Did the different models use duplicate serial #s? For instance, if you had a Model 27 with a # of SXXXXXX, would S&W also have made a Model 28 or 29 with a duplicate identical #, or would all serial #s have been used only once? I am guessing that a # would have been used only once, but I am not sure, so I figured I would ask. Also, if a # was used only once, did guns come out in serial # batches (like 100 revolvers of the same type get a serial from 1 to 100, or was the numbering completely random?

Prior to 1968 there was not an official mandate for guns to have a unique serial number. That said, for record keeping purposes S & W made very few guns with duplicate serial numbers; it would mess up keeping track of production.

In days past (pre-WW II) all S & W models started with the serial number 1, so you would have to know what model of gun you had along with the number to keep track. After WW II, many but not all guns added a letter prefix to the number (C, N and S were common), but some guns continued with just numbers until 1968.

And guns with the letter prefix could have been made in batches, but not necessarily consecutively...so a K prefix may have been a .22, a .38 or less commonly a .32. And just to make things more confusing the S prefix was used on both K and N frames, but those numbers did not overlap.

Clear as mud.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I think that is not an easy answer, because of the time frame involved different systems. I can say that post WWll that N frames were all numbered in the same series beginning with an S, then around 1970 began N series, until around 1980 when the triple alpha series began. K frames were numbered in their own system beginning with a K. With the advent of the AAA 1234 system, all the guns were numbered that way.

Since the 1968 Gun Control Act, each gun is required to have a unique serial number. I have heard that sometimes rarely a duplicate was made, but it was given an added letter to make it unique.

Prior to WWll, there could be overlapping serial numbers between frame sizes, but I am not familiar enough with that era to say for certain.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Alan is quicker than I am!!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I looked up a Colt Vest Pocket from 1926 the other day and there were five other models with the exact same serial number.

Pre WW II, it was possible to own a .22, a .32 HE, a .32-20, a .38 special and an N frame, all with the same serial number.

I may have left out a model or two, but you get the idea.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Alan's answer (Post #2) is excellent. To illustrate his pre-WWII comment, I'll offer a couple interesting examples.

1. On the .32 (Long) Hand Ejector, The Model of 1896 serial numbers ran from 1 to 19712. In 1903, they added the front locking lug and started the serial sequence over at 1, which went to 19425 in 1904. Hence there would be duplicate numbers crossing those two models

2. The K frame was introduced in 1899. It was made in two difference chambers: .38 S&W Special and .32-20 Winchester. These two variants of the Model of 1899 ran in two different serial sequences, both starting with 1. Production of the .32-20 ended at 144684, but the .38 version continued all the way to 999999 in April, 1942. Hence the first 144684 units would have had duplicate serial numbers.

As Alan noted, this practice became unlawful in 1968.

Also as Alan stated, the postwar S prefix was used on both the N and K frames. However, while the K frame numbers started at S811120 and went all the way to S999999, the N frame S numbers ended at S333454, so there was never any overlap.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I appreciate the info. I know the GCA in 1968 required serial #s. I just didn't know how Smith did it. This is something I have been wondering about for a while. What was said here makes sense. Thank you for chiming in!

Colts always started with 1 prior to WWII.

Do the Colt Serial Number Search and enter 1. You will get over thirty plus (30+) hits.

When I was a cop and we ran a firearm on NCIC occasionally the Serial Number will be listed as "Stolen" but then you had to verify what you had. Unfortunately lots of cops know what a S&W is but not the difference between a .32 HE or an N frame. Good times before we got Computers in Police cars.

I was curious about that as well. Does the computer now tell the Model # with the serial?

Yes. But it is still up to the person inputting the data. Bad data in then bad data out. Someone who is not firearm savvy will just input the Serial Number and S&W. I would input Serial Number and S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum blue steel four inch barrel.