Question about S&W model 41 manufacture date

[ceasefire]

Does anyone out there know the year of manufacture on a Smith & Wesson model 41 with the serial number of 206XX? I don't want to pay Smith and Wesson $50.00 for a history, I just want to get the year of birth.

[Zman]

Well, just dug through the info from "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" ... the best I can give you:

Production started 1957. They are numbered with all the S&W autos, so all the early auto models are intertwined (39, 41, 44, 46, 52). This numbering went from 1401 in '57 to 115,000 in '70. They then went to the letter "A" prefix through March, 1984, and then switched to a 3-letter prefix. Mine is a TAExxxx.

So, a whole lot of trivia, and no more knowledge ;).

I'll go dig around some other places.

Z

[ceasefire]

Very much appreciated!

[10x]

It was my understanding that you could call S&W to ask them the year of manufacture and they would tell you over the phone, but no more info.

The fee comes into play when you want a letter from S&W to document the exact ship date and shipping destination and other info that they may have on file.

Colt will do the same thing.

[Zman]

I'll go dig around some other places.

Z

I can't find anything else. I'd give 10x's idea a shot.

z

[ceasefire]

It appears that Smith & Wesson is pushing work for their historians. I've called twice, and been given a best guess from the two different men I spoke to. They both seemed to be looking in some reference book.
The first said late 50s or early 60s. The second told me the mid-60s. The second also said that the early years are hard to pin point, and the only way to get the actual manufacture date is to go with the letter of authenticity from their historian. Oh, by the way, the first fellow said S&W first manufactured model 41s in 1954. I seem to remember that 1957 was the first year of manufacture. Go figure............
Anyway, being the Irish piker that I am, I'll go with 1963, the year I graduated from high school. I spent the 50 on a new set of grips instead.
Thank you both very much for taking the time to respond!