Are serial numbers unique?

[03clyde]

Does S&W repeat serial numbers among different models? If not, is it possible to determine a model, series, finish, and barrel length based solely on a serial number?

I have found the serial number of a .38cal S&W listed on an old NY pistol permit of mine from the late 60s. Due to a senior moment I cannot recall the gun at all. The serial number was: K6127xx.

Thanks.

 

[1943]

Info from S/N

Does S&W repeat serial numbers among different models? If not, is it possible to determine a model, series, finish, and barrel length based solely on a serial number?

I have found the serial number of a .38cal S&W listed on an old NY pistol permit of mine from the late 60s. Due to a senior moment I cannot recall the gun at all. The serial number was: K6127xx.

Thanks.

Clyde
From the S/N K6127xx - About all that You will Know without S&W factory help is that it was Mfgd in 1965 and it was an adjustable sight K frame. Could have been a M14-15-16-17-18-19 with various barrel lengths . I dont think any of the SS K frames were from that time period.Hope this helps

_______
Terry

 

[1943]

M48

Opps forgot It could have been a M 48 or M 53. sorry for the ommision--Senior Moment

 

[Gunhacker]

S&W used ranges of SN's that were usually shared by different models within the same frame size. For example the SN you posted is for a revolver in the K frame family, so it could be any one of the models made on that frame.

The good news is if you call S&W Customer Service, they can look up the SN and tell you what that gun is.

Living with "oldsheimers" sure is tough isn't it? I certainly live up to the saying seen on t-shirts "Of all of the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most".

 

[JSR III]

The short answer is yes and no. You could have serial number 12345 in one model and serial number 12345 in a different model and they would not be the same model or gun. There is also the difference between K frame revolvers and "K" prefix serial numbered guns. Not all "K" frame guns bear a K prefix serial number, such as a model 10 (K frame) with a "C" serial prefix. There is also the rare instance when S&W duplicated serial numbers or when the number is open on the books and no information is available.

Your number K6127XX, does refer to a specific gun, but could be a model 14,15,16,17,18,19,48,53,66,67 or 68 based soley on serial number. The shipping records will give shipping date and perhaps the model, but for finish, barrel length and other detailed information, the gun must be researched in the company records stored at the museum. For that information you would have to request a factory letter and that cost is $50.

Since you feel that the gun was a .38 caliber, that narrows the possibilities down to a model 14, 15, 67 or 68. The other K prefix guns in the above list are 22's or 357's.

Not sure if that answers your questions but I hope it helps.

Best regards,

 

[03clyde]

Thanks folks. It probably was one of the guns I briefly had as a personally owned carry weapon opposed to my issue Colt Official Police in .38 special. The job's rules then were no lesser caliber than issue, must be 4"bbl, six shot, blue or stainless finish. I'm recalling a Combat Masterpiece from the hints in your posts. That would be the model 15. One more gun on for WTB list, lack of funds notwithstanding.

 

[vrichard]

Does S&W repeat serial numbers among different models? If not, is it possible to determine a model, series, finish, and barrel length based solely on a serial number?

I have found the serial number of a .38cal S&W listed on an old NY pistol permit of mine from the late 60s. Due to a senior moment I cannot recall the gun at all. The serial number was: K6127xx.

Thanks.

S&W does repeat serial #,I have four with the same # but with
different prefix letter.

Dick

 

[1943]

blue steel or nickel

This serial # was fron 1965, so it could have not been any of the SS K frames (64-65-66-67-68) because they did not come along until 1970 and later. so it had to be blued or nickel with adjustable sights. ( A M15-2 would be a good bet)

________
Terry

 

[Alk8944]

Yes and no, depending on the time frame. Before they began using prefix letters, basically pre-war, serial numbers were assigned by model. A .32 HE, 32-20 HE, M&P, Reg Magnum, .38-44 could all jhave the same serial number.

After the war when prefixes were used serial numbers were just that, sequential numbers having the same prefix. So long as the prefix was interchangeable (an S could be a K or N frame) model was not determinable by the SN. A C-prefix K Frame could be any caliber with fixed sights. Likewise a K was a target sighted K-frame of any caliber. Anything with a J in it could be a target or fixed sighted gun in any caliber.

One of the requirements of GCA'68 was that all firearms produced by a particular manufacturer had to have a unique serial number. By 1980 the assignment of unique numbers became difficlt with the then current system and S&W adopted the "alphabet" 3 letter and 4 number serial numbering system. Since then all that can be determined by the SN is whether the gun is a revolver or autoimatic and the year of manufacture. Production batches of a particular model will have consecutive numbers, but at the end of that run the next number in series can be assigned to a completely different frame size/caliber for the next production run.