Smith And Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers Database -

Inside the right grip panel (written in pencil on vintage wood) 2. The Evolution of Smith & Wesson Serial Numbers

Visit the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation or the S&W factory website.

Firearm laws and serial number regulations vary by jurisdiction. This article is for educational and historical research purposes. Always verify the legal status of any firearm with local and federal authorities. The author and publisher do not provide legal advice.

On older models with a ejector rod shroud, look at the flat underside of the barrel. smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database

Stamped on the side of the barrel (e.g., .38 S&W Special, .357 Magnum).

Smith & Wesson's numbering system changed significantly over the decades:

While an exact "database" isn't available online, historians have documented key ranges for popular frames: Smith & Wesson Serial Numbers Inside the right grip panel (written in pencil

. You can explore historical, in-depth data at Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

During and after WWII, S&W introduced letter prefixes to differentiate models and control production series.

Some examples of Smith & Wesson revolver serial numbers and their corresponding production dates: This article is for educational and historical research

It is common to mistake "assembly numbers" for the official serial number. On an S&W revolver, the official serial number is always located on the bottom of the grip frame (butt) Smith & Wesson : You may need to remove wrap-around grips to see it. Alpha Prefixes

To see how these systems work, here is a practical example of dating a common S&W revolver, the J-frame Model 36.