Developing a comprehensive S&W revolver serial numbers database requires a significant amount of research, data collection, and verification. Some of the challenges involved in creating such a database include:
Used for medium K-frame revolvers (e.g., Model 10, Model 15, Model 19). The "K" prefix ran out of digits in 1948, prompting the "C" prefix, followed later by "D".
: It includes nearly 1,000 models and lists serial number ranges for each year of manufacture. Availability : You can find it at major retailers like Gun Digest Store Official & Historical Alternatives Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation (S&WHF) : If you need official verification, you can request a Letter of Authenticity
If you can tell me the and serial number (including any letters), I can help you find its estimated manufacturing date . Share public link smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database
Because sequences restarted for different models, a Model 10 and a Model 36 could technically share the same numeric serial number.
Found inside the frame crane (applicable for guns made after 1957).
Understanding the Smith & Wesson (S&W) serial number system is an exercise in tracing nearly 170 years of industrial history. Unlike modern standardized databases, the S&W records are a complex tapestry of sequential numbers, model-specific prefixes, and historical overlaps that require both official documentation and dedicated collector research to navigate. The Evolution of Serialization : It includes nearly 1,000 models and lists
: A number like "Mod 66-2" signifies the design model and engineering revision, not the unique serial number.
To summarize: The best is not a single website—it’s a combination of the SWHF (for official letters), the Standard Catalog (for ranges), and collector forums (for nuance). Whether you’re dating a 1917 Army model or a modern 686 Plus, the serial number is your fingerprint. Learn to read it, treat it carefully, and the history of your revolver will unfold like a finely tuned cylinder rotating into battery.
This is where most people get confused. S&W did not serialize sequentially across all models. For example, in 1955, a K-frame revolver (Model 15) might have serial number K300000 while an N-frame (Model 27) had serial number S150000. A good database separates by frame size and model family . Found inside the frame crane (applicable for guns
You will also see a 4-digit or 5-digit number here. These are not serial numbers. Assembly numbers were used during factory manufacturing to keep fitted parts together before finishing. Other Historical Locations (Pre-WWII Revolvers)
The absolute authority for any S&W serial number is the bottom of the grip frame.