number, K3496XX then is was made in 1958.
Tom

Looks like George beat me to it. I'm a slow reader.

George,

Thanks for all the info, I appreciate it. I have this pistol on layaway you might say. A friend of mine is selling it to me. It is in about 98-99 %condition and is real tight. I've always wanted one of these..

Would you happen to know what box would be proper for this? It doesn't have one and I am going to try to get the correct box for it, if it can be found.

Thanks

Boxes regularly come up for sale on Ebay. You can also join the S&W forum and inquire about buying a box there.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/index.php

Charlie