Why would this Pre 29 Have Two Serial Numbers

[PT-Partners]

Okay. Question for you with much more knowledge than what little I have

The serial number on the frame by the cylinder is S1818482, and on the Cylinder S181842 and under the ejector is S181482
The serial number on the Butt of the gun is S182255

Any ideas out there

[brick]

The serial number on the butt of the gun is the serial number. The numbers on the frame are assembly numbers only.

[armorer951]

Under the yoke looks like S181482. Not sure about the discrepancy, unless the frame number under the yoke is just a "work number", or assembly number as noted above. Does the number under the yoke appear anywhere else.....like on the grip frame perhaps?

[PT-Partners]

That same S181482 is on the Cylinder, and under the ejector star Are the pictures legible

[murphydog]

Both the serial number in the yoke cutout and the bottom of the grip frame look factory stamped, and they should match but don't; and the cylinder and extractor number to the yoke number. Is there an assembly number on the side of the grip frame, and does it match the one on the yoke?

The only two possibilities to me would be - someone welded up the numbered grip frame of another gun to S181482, or even less likely the factory (re) stamped a different serial number to the grip frame than on the rest of the parts.

[Gunhacker]

I would give S&W a call, explain what you have and ask if they can check the serial numbers to see what they come up with for the gun model and features they are associated with in their records, to see which one matches your gun.

If the gun match is with the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame, that's the one that counts with the BATF as the official serial number of record. But, if it's the reverse, and the serial number on the grip frame butt does not match your gun's description, then it's "Houston... I think we have a problem".

All that can be done here is people speculating about what may have or not occurred.

Go straight to the horse's mouth and check.

[PT-Partners]

The assembly match on the frame and the yoke.

[PT-Partners]

I am guessing as you wisely mentioned this is right at the transition of all of these. So there a speculation is a miss match and I will contact S&W. Also I may send it with a friend to the S&W Collector's meeting in Tulsa next week I think. Something to do a show and tell with

[beagleye]

Glitch in the matrix?

[mh51]

I have to agree....the mis-match serial number on the bottom of the grip frame is weird. Maybe, when Doc44 sees this, he can give an answer. He's the expert on all the variations of the 29's.

[stansdds]

And when you think you've seen it all... That is just bizarre.

[StrawHat]

Prior to stamping Model numbers in the cut, the only place for a serial number was on the grip frame. Given the age of the revolver in the OP, the other numbers are superfluous. However, I have never seen assembly numbers in that format. Curious.

Kevin

[bwade]

I searched your serial number and Roy has this number listed as "open on the records" posted on the collector's association side of this forum. I am not sure what that means, but there were a handful of these listed that way. Hope that helps you.

[mikepriwer]

"Open on the records" means hat the gun did not leave the factory via the shipping department, who would have recorded the shipment in the shipping records, when they shipped the gun. The shipping records are the key to most other records.

If you are a member of S&WCA you should contract Roy and explain what you have. Also you should contact Bill Cross with the same information. The legal serial number is on the butt of the frame. I think the numbers on the cylinder and barrel are not assembly numbers, but those of another gun, which suggests that the gun may have been built in the service department from some spare parts, and then may have been given to someone.

Regards, Mike Priwer

[mojave30cal]

Or....it was stamped on a Monday, and the person doing the
serial number stampings was hung over. Whatever you do,
do not send it back to S&W. They will confiscate it because it
has more than one serial number. They did that to me when
I sent a 681 in for modification. It had two different serial
numbers, one on the butt, and one in the yoke area.

[moosedog]

Maybe a put together from two damaged guns? Or a lunch box special?

[Loyaljeeper]

I also agree that the repeated serial number on the yoke, cylinder, and barrel is in serial number format and not an assembly number. This is a weird one. Ironically, the bottom of the grip contains the legal serial number.

[Hair Trigger]

Originally Posted by brick

The serial number on the butt of the gun is the serial number. The numbers on the frame are assembly numbers only.

I'm curious to know, when these guns were built, at what point in production was the bottom of the butt stamped with the SN? Did the frame start down the line with that number already on the frame (and with or without the supposedly matching number in the yoke cut), or was the yoke cut number done first, with all its matching numbered parts, and the completed gun then stamped with the number on the butt?

Since all the matched parts, including the assembly numbers, are the same, and the butt stamped SN is different, could it just be a miss-stamped SN on the butt?

[Jim Watson]

I suggest a parts gun.
Bubba put on a different barrel and cylinder, then stamped their serial number under the yoke because that was where he thought it was supposed to be based on looking at newer guns.

[Doc44]

I believe the butt serial number is stamped first and the serial number stamped in the yoke cut, sometimes on the rear surface of the cylinder, and on the underside of the extractor should agree with it. However, in this case it does not and is most likely a factory error. I doubt if the final quality check would compare the serial number on the butt with the serial number in the yoke cut to make sure they agree.

Bill

[Club Gun Fan]

Originally Posted by Hair Trigger

I'm curious to know, when these guns were built, at what point in production was the bottom of the butt stamped with the SN? Did the frame start down the line with that number already on the frame (and with or without the supposedly matching number in the yoke cut), or was the yoke cut number done first, with all its matching numbered parts, and the completed gun then stamped with the number on the butt?

Since all the matched parts, including the assembly numbers, are the same, and the butt stamped SN is different, could it just be a miss-stamped SN on the butt?

The serial number was stamped on the butt first. Thats the only number that matters.

[Jim Watson]

Originally Posted by Doc44

I believe the butt serial number is stamped first and the serial number stamped in the yoke cut, sometimes on the rear surface of the cylinder, and on the underside of the extractor should agree with it. However, in this case it does not and is most likely a factory error. I doubt if the final quality check would compare the serial number on the butt with the serial number in the yoke cut to make sure they agree.

Bill

Now maybe.
My .357 #S 139136 does not have the serial number on the frame under the yoke. Butt, barrel, cylinder, extractor, si; yoke cut, no.
I take that to have been the standard during the 1950s.

Strangely, my Outdoorsman #S 140694 does not have the serial number anyplace besides the bottom of the butt. Not on barrel or cylinder or extractor or yoke cut at all.

[Doc44]

The serial number was not stamped in the yoke cut until the Soft Fitting Department was eliminated in May 1957.

Bill

[Jim Watson]

What SN on the bill of sale and registration?
There are an awful lot of older target grip Smiths on the books by the fitting number.

[Club Gun Fan]

The serial number on the butt is the ONLY number that matters.

[Jim Watson]

It is the only number that matters to the BATF.

All that other stuff is an intriguing mystery to Smith owners.


A friend worked at the pawn & gun shop. A customer came in with a filed S&W. Friend gave him a few bucks on it and provided his ID to the BATF.
He was also able to point out the serial number at one of the non-official locations and at that time they were willing to return it to the owner it was stolen from.

[29-1]

Originally Posted by Club Gun Fan

The serial number was stamped on the butt first. That's the only number that matters.

Don say that one more time please!
Chuck