In the early part of 1990 I bought a 5906 as a duty gun. The serial number was TEM22xx. A few years later a sergeant in the department and I were talking and he was telling me he had a S&W .44 magnum. At that time I did not yet have a .44 and coveted one. He brought it in one day to let me handle it to see if it was still something I wanted to pursue. I seem to recall it being a stainless model, so it was some variant of the 629. Upon closer inspection I was amazed to see it also had the serial number of TEM22xx.

I do realize it was the mid nineties when I saw the serial number on the 629, but I absolutely remember the serial number of the first gun I ever bought (the 5906) and I remember being very surprised a 5906 and a 629 would have the same serial number and they would both be owned within the same moderately sized (1000 people at that time) department.

So anyways, I was just wondering why there was there a bleed over of S&W serial numbers between revolvers and pistols at some point? Just a curiosity of mine that I have never satisfied.

With two exceptions (the Texas Wagon Train commemorative (TWT, of course) and the Thunder Ranch .44 Special (TRR)), I have not seen an (edit to add, N frame - thanks Sevens) S & W revolver serial number prefix beginning with a letter T. Early to mid-'90s prefixes were Bs and Cs, so not close to that letter in appearance either. A mystery...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Don't forget the Texas Rangers 150th commemorative Model 19-3's. Those were TR-prefix.

Since the federal law requiring unique serial numbers went into effect in early 1984 this would be quite possible. But for guns manufactured after the 3-alpha/4-numeric became the standard to comply with the federal requirement I would have to see photos of both guns SNs to believe this is not a matter of faulty memory or observation, especially when the claimed observation was made several years apart!

I am certain that the legislation requiring Manufacturers to use unique serial numbers on each of their firearms was part of the Gun Control Act of 1968.

It was part of the legislation that required serial numbers to be on all firearms manufactured or imported into the US

Makes total sense to me guys. I’ll need to track down the 629 somehow or just chalk this up to an errant memory, and I do not think I’ll be able to track down the 629 anytime soon.

I am bumping this old thread because I find it interesting. The most likely answer is the simplest one — I believe your own memory has fooled you.

I think you could call S&W on the phone and give them the SN and ask them if it was a 629.

The combination of manufacturer and serial number doesn’t have to be unique. It’s the combination of manufacturer and model and serial number that has to be unique.

I think ...

I still own a K38 5" that was one of two with the same #. I was getting the shipping date from Roy and he told me one went to Europe and one stayed in the U.S. He indicated it wasn't unusual, but was not frequent.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

You are quite possibly, and (sheepishly said) most likely, correct.

You are mistaken to be kind. This is how it used to be, but it has been manufacturer and Serial Number for many years.

Correct

Serial number must be unique to the Manufacturer regardless of model

That change was part pf The Gun Control Act of 1968

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"Acta non verba"

This reminds me of an incident from the mid 80's here where I work. The boss had a 1984 F-150 XLT, and I was driving an '81 F-100 (I think). Anyway, hs tossed me his keys to move his truck inside the gate, but I had to move mine out of the way first.

Yep, I used the bosses key to move my truck, and only noticed it when I got to his and only had my set of keys. We traded them back and forth scratching our heads, but both sets of keys would start, and unlock both trucks.

Just seemed odd they would both end up in the same parking lot & owned by the same man. We're both still here, but the computer chips in the keys won't let that happen anymore.

There has been at least one other N-frame in the Ts.

My two tone Model 327 TRR8 has a serial number prefix of TTT
No others come to mind at the moment, but I bet our fellow Forum Members can dig up another example or two

BTW, the 45 ACP, Thunder Ranch Revolver Model 22 has the TRR prefix in addition to the 44 Special Model 21s

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"Acta non verba"

The three Thunder Ranch prefixes are in order TRS TRR TRD