Smith and Wesson serial number search

C

carguychris

New member
+1 on the SCSW; for the best photos, make sure you get the 3rd edition, the one currently in print. Supposedly one of the main changes in comparison to the previous editions is an increased number of color photos. There are several color photos on almost every page. :)

Regarding using at as a buyer's guide, the only problem is that the book is SO comprehensive that it can cause information overload. It's also a little too big to lug to the gun store or gun show. Maybe Supica and Nahas could produce an abridged pocket edition. ;)
 
W

wylekylote

New member
S&W 36 Date of Manufacture

Ok, here's one I just picked up. Smith and Wesson Model 36 (no dash) with adjustable sights with Serial # 391XXX. Help dating the gun would be appreciated.
 
C

carguychris

New member
Was my dad's - serial number 55XXX - believe it is a model 10?? He was a cop in the 50-80's...
Click to expand...
What's the caliber and, if you know it, the frame size?

If in doubt about the caliber, please transcribe the barrel inscription exactly as it appears. Some of the older inscriptions can be confusing in relation to modern terminology. If there are any other inscriptions on the barrel, those are helpful too. Also, if in doubt about the frame size, tell us the number of rounds it holds.
 
O

oneounceload

Moderator
if not a K, what else might it be? was used by NYPD....just found out my dad's off-duty Colt was made in 1928, obviously he bought it used, since he was born in 1925.....

any help is appreciated....
 
C

carguychris

New member
Was my dad's - serial number 55XXX - believe it is a model 10?? He was a cop in the 50-80's...
Click to expand...
If it's a K-frame, it's a .38 Military & Police Model of 1902 1st Change, built 1903-1904. This will be a round-butt gun with a 4-screw frame; it actually predates the well-known 5-screw frame. It will have a very thin round blade front sight, an unshrouded ejector rod, and a barrel inscription that reads ".38 S&W SPECIAL CTG. & U.S. SERVICE CTG.", the second referring to the .38 Long Colt.

Given the dates of your father's police service, IMHO the gun is more likely to be a .38/44 Heavy Duty. This is an N-frame (large) square-butt gun with a shrouded ejector rod, fixed sights, and a barrel inscription that reads ".38 S&W SPECIAL CTG." This gun was chambered for a cartridge called the .38/44 S&W Special aka .38 Special High Velocity, which was an early response by S&W to the perceived inadequacy of the .38Spl as a defensive round; it's essentially the equivalent of a modern .38Spl+P and a predecessor to the .357 Magnum. .38/44 HDs were sold to a number of law enforcement agencies. The serial number puts it in the 1930-1941 range, but as with other Depression-era S&Ws, you need to get it lettered to get a precise date.
 
K

kamerer

New member
Yo - Oneounceload - I'm here to support Carguychris:

The thing he didn't mention, is that until 1980, S&W used the same number runs on different guns. If it was a different caliber, or frame size, it could have the same s/n. So he's not being a doof when he asks about size, pics, etc. to ID the gun. It's really that complicated with S&W's. If you can just get a pic of the gun, both sides, and as many as possible, and the number, that will help. Also, there were letter prefixes that dictated the S/N - but not right in front of them. The "S" or "C" or other might be a few spaces in front of the number.

Hope this helps; S&W IDs take some effort. Carguychris isn't string you out, just trying to be correct.
 
O

oneounceload

Moderator
here's some pics - when putting the original grips back on for these, I noticed two more sets of numbers - one on the bottom of the grips, and one on the backstrap - I am assuming the backstrap is NYPD' number - could the ones on the bottom be the actual serial number?, and if so, what is the number I gave previously from the crane?

Thanks again, and I apologize in advance if these are too big

SW001.jpg


SW003.jpg
 
O

oneounceload

Moderator
OOPs - guess I should have put that number from the bottom of the grip: C 132XXX; the right side has 3 screws visible on the side plate and one on the front of the trigger guard, marked "38 S&W Special CTG"; left side just has the "Smith & Wesson".

Thanks!
 
C

carguychris

New member
The number inside the crane is the assembly number, which is arbitrary; refer to the discussion earlier in this thread.

The definitive place for the serial number on a S&W is either the bottom of the grip frame or the frontstrap, whichever is present. S&W also stamped the serial number in other places on some older models (such as under the extractor star or inside the yoke), but this varies from model to model.

Your father's gun is a .38 Military & Police "Pre Model 10" made in the late 40s to mid 50s. It has the 5-screw frame; the 5th screw is under the stocks. The "C" prefix denotes the 3rd millionth series of .38 M&P production. :cool: I don't have my SCSW handy, so I'll have to look up a more precise year of production later, if someone else doesn't chime in first. :)
 
K

kamerer

New member
Chris won't find a better date in the SCSW, but we can narrow it a little bit. The defining features are the "short action" hammer and "C" prefix s/n (post spring 1948) and the stocks (grips - "stocks" in S&W speak). They are the lovely "high shoulder" type that ended in 1952. "C" started in spring '48, and ended at a million in '68. But they hit the 250,000 number in 1953 (they were making up for war-time shortages and the post-war boom in those years). Assuming even production ( a big assumption, mind you), that should be about alate 1950 or early 1951. The only way to be more precise is to get a "factory letter" from S&W's in-house historian. A super-bargain at $35. Since it's your dad's gun, and he's likely the original owner, that would be worth doing.

It's in great shape for a police gun - maybe 80/85% w/o any pitting and grips in like condition. "By the book" it's likely a $250 or $300 gun tops, but the NYPD history should add value to it. I now you likely aren't shopping it around, but thought I'd throw that in. Get the factory letter so you can hand it down to someone with the document and all original. Very neat!
 
O

oneounceload

Moderator
Thanks again for all of "youse guys" help....amazing how those grips are smoooooth on the left side and sharp on the right - as a LH, he must have had his hand on them readily - I know he fired ONE shot on duty in 33 years...a warning shot from that gun....gonna get that letter......
 
C

carguychris

New member
....amazing how those grips are smoooooth on the left side and sharp on the right - as a LH, he must have had his hand on them readily -
Click to expand...
Cops' guns often have the outside stock worn down from wearing seatbelts, banging against doorframes and walls, sitting in chairs, etc., and the wear is usually on the RH side. Your father's gun has the wear on the "wrong" side because he was a southpaw. :)
 
B

blackone

New member
Smith & Wesson 41 Born On Date

I recently purchased a mint condition, used S&W 41. I'm on a tight budget and can't afford the $35 S&W book. Would anyone be kind enough to look up my gun's manufacture date for me? SN UAE9xxx.

Just got back from Borders and looked at a copy of the S&W manual, 3rd edition. The only mention I saw of a serial number starting with prefix "U" was UAM, manufactured in 1997. I assume that UAE was manufactured around the same time?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top