I have a .38 M&P Model of 1905 that appears to have 2 serial numbers that do not match. What I have is a serial number on the butt (516XXX) and a serial number under the yoke (747XX). The number on the cylinder is also (747XX). So is the correct serial number the one on the butt or the ones on the frame under yoke and the cylinder?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

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SWCA #2967
S&WHF #454

The number on the butt is the serial number. The other number is a factory assenbley number.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

There are actually five places where the SN is stamped. On the butt, the rear face of the cylinder, on a flat under the barrel, on the yoke arm (look through a chamber with a flashlight), and at the rear of the extractor star. If the stocks are original, there should be the same SN stamped or penciled on the inside of the right panel.

Your revolver is properly called a Military and Police Model (M&P) and its shipping date should have been around mid-1925 (assuming there is no letter prefix to the SN provided). S&W did not use the "Model of 1905" terminology that late. They stopped prior to WWI.

When you say there is a number on the yoke, are you referring to the number stamped inside the yoke that matches the frame in the same location? If so, that is an assembly number to keep track of the revolver and cylinder assembly during finishing at the factory. That number, however, should not appear on the cylinder? As stated, the frame number is the official serial number for the gun.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Assembly (factory work) #s:
These are other multi-digit numbers of 3 to 5 digits, which are on the yoke at the hinge, on the yoke cut in frame opposite the yoke, near the hinge, and inside of the sideplate, for the pre war and early post war period.

The assembly # in the yoke cut of the frame was relocated to the left side of grip frame after model #s were assigned and the serial # was added in the yoke cut where the assembly # on the grip frame used to be. You know they are assembly (factory work) #s because of those 3 locations that always match on guns that are original, and that’s the only usefulness for them after guns leave the factory: still used to this day, long after serial number locations decreased.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

If the cylinder also has this number, as stated by the OP, it may be another serial numbered yoke and cylinder assembly?? There is a serial number on the yoke if looked at through the cylinder, so I think we need further clarification here.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Have a look at this post, under the Yoke section:

To IDENTIFY your Gun >

If the "serial number under the yoke (747XX)... and the number on the cylinder is also (747XX)" are on the frame yoke recess and the yoke itself, as in the 36000 example in handejector's photo, you have described the assembly numbers.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I have confirmed that the serial number on the butt is the same number that is located under the bottom of the barrel.
Information here is great.
For some reason I have always thought the serial number of the revolver was matched to the cylinder serial number.
Thanks to all.

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SWCA #2967
S&WHF #454

The number on the rear of the cylinder, where you load the chambers, should match the number stamped on the butt.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

That is what I have been trying to say in my posts. If the cylinder number does not match the butt sn, then the cylinder is not matching. I am still questioning where you see the 747XX? Photos would be very helpful.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Let me see if I can clarify:
The serial number on the butt is the same number that is located on the bottom of the barrel.
The number stamped under the yoke (where current model numbers are stamped (ex. Mod 64-4), just above the yoke hinge) is the same as the number stamped on the back side of the cylinder (where you load the bullets). It can be read when you open the cylinder, as if you were loading it.

I will be happy to display some photos if still needed.

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SWCA #2967
S&WHF #454

OK - thanks for the clarification. This is the first M&P I have ever heard of that has a yoke assembly number matching the cylinder number. I assume it was done at the factory, maybe by mistake, but that is not the norm by any means.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

It would be interesting to know what serial number is on the back of the extractor star (need a magnifying glass), and on the rear face of the yoke arm looking thru one of the cylinder chambers with a flashlight.

Also, if the assembly # on the back side (inside) of the sideplate matches the 747XX.

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Jim
S&WCA #819