Smith And Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers Database Page

Finding the manufacture date for a Smith & Wesson revolver requires identifying the "serial number of record," as these firearms often feature multiple internal numbers. While Smith & Wesson does not provide a public, searchable online database, collectors rely on physical references and historical services for accurate dating.  Locating the Correct Serial Number 

Note: Numbers found inside the crane or yoke may sometimes be "assembly numbers" used during manufacturing and are not the official serial number. General Serial Number Patterns smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database

• Best for: NOS (New Old Stock) verification and rare variations. You can also post your serial number (e.g., "C 123456") and veteran collectors will give you a date within hours.
• Pro Tip: Use the forum’s search function. Type in your serial number prefix (e.g., "K frame serial 1K1234") to see previously discussed guns.

• Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (by Supica & Nahas) – The gold standard. Contains serial number tables by model, dash numbers, engineering changes, and production year ranges.
• History of Smith & Wesson (by Roy Jinks) – Written by the company’s former historian; includes early serial number data.

1968–1980: Following the Gun Control Act of 1968, serial numbers became more standardized, often featuring a letter followed by 5 or 6 digits (e.g., "K" for K-frames). Finding the manufacture date for a Smith &

This is not a public searchable online database, but a request-driven archival service. Best for: NOS (New Old Stock) verification and

1. No Letter Prefix (Pre-1899 to ~1940s): Early S&W revolvers used only numeric serials (e.g., 12345). These are often antiques and may not require an FFL for transfer depending on federal law.
2. "S" Prefix (1945–1948): S&W used an "S" prefix on the serial number immediately following WWII.
3. "C" Prefix (1948–1967): This was used on the popular Military & Police / Model 10 series.
4. "K" Prefix (Since 1946): Used on the K-frame series (Models 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19).
5. "J" Prefix (Since ~1952): Used on small-frame revolvers (Models 36, 37, 60, etc.).
6. "N" Prefix (Since 1969): Used on large-frame revolvers (Models 27, 28, 29, etc.).
7. Three-Letter Prefix (1980s–Present): In the 1980s, S&W exhausted single-letter prefixes and moved to three-letter codes (e.g., ABC1234).

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The Smith & Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers Database: History, Utility, and Research Applications