were is the seral number on s & w revolvers?

[ronlday]

a friend of mine recived a s&w 38 special revolver from a relitive and he would like to know how to identify the model and when it was made.
thank you for your time.
rld

[tombogan03884]

Bottom of the grip frame usually, also should have the last 4 or 5 digits inside the crane.

[alfsauve]

As said, on the bottom of the butt and all or part on the inside of the crane.    My 686 has the whole number, but then it's a 4 digit one.

There is another number on the frame opposite the crane and also on the left side of the butt.  I wonder what that number is.  In my case it is a 5 digit number not related to the s/n

[ronlday]

after looking at smith wesson web page and wikpida and a older post on this forum. we now think its a model 36. it looks just like the pictures that "mward58" posted for his model 36. it has the same grips. not the ones with a diamond cut out around the screw hole, like on the s and w site. are all model 36 chief specials? if not how do you tell if it is one or not? thank you for your time.
rld

[tombogan03884]

Check this link, might help

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CustomContentDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=11101&content=25301&sectionId=10504

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