Hello All,
I have a Model 625-6 .45ACP Mountain Gun that has the serial number laser-engraved on the left side of the cylinder frame, just below cylinder. The "Spec. Ord." code indicates manufacture in April 2001. Any information on when/why Smith did this external serial number marking? Was this something done during a particular window of time, and if so, does anyone have information on its extent and duration? Why did Smith start doing this, and why did they stop? Thanks in advance for your knowledge and expertise,

kean57

All serial numbers are located on the butt of the gun for
ALL Smith&Wesson revolvers...

That is not unusual for guns of that era. S&W did this for a period of time, probably not every gun, but many (or most) of them. Started in 2000 and ceased in 2002. No one is really sure why. Those years were a strange time in Springfield.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Kernel Crittenden,
Thanks for the helpful and informative reply; I had a vague memory of hearing about other Smiths having this unusual serial number location, and also that it seems to have been confined to a relatively short time-frame in Smith & Wesson history. The prefix on my revolver (CET) seems to have been smack dab in the middle of this period. As you say, an odd time in Springfield.

sw282,
I don't think you read and understood my post; it had nothing to do with the traditional serial number marking on the bottom of the butt. And, by the way, your post is factually incorrect; this same revolver DOES NOT have the serial number marked on the bottom of the butt...it is laser-engraved on the inner-left front strap, under the grips. I will attach several photos for you. I am pushing sixty, and recently retired after a full career as a High School English teacher, but I still learn something new every day. I hope that this information will be educational.
kean57

Attached Images

	625MG-1.jpg (77.9 KB, 91 views)
	625MG.jpg (69.8 KB, 81 views)
	625MG-2.jpg (32.2 KB, 81 views)

I believe this practice started with the later NYPD model 64 revolvers as a way of being able to see the SN without taking off the rubber stocks that covered the bottom of the grip frame (short of cutting a hole in the stock bottoms). It was tried for a while on other guns with covered grip frames but the etching was too shallow, and the SN could be removed with a vigorous polishing. I think there is now a regulation mandating the depth of such markings.

The current model 360J still has the SN in the same "general' location (Kernel ), but the practice overall was stopped a few years ago.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I looked at a 2001 vintage engraved 686-6 2 1/2 inch that had the serial number etched in the same place a a little gun show last weekend.

kean-l am from 46, making me 70...l don't mind learning new things
either. I just did about S&W serial numbers.��
But please, PLEASE don't SIC the "Grammer Guys" on me

As evidenced by the use of a semicolon in your previous post, that goes without saying.

Not quite the same location. It's on the same side, but on the M360J the s/n is inscribed under the thumb piece, not the frame window.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Common during that period IMHO.
Have a 696-1 that has the serial on the lower left side.
My 696 and 396-1 do not.

Attached Images

696-1ShowingSideSerial.jpg (274.8 KB, 16 views)

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NEMO
"Everything 44"