Check your serial numbers please...

[Truckman]

I received the 9 year old SWHF letter tucked away behind the letter for a gun I bought at a gun show...I have no way to contact the person I bought the gun from, and I do not own the gun for which this letter was written...If you own this gun, post a picture of it showing the S/N, send me a message and I'll mail the letter to you...I removed the address of the original recipient since he obviously doesn't own the gun any longer......Ben

 

[LittleCooner]

Ok, help me understand S&W letters, The subject letter clearly states a run of only 7500 were produced, serial number 1 to 7500, yet the subject gun's serial number is 7796. If my math is correct, this is 296 more guns that the letter claims they made. Thoughts by the experts?

 

[Sevens]

Definitely NOT an expert, but S&W was typically stamping serial numbers on large runs of gun frames. So what you happen to be seeing as a Model 24-3 was not seen that way at the time of manufacture...

When it was made, it was a blued N-frame. So that run of frames was going to be used for Model 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or even 57. Anything in production at that time (or soon!) that used a carbon steel N-frame.

If that weren't enough... at the time of the (dreaded!) triple-alpha serial number series, S&W was using these combinations of serial prefixes across all models and all frame sizes. And they also started mixing in semiauto pistols in to the same serial prefixes.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I think Sevens has it. Of course a special run doesn't have to start with "1" either.

 

[JumboJVT]

Don't need to be and expert to count. 7500 produced. ABZ0001-7500 is 7500 guns. There simply is no 7796 in that range. For the explanation to make sense, the RANGE reported would need to include 7796, no? And if the explanation offered is correct, the top range would be well over 7796 to include all the other blued N-frame serialed. Something isn't right with the letter.

 

[22hipower]

Don't need to be and expert to count. 7500 produced. ABZ0001-7500 is 7500 guns. There simply is no 7796 in that range. For the explanation to make sense, the RANGE reported would need to include 7796, no? And if the explanation offered is correct, the top range would be well over 7796 to include all the other blued N-frame serialed. Something isn't right with the letter.

Yes, but what the letter doesn't tell us was that S&W didn't stop producing the -3 at ABZ7500. The 4th Edition of the S&W Standard Catalog says the 24-3 range was from ABZ0000 to ABZ9999 with 7500 manufactured circa 1983-1984.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[TJm15.38]

I checked my 24-3 and it must be right in the middle of the 7500 run at ABZ3050. My gun is a 6.5" barrel.

 

[4BODIDDLEY]

I have ABZ2966 which is also a 6 1/2" barrel. I like it!

 

[JumboJVT]

Yes, but what the letter doesn't tell us was that S&W didn't stop producing the -3 at ABZ7500. The 4th Edition of the S&W Standard Catalog says the 24-3 range was from ABZ0000 to ABZ9999 with 7500 manufactured circa 1983-1984.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Did I not say something was wrong with the letter? I don't know what, but apparently others do. So the letter isn't correct. No yes but...

 

[H Richard]

I had a 24-3, 3", with S/N AEM1334, and shipped July 1984. Like a L Horton, but letter says didn't ship to Horton.

 

[gmarshall99]

My 6.5 inch 24-3 serial no ABZ8292 lettered as shipped 6,29,1984.