Smith And Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers Database _top_ Jun 2026

To prevent overlap, S&W introduced letter prefixes tied to specific frame sizes or variations:

: Small-frame revolvers like the Model 36 used specific prefix sequences, such as J1–J99999 from 1969 to 1970. 3. The Modern Alphanumeric System (1980–Present)

This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.

S&W has used a variety of serial number systems over the years, with changes occurring in response to production increases, model introductions, and other factors. The company's earliest serial numbers were simple sequential numbers, starting from 1 and incrementing with each firearm produced. As production volumes increased, S&W began using a more complex system, with serial numbers consisting of a combination of letters and numbers. smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database

If you don't own the Standard Catalog and need help identifying a specific model or date, you don't have to go it alone. The Smith & Wesson Forum features an incredibly active and knowledgeable community of collectors.

Method 1: The Smith & Wesson Factory Letter (Historical Certificate)

To organize production better, S&W began using letter prefixes. To prevent overlap, S&W introduced letter prefixes tied

For modern revolvers manufactured from 1980 to the present, you can simply call Smith & Wesson customer service directly. Provide them with your 3-letter, 4-digit serial number.

Below is a generalized database reference chart for some of S&W’s most popular frame configurations. K-Frame Revolvers (Models 10, 14, 15, 17, 19, etc.) C 1 – C 223,998 1948 – 1953: C 223,999 – C 277,554 1953 – 1961: C 277,555 – C 560,344 1961 – 1967: C 560,345 – C 999,999 1968 (Prefix change): D 1 – D 90,000 1970 – 1972: D 300,001 – D 420,000 1977 – 1978: 2D00001 – 4D99999 1980 (Transition): K000001 or 6D00001 onwards J-Frame Revolvers (Models 36, 37, 38, 49, 60, etc.) 1950 – 1952: 1 – 28,916 1955 – 1957: 55,000 – 117,770 1962 – 1969: 295,000 – 786,544 1969 – 1970: J1 – J99,999 1973 – 1974: 1J1 – 99J99 1982: 1J10000 onwards N-Frame Revolvers (Models 25, 27, 28, 29, 57, 629, etc.) 1946 – 1962 (S Prefix): S 62,489 – S 220,000 1962 – 1969 (S Prefix): S 220,001 – S 333,454 1969 – 1972 (N Prefix): N 1 – N 100,000 1975 – 1976: N 300,000 – N 399,999 1978 – 1980: N 500,000 – N 699,999 Modern Three-Letter Alphabetical System Era (All Frames) 1980: AAA, AAB, AAC, AAD 1983: ADE, ADF, ADG, ADM 1986: AHA, AHB, AHC, AHL 1990: BBA, BBB, BBF, BBN 1995: CAA, CAB, CAM, CBT 2000 onwards: DBA to SBA+ sequences 4. How to Verify Your S&W Production Date

Smith & Wesson offers an official archival service through the . For a fee, the factory historian searches the original handwritten corporate ledgers. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted

Smith & Wesson's serial numbering history is generally divided into three major eras. Knowing which era your revolver belongs to will drastically speed up your database search. 1. The Early Era (1852–1898)

During World War II, S&W produced the Victory Model, denoted by a "V" prefix. Shortly after the war, they introduced the "S" prefix (for "Safety Hammer Block" models) which began at S 811,120 in 1945 and ran into the early 1950s.

By cross-referencing these four pieces of information with the alphabetical and numerical prefixes outlined above, you can accurately narrow down the history and lineage of your Smith & Wesson revolver.