S&W serial numbers

brucegodlesky · 06-22-2008, 06:22 AM

Is there anywhere online where i can research vintage S&W serial numbers? I've acquired an old pocket pistol and was curious as to the age . Thanks . bruce

pajaro · 06-26-2008, 03:00 AM

not sure yet.... am looking..... i do know that you can tell what years the model was manufactured..... gives you some larger time bracket, i suppose..... what model is it and in what calibre? .......

rfc357 · 06-27-2008, 08:27 AM

Don't know about the internet, but I have a book. I have been pretty successful in finding dates for old Smiths. Tell me the caliber, identifying marks, serial number. Leave out the last couple of digits if you like, but include x's. Like 1234xxx. I need to know how many digits in the serial number to do this right. Top break or swing-out? A picture is very helpful.

By the way, some Smiths have a lot of numbers on them. The serial number is usually on the bottom of the grip frame. You may have to remove the grips to see it.

I don't know how "old" your gun is. Sometimes people think a gun is "old" when it was made in my lifetime. I don't think I'm "old." But if the gun is a swing-out and has a model number on the frame under the crane, include that also.

pajaro · 06-28-2008, 01:51 AM

without a model number, we cant even give the years that model is made..... i cannot find a comprehensive source for s&w serial #'s.... some sources say in fact that the numbers are duplicated and confusing..... i have found some other sources that say you can contact smith & wesson for veriication , but that may be for rare or special firearms only......... does any one else have any info on the s&w question? for winchester and remington, info is readily available..... what about s & w?.......

vonfatman · 06-28-2008, 10:58 AM

This is the book.
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Jim Supica, Richard Nahas (2007) about $25.00

This is S&W's customer service number:
800-331-0852 then 7
They can generally get you a date of manuf. during business hours or you can request a letter from S&W for $35.00

I don't know of an on-line resource.

If you had provided the gun's serial number, I would expect you would have an answer already. Many have the book and would have looked it up for you.

Here's another resource:

Smith & Wesson Forum
S&W Revolvers 1857 to 1945 - Forum Powered by eve community

rfc357 · 06-30-2008, 08:56 AM

pajaro, the great majority of Smiths made before 1957 did not have model numbers. It is still relatively easy to determine model and vintage (at least approximately) from serial number and other identifying characteristics such as caliber. A picture is a great help, as minor features changed over the years (pinned vs. forged front sights, left had thread vs. right hand thread on ejector rods, etc.). It can be a fun little detective puzzle.

vonfatman is spot on. Supica's book is my primary reference. It still can be a little tough to nail down a specific year without a factory letter, because Smith did not always produce guns in serial number order.

brucegodlesky · 07-18-2008, 02:32 PM

Here is a picture of my S&W. This is a "lemon squeezer"??
5 shot, top break. Looks to be a .32. Serial number on the bottom of the grip is 82xxx.
Thanks guys!

brucegodlesky · 07-29-2008, 11:03 AM

bttt

06-22-2008, 06:22 AM	#1
brucegodlesky Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Armstrong County Pa Posts: 10	S&W serial numbers Is there anywhere online where i can research vintage S&W serial numbers? I've acquired an old pocket pistol and was curious as to the age . Thanks . bruce

06-26-2008, 03:00 AM	#2
pajaro Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: newcastle, california Posts: 109	date of manufacture not sure yet.... am looking..... i do know that you can tell what years the model was manufactured..... gives you some larger time bracket, i suppose..... what model is it and in what calibre? .......

06-27-2008, 08:27 AM	#3
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	Don't know about the internet, but I have a book. I have been pretty successful in finding dates for old Smiths. Tell me the caliber, identifying marks, serial number. Leave out the last couple of digits if you like, but include x's. Like 1234xxx. I need to know how many digits in the serial number to do this right. Top break or swing-out? A picture is very helpful. By the way, some Smiths have a lot of numbers on them. The serial number is usually on the bottom of the grip frame. You may have to remove the grips to see it. I don't know how "old" your gun is. Sometimes people think a gun is "old" when it was made in my lifetime. I don't think I'm "old." But if the gun is a swing-out and has a model number on the frame under the crane, include that also. __________________ Certified rifle and pistol instructor Last edited by rfc357; 06-27-2008 at 08:30 AM.

06-28-2008, 01:51 AM	#4
pajaro Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: newcastle, california Posts: 109	s & w serial number.... without a model number, we cant even give the years that model is made..... i cannot find a comprehensive source for s&w serial #'s.... some sources say in fact that the numbers are duplicated and confusing..... i have found some other sources that say you can contact smith & wesson for veriication , but that may be for rare or special firearms only......... does any one else have any info on the s&w question? for winchester and remington, info is readily available..... what about s & w?.......

06-30-2008, 08:56 AM	#6
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	pajaro, the great majority of Smiths made before 1957 did not have model numbers. It is still relatively easy to determine model and vintage (at least approximately) from serial number and other identifying characteristics such as caliber. A picture is a great help, as minor features changed over the years (pinned vs. forged front sights, left had thread vs. right hand thread on ejector rods, etc.). It can be a fun little detective puzzle. vonfatman is spot on. Supica's book is my primary reference. It still can be a little tough to nail down a specific year without a factory letter, because Smith did not always produce guns in serial number order. __________________ Certified rifle and pistol instructor

06-28-2008, 10:58 AM	#5
vonfatman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2	This is the book. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Jim Supica, Richard Nahas (2007) about $25.00 This is S&W's customer service number: 800-331-0852 then 7 They can generally get you a date of manuf. during business hours or you can request a letter from S&W for $35.00 I don't know of an on-line resource. If you had provided the gun's serial number, I would expect you would have an answer already. Many have the book and would have looked it up for you. Here's another resource: Smith & Wesson Forum S&W Revolvers 1857 to 1945 - Forum Powered by eve community

07-29-2008, 11:03 AM	#8
brucegodlesky Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Armstrong County Pa Posts: 10	bttt