The Std Catalog of S&W states that S&w started to identify their products with a model number stamped in the yoke. I have heard this was to participate in govt contracts. Hearsay?
If you think for even a few seconds about this you will realize that neither scenario is valid. Colt continued to sell guns to the Gov't and never assigned model numbers for just one example. Likewise, if it had anything to do with ATF regulations ALL manufacturers would have had the same requirement.
No, it was nothing more than an administrative decision by S&W management.
Model number stamping
Linear Mode
