Ultimate Guide to Smith & Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers Locating and decoding a Smith & Wesson (S&W) revolver serial number is the only way to accurately determine its model, production year, and frame type. Because Smith & Wesson has changed its numbering systems multiple times since 1857, tracking down these details can be challenging.
Built for the war effort, these revolvers feature a V or VS prefix.
Three letters followed by four numbers (e.g., AAA0000 to ZZZ9999 ).
If your serial number falls on a boundary line or you want absolute historical verification, there are three primary methods to safely check your gun's origins: smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database
A massive community of experts often helps owners date their firearms for free if they provide the serial number (typically with the last two digits "X'd out" for privacy). Unique Marking: The Star (☆)
Does your database entry match the gun? If your database says the serial number range was for 4-inch heavy barrels, but your gun has a 2-inch tapered barrel, you have either a rare variant or a mismatched gun.
According to the database, your revolver shipped in approximately November 1957 . It is a "Pre-Model 10" or early "Model 10 no-dash." Ultimate Guide to Smith & Wesson Revolver Serial
Prior to 1940, S&W used multiple, overlapping numerical sequences for different models. A serial number like 50000 could correspond to a .38 Military & Police revolver, a .32 Hand Ejector, or a .44 Special N-frame. This makes identification based purely on a number from this era very difficult without a physical description of the gun.
There is no single "Smith and Wesson revolver serial numbers database" that instantly provides an answer for every model. The true database is a combination of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson for broad estimates, the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation's factory letter for definitive provenance, and the collective knowledge of dedicated online forums.
Use this as a mini-database for immediate identification: Three letters followed by four numbers (e
Written by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas, this is affectionately known as "The Bible." It contains the most comprehensive serial number tables ever published. While it is a physical book (now in its 4th edition), it is the source from which most online databases pull their data.
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