Find a copy of James Spacek's book
Go to Proofhouse.com
You can look that up here http://oldguns.net/sn_php/marlinlookup.php
The Blue Book of Gun Values has a listing of Winchester Model 101 manufacture years by serial number. This listing, though, ends in 1971 and the Model 101 continued in production for many years after that.
The J. C. Higgins name was only put on guns through 1941-1962. It could have serial numbers located next to the trigger on the bottom plate, but a magority don't. In any case though you can take the model numbers (examples 583.10, 101.387) and cross reference to find who made it. Then when you have model numbers and production dates you will have a general idea. I actually found the date of manufacture on my model 50 270win. On the other hand I can only guess on my model 20 because it has no serial #'s. It was made by High standard and somewhere from 1945-1952. The model 20 will have no serial numbers. After 1957, High Standard made model 20's will have an assembly date code on the barrel in the form of two upper case letters. The Model 20 was made between 1948 and 1962. http://www.histandard.info/PDF/Sears%20Shotguns.pdf
You posted this under the Iver Johnson topic and that company made a lot of revolvers in Fitchburg, which isn't far from Chicopee Falls. The only arms maker I find in Chicopee is Stevens, but I have no records of a Stevens revolver. Are you sure it is not a tip-up pistol?
Find a copy of James Spacek's book
James Spacek book on Hi-Standard
Buy one of the books that has published serial numbers for that particular pistol.
Post the serial number or find a copy of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson.
The best reference is The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 3rd ed. by Supica and Nahas
If you provide the serial number in your question then I can give you the date of manufacture.
By it's serial number.Go to proofhouse.com to find the date of manufacture.
If you would post the serial number and model number,I can give you a date of manufacture.
If it has the 17 digit vin, the 10th digit is the code date of manufacture.
This number falls onto a 1964 "HIGH STANDERD" pistol.
serial #
Newer S&W revolvers have the model number stamped on the frame,above the serial number. The date of manufacture will be in one of the many reference books about S&W firearms. Check Amazon.com.