When did S&W put the serial number on the grips?

Carmady · July 22, 2019, 07:22 PM

I looked and couldn't find. I've read about some S&W's with grips "numbered to the gun," sometimes numbered in pencil, sometimes stamped.

On K-frames, is there any type of pattern as to when and/or how the grips were numbered?

105kw · July 22, 2019, 11:33 PM

The number should be stamped inside on the right grip panel.

Smith&Wesson stopped serial numbering the grips mid to late 1970s.

Smith started numbering grips of the M&P in 1899, when production started.

Carmady · July 23, 2019, 05:50 AM

Thanks a lot.

highpower3006 · July 24, 2019, 10:45 AM

Early grips were numbered in pencil. Sometime before WWII they started stamping the numbers, but I don't know exactly when. My 1917 vintage .455 MkII has them in pencil and on my 1942 Victory model they are stamped.

Carmady · July 24, 2019, 09:02 PM

So original 1950s - late 1970s grips should be stamped on the right grip panel. Thanks. That's what I was wanting to find out.

highpower3006 · July 25, 2019, 05:18 PM

I should also mention that the reason they put the serial number on the grips was because they were closely fitted to the gun before it went to final finishing. Since target grips didn't have to be so closely fitted, they weren't numbered.

July 22, 2019, 07:22 PM	#1
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,736	When did S&W put the serial number on the grips? I looked and couldn't find. I've read about some S&W's with grips "numbered to the gun," sometimes numbered in pencil, sometimes stamped. On K-frames, is there any type of pattern as to when and/or how the grips were numbered?

July 22, 2019, 11:33 PM	#2
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 516	The number should be stamped inside on the right grip panel. Smith&Wesson stopped serial numbering the grips mid to late 1970s. Smith started numbering grips of the M&P in 1899, when production started.

July 23, 2019, 05:50 AM	#3
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,736	Thanks a lot.

July 24, 2019, 10:45 AM	#4
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,221	Early grips were numbered in pencil. Sometime before WWII they started stamping the numbers, but I don't know exactly when. My 1917 vintage .455 MkII has them in pencil and on my 1942 Victory model they are stamped.

July 24, 2019, 09:02 PM	#5
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,736	So original 1950s - late 1970s grips should be stamped on the right grip panel. Thanks. That's what I was wanting to find out.

July 25, 2019, 05:18 PM	#6
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,221	I should also mention that the reason they put the serial number on the grips was because they were closely fitted to the gun before it went to final finishing. Since target grips didn't have to be so closely fitted, they weren't numbered.