Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols Other Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols from the 1950's to Present


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-17-2020, 05:50 PM
ImprovedModel56Fan ImprovedModel56Fan is offline
US Veteran
Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB  
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MA
Posts: 7,330
Likes: 7,502
Liked 5,556 Times in 2,547 Posts
Default Model 41 S/N starting with UMB

A friend has a Model 41 whose serial number starts with UMB. He wants to know its "birth year." It is not clear to me from S&N #3 or #2 whether that is a normal number for a S&W autoloader, or part of some special run, as he thinks may be the case. I do not have a S&N #4.

Can anyone tell me when his Model 41 was born, and whether the serial number was anything special, or just in the normal run of numbers?

Many thanks.
__________________
Formerly Model520Fan
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-17-2020, 08:00 PM
first-model first-model is offline
SWCA Member
Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 1,002
Liked 2,322 Times in 774 Posts
Default

If the serial number is three letters followed by four numeric digits, then it's a fairly modern (after the early 1980's) gun. S&W went to that system so that every gun that came out of the factory (regardless of model) could have an absolutely unique serial number.

The three letters don't have any particular significance. I believe that certain blocks of serial numbers were reserved for certain models, but I learned a long time ago not to read too much into that.

For what it's worth, some other manufacturers use a similar system. Glock did three letters and three numbers for many years, and has just moved to four letters and three numbers. Same idea.

If he calls Smith & Wesson customer service, they *may* provide the year that the gun was shipped. For more specifics, he'd need to request a factory letter from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation, which costs $100 per gun.

Mike
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 09-22-2020, 03:16 PM
Brister1984 Brister1984 is offline
Member
Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB Model 41 S/N starting with UMB  
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts
Default Model 41 S/N starting with UMB

For what it's worth, I have the 4th ed and UMG is not listed there either. Do you have a model number? That might help narrow it down. I have an M41 with UAR serial and I believe it to be from 1997. Hope that helps.

Last edited by Brister1984; 09-22-2020 at 03:17 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Model 17 with a hole serial starting cnc ky wonder S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 0 10-15-2019 08:26 PM
Starting serial number for the model 3 series sspierce8 S&W Antiques 10 12-09-2018 10:28 PM
The rut must be starting fat tom The Lounge 15 10-03-2016 11:24 PM
It's Finally Starting...Firearm Manufacturers are Starting to Move Out! Alnamvet68 The Lounge 59 11-17-2015 09:52 AM
It's starting cussedemgun The Lounge 3 09-29-2014 09:23 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:53 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)