Smith and Wesson serial number search

[Nicks2005gto]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I found out it's a 28-3 model.
Highway Patrolman.
Can't wait to pick it up.
One day I'll pay the $50 and look up the history

[Ed 1]

I am new to this forum and am looking for a DOB for a 4" S & W K-22 Serial number K 187xxx. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[laytonj1]

I am new to this forum and am looking for a DOB for a 4" S & W K-22 Serial number K 187xxx. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

1953.

Jim

[Darsh]

Hello, I'm fairly new to this forum and would like any info on a S&W mod. 19-3 that I can get. Serial # is 1K51xxx. I am most curious though, about these markings on the crane.

Does the number 00150 mean it was 150 of 10000? I bought this from a coworker whose father was in the FBI for $100, so I was wondering how much it might be worth?

[oystermick]

I just picked up a beautiful nickel Chief's Special. I was curious about when it was made, called Smith, gave the guy the serial number and in less than 30 seconds he told me it was made in 1976. Simple and quick.

[laytonj1]

Hello, I'm fairly new to this forum and would like any info on a S&W mod. 19-3 that I can get. Serial # is 1K51xxx. I am most curious though, about these markings on the crane.

1971. The other numbers are just assembly numbers.
Value depends on condition and barrel length with the 2.5" barrel most desirable. Price can range from ~$300 to $500 for a 19-3.

Jim

[Darsh]

Thanks for the response layton. It is, in fact, a 2.5" barrel. Here is a pic of it I posted in another thread...

It has a fair amount of holster wear, especially on the cylinder, and the grips are not the original, but it shoots wonderfully.

[Tom Servo]

S&W 10-5, s/n C819xxx. Guessing 1962-63..?

[Ahki56]

We inherited a Smith and Wesson Military and Police Revolver from my father-in-law. We're interested in finding out when it was made. It has an S which I believe is the model type. The serial number is 932xxx. Thanks for any info you can supply.

[carguychris]

S&W 10-5, s/n C819xxx. Guessing 1962-63..?

1966-1967.

We inherited a Smith and Wesson Military and Police Revolver... It has an S which I believe is the model type. The serial number is 932xxx.

The "S" denotes a post-1944 "Safety" sliding hammer block rather than the earlier pivoting hammer block. The gun was made in late 1947 to early 1948, and has the distinction of being one of the last M&Ps with the so-called "long action" cocking mechanism; the hammer moves through a longer stroke as the gun is cocked and the hammer spur is mounted higher on the hammer. The switchover to the modern "short action" cocking mechanism occured at serial number S990184. Only ~180,000- 3 years' worth- postwar long action .38 M&Ps were made, making your gun a relative rarity as M&Ps are concerned.

[carguychris]

Short action, top, vs. long action, bottom. Notice the difference in the shape of the hammers, and that the firing pin on the long action gun is further back when cocked.

[Ahki56]

Thanks so much for the information! - Ahki

[Stella]

Just bought my first S&W model 10 today! The gun store owner said it was problaly a pre war one. The serial number is 357xx. can anyone tell me how old it is? Thanks!

[Stella]

anybody?

[carguychris]

Just bought my first S&W model 10 today! .... The serial number is 357xx.

Where are you finding this number? If it's inside the yoke cut under the model number, it's an assembly number, and you need to read the serial number off the butt- refer earlier in this thread.

If you're reading this number off the butt, it's a .38 Military & Police Model of 1902, 1st Change, manufactured in 1903 or 1904. If it's really this old, you must post some pictures.

[Stella]

yep I read it off the butt alright! wow I didn't think it was that old... Im really exited now! Ill post some pics and more info on the gun shortly!

[vytoland]

Pre-War N frame.

Year/Beginning Serial

1908….. 1-------------1926….. 25000
1909….. 2050----------1927….. 28500
1910….. 5000----------1928….. 29500
1911….. 7050----------1929….. 30000
1912….. 9100----------1930….. 34000
1913….. 11150---------1931….. 36000
1914….. 13200---------1932….. 38375
1915….. 15250---------1933….. 41200
1916….. 15500---------1934….. 43350
1917….. 16000---------1935….. 45500
1918-1919 None--------1936….. 47200
1920….. 16200---------1937….. 48700
1921….. 16300---------1938….. 52000
1922….. 18400---------1939….. 57200
1923….. 19600---------1940….. 59000
1924….. 20800---------1941….. 62350
1925….. 22000---------1942-1945 None

Post-War S Series N frames:

S62,489 – S67,999……..1946 - Early 1947
S68,000 – S71,999……….Late 1947 – Early 1948
S72,000 – S72,499……….Late 1948 - Early 1949
S72,500 – S74,999……….Late 1949 – Early 1950
S75,000 – S80,499……….Late 1950 – Early 1951
S80,500 – S85,999……….Late 1952 – Early 1952
S86,000 – S94,999…….…Late 1952 – Early 1953
S95,000 – S102,999…….Late 1953 – Early 1954
S103,000 – S139,999……Late 1954 – Early 1955*
S140,000 – S149,999….Late 1955 – Early 1956
S150,000 – S175,999……Late 1956 – Early 1957
S176,000 – S181,999……Late 1957 – Early 1958
S182,000 – S194,499……Late 1958 – Early 1959
S194,500 – S206.999……Late 1959 – Early 1960
S207,000 – S219,999……Late 1960 – Early 1961
S220,000 – S227,999……Late 1961 – Early 1962
S228,000 – S231,999……Late 1962 – Early 1963
S232,000 – S235.999……Late 1963 – Early 1964
S236,000 – S257,999……Late 1964 – Early 1965
S258,000 – S261,999……Late 1965 – Early 1966
S262,000 – S289,999……Late 1966 – Early 1967
S290,000 – S304,999……Late 1967 – Early 1968
S305,000 – S329,999……Late 1968 – Early 1969
S330,000 – S333,454……Late 1969 – Early 1970

*Note that a number of N frames with serials in the S138000-S140000 range (and the range may be wider either way) are seen that were shipped much later than the serial would suggest should be the case. In one known example a gun with serial S136431 was not shipped until June of 1958. It's possible that a large block of serial numbers that appear to be from 1954-55 were not actually used until 1957-58. It at least one case a gun has a 5-screw serial and was built as a 4-screw gun.


N Series N Frames:

N1 – N60,000………….......1970-72
N60,001 – N 190,000…...1972-74
N190,001 – N430,000…...1975 – 77
N430.001 – N 550,000…..1978
N550,001 – N580,000….. 1979
N580,001 – N790,000…...1980
N790,001 – N932,999...…1980-83

Post-War S Series K Frames:

S811,120 – S999,999…….1946 – 48

C Series K Frames: (Fixed Sight Models)

C1 - C233,999………….....1948 – 52
C236,004 – C261,483…….1953
C277,555 – C314,031….…1954 – 56
C402,924 – C405,018…….1957
C405,019 – C429,740…..1958 – 59
C429,741 – C474,148…….1960
C474,149 – C622,699…….1961 – 62
C622,700 – C810,532…….1963 – 65
C810,533 – C999,999…..1966 – 67

D Series K Frames: (Fixed Sight Models)

D1 – D90,000…………….....1968
D90,001 – D330,000……..1969 -70
D330,001 – D420,000………1971 – Early 72
D420,001 – D510,000………Late 1972 – Early 73
D510,001 – D659,901………Late 1973 – Early 1974
D659.902 – D75000………..Late 1974 – Early 1975
D750,001 – D870,000………Late 1975 – Early 1976
D870,001 – D999,999………Late 1976 – Early 1977
2D00001 - 2D80,000……….1977
2D80,001 – 2D99,999………1978
4D00001 – 6D10,000……….1979
6D10,0001 – 7D10,000……1980
7D10,001 – 9D44,500…..1981
9D44,501 – 17D8,900………1982
17D8,901 – 21D0883……….1983

K Series K Frames (Adjustable Sight Models)

K101 – K614……………......1946
K615 – K18,731…………....1947
K18,732 – K73,121……..…1948
K73,122 – K84,149……..…1949
K84,150 – K104,047…...1950
K104,048 – K136,690...1951
K136,691 – K175,637...1952
K175,638 – K210,095...1953
K210,096 – K231,255...1954
K231,256 – K266,154...1955
K266,155 – K288,988...1956
K288,989 – K317,822...1957
K317,823 – K350,547...1958
K350,548 – K386,804...1959
K386,805 – K429,894...1960
K429,895 – K468,098...1961
K468,099 – K515,478...1962
K515,479 – K553,999....1963
K555,000 – K605.877....1964
K605,878 – K658.986....1965
K658,987 – K715,996....1966
K715,997 – K779.162....1967
K779,163 – K848,781....1968
K848,782 – K946,391....1969
K946,382 – K999,999....1970
1K1 – 1K39,500.........1970
2K1 – 2K22.037.........1970
1K39,501 – 1K999,999...1971
2K22,038 – 2K55,996....1971
3K1 – 3K73,962.........1971
2K55,997 – 2K99,999....1972
3K31,280 – 5K6,616.....1972
4K1 – 4K1,627..........1972
4K1,628 – 4K54,104.....1973
5K6,617 – 5K73,962.....1973
4K54,105 – 4K99,999....1974
5K73,963 – 6K58,917....1974
7K1 – 7K26,043.........1974
7K26,044 – 7K70,577....1975
6K98,918 – 8K20,763....1975
8K20,764 – 9K1.........1975
8K20,000 – 9K100,000...1975
9K1,001 – 9K99,999.....1976
10K001 – 24K9,999......1977
25K001 – 56K9,999......1978 – 79
57K001 – 91K6,800......1980
91K6,801 – 124K000.....1981
125K000 – 269K9,999....1982
270K000 – 311K273......1983

1980 Three-Letter Prefix Series Begins at AAA000
__________________

[laytonj1]

And here's a repost for the most common J frame models.

Early J frame serial numbers for models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50 and pre model number versions.

1950 = start at 1
1952 = 7369 - 21342
1953 = 28916
1955 = 55050 - 75000
1957 = 117770 - 125000
1962 = starts at 295000
1969 = ends at 786544

J serial Prefix serial numbers.
For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50.

1969-1970 = J1 - J99999
1971-1972 = 1J1 - 999J99
1973-1974 = J100000 - J250000
1975-1976 = J250001 - J370000
1976-1977 = J370001 - J610000
1977-1978 = J610001 - J670000
1979-1980 = J670001 - J760000
1981 = J760001 - J915400
1982 = J915401 - 1J18600
1983 = 1J18601 - 1JXXXX

1955 - 4 screw side plate ends
1957 - stamping of model number at 125000
1966 - flat latch ends
1968 - diamond grips end
1975 - heavy barrel standard
1982 - end pinned barrel

Jim

[Stella]

made a new thread for pics

[Tom Servo]

S&W M&P (pre-Model 10). 2" round butt, s/n 430xxx, no letter prefix.

[carguychris]

S&W M&P (pre-Model 10). 2" round butt, s/n 430xxx, no letter prefix.

It's a Model of 1905 4th Change, built sometime between 1915 and 1942. However, the 430xxx s/n is in the Depression-era timeframe when S&W was assembling guns from stockpiled parts with no regards to maintaining the serial number order. The only way you'll get a build date for this gun is to letter it.

BTW does the 2" barrel appear to be original? Original prewar M&P snubbies seem less common than their postwar cousins, but many, many of them have had their barrels cut.

[Tom Servo]

BTW does the 2" barrel appear to be original? Original prewar M&P snubbies seem less common than their postwar cousins, but many, many of them have had their barrels cut

Yeah the CofS&W gave it a pretty wide date range. It's a customer's gun, so I'll take a closer look at the barrel next time I see it. I didn't think to check, but if the tang is serrated, it's post 1923. I figured it would fall in the 1930's, given the serial #.

Thanks!

[southjerseyboy]

Just purchased a used Model 66-5 with a 6" barrel. 357 Mag.

Serial # is CDW8XXX

Can someone let me know its year?

My first S&W, first revolver. I am very pleased with it. I took it to the range last weekend--First time with 38 Sp ammo--had a ton of fun, and I didn't shoot it half badly, either!

Thanks, folks!

[dalecooper51]

Just purchased a used Model 66-5 with a 6" barrel. 357 Mag.

Serial # is CDW8XXX

Can someone let me know its year?

My first S&W, first revolver. I am very pleased with it. I took it to the range last weekend--First time with 38 Sp ammo--had a ton of fun, and I didn't shoot it half badly, either!

Thanks, folks!

CDW would be Jan 2000

[southjerseyboy]

Thank you very much!