Consecutive Serial Numbers: A thing with S&W?

[CA Escapee]

I ordered a Glock 17 years ago. When it came in it had consecutive serial numbers on the same gun. The upper had been switched with the one next in line.

The frame and box had serial number FBZ 003 and the slide and barrel were FBZ 004. The distributor never noticed the mixed numbers. Glock said I could send it back to the factory and they'd make it right. I said that's ok, it'll make for an interesting conversation in in the future.

 

[mchom]

Interestingly

Can't answer the question as to all Registered Magnums but its not so with mine. I have 2269 and the purported Rex Applegate RM is 2270. While having consecutive registration numbers the serial number on mine is 51300 and 2270's serial is 51304.

I have
2 RMs shipped to Butte MT police dept

Serial #53444. Reg #2636
Serial #53448. Reg #2635

 

[Sevens]

I have a Model 17 that I purchased from a friend that the last 4 digits match the last 4 of his social security number. He didn’t realize it until he had owned the gun for a few years. The chances of that occurring by happenstance has to be astronomical.

Astronomical? Or a 1-in-10,000 chance?

Definitely a neat occurrence.

 

[ken158]

I recall logging in a shipment of over 100 model 66’s at the PD I worked for and not a consecutive numbered pair in the whole lot.

 

[50 target]

Interesting thread. I never had the pocketbook or inclination to pursue consecutive serial numbered S&Was. It just happened. In 1997 I picked up a Transitional 44 Spl identified as a 50 Target. SN S71393. In 2012 I picked up a Transitional Outdoorsman, SN S71394. I then found a Transitional Outdoorsman, SN S71392 in 2021. I passed on that gun 10 years earlier as I thought acquiring it to be indulgent. In 2021 that thought took a nap while I acquired it. I went looking for none of them. It only took 24 years for it to come together. I think it is kind of neat to have a 44 Transitional with two 38's as bookends. I'm blessed.

 

[lestert357]

Would two consecutively serialed Registered Magnums also have consecutive registration numbers?

Some did, but not necessarily. The 4-1/2” pair pictured below were a special order shipped as a matched pair with consecutive REG numbers 447 & 448, however the serial numbers are 46647 & 46669…..

 

[rct269]

My last RM was 643. It was part of a three gun order from one man (643/644/645)---identically configured. There was no mention of the serial numbers of 644 and 645 in the letter, nor in A BUNCH of stuff from the Historical Foundation.

Back to Rugers, I put together a collection of three screw single actions---all models/all barrel lengths/34 guns in all, during a seven year dry spell when NONE of the S&W's I was after were to be found in acceptable condition. The first two Rugers were Single Sixes---#'s 208 and 209. They came through RIA, not as single lot, but noted as consecutively numbered to another lot in the same auction. Needless to say, the first lot went for too much. The good news is the second went for a song!

Ralph Tremaine

An extra added attraction: There came a time when I was running out of room in my display cabinet---something had to go---and it wasn't going to be any S&W's!! I packed up the Rugers, and headed for David Carroll's digs. I asked about what they might fetch. He said he had no idea, but knew some folks who would.Those folks opined they might fetch in the mid 40's. I had no idea what I had in them, but best guess was maybe $20,000---thereabouts. I was a happy camper! When all was said and done, they fetched in the mid 50's, and I was an even happier camper!

 

[44wheelman]

My brother and I have few consecutive numbered guns, but no S&Ws. He would buy something, and I would ask if there was discount for buying a second. Closest was the Mag hunter plus that were a couple hundred apart.

 

[RKmesa]

This set left the factory together as a matched factory engraved set, but consecutive SNs must not have mattered as they are numbered S90904 and S90920, 16 numbers apart...

 

[Gdogman]

Sequential pairs

I personally love sequential serial numbered guns. I also find it interesting that when not shipped together, there is no rhyme or reason on the order of how they shipped. Of my pairs below, for three of the pairs, the higher serial number, shipped first. One pair, my 17-7’s shipped three years apart.

I also have a pair of Pre 34 Pinto’s that shipped on the same invoice but are not sequential. The invoice accounted for twenty-five guns, 10 that were Pre M34 Pinto’s in the same configuration. My two are #4736 and #4658.
I posted a few weeks ago about my Pre-29 pair that shipped in 1957 on the same invoice. Another oddity is that the lower number is the 4-screw and the higher number is the 5-screw.

The recent RIA allowed me to complete my seventh sequential serial numbered pair, with the purchase of a Pre M42 PINTO, Serial# 28315.

My pairs are:
1. Pre M42 Pinto Serial# 28314, Not yet home, 8-(
2. Pre M42 Pinto Serial# 28315, LETTERED, 4/2/1971

3. M17-7 Pinto Serial# BRF3639, LETTERED 2/18/1997
4. M17-7 Pinto Serial# BRF3640, LETTERED 8/16/1994
- Shipped three years apart, part of 200 units on special order. Still researching the story

5. Pre M29 Serial# 174378, 4-screw (shipped as pair)
6. Pre M29 Serial# 174379, 5-screw
- LETTERS have been requested. Shipped on same invoice as a pair. Purchased as a pair.

7. M651 Serial# AHS0355, not lettered, ship date per Jinks of 1/1986
8. M651 Serial# AHS0356, LETTERED, shipped 11/6/1985
- lower number shipped 2 months later

11. Pre 38 Serial# 74611
12. Pre 38 Serial# 74612
Part of the Shapiro Collection. Purchased as a pair

11. M29-6 Serial# SWC0055
12. M29-6 Serial# SWC0056
SWCA 25th Anniversary guns

13. M29-6 Serial# SWC0109
14. M29-6 Serial# SWC0110
SWCA 25th Anniversary guns

 

[mmaher94087]

I don't get excited about consecutive serial numbers unless the factory shipped them as a pair and they are still together today and will letter as shipped together.

If two guns were manufactured, then there will be a consecutive pair somewhere and what is the point if they didn't leave the factory together?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Okay, I've come up with a consecutive pair of serial numbers I
would chase. Might surprise you. They are certainly consecutive.

Could be Models 36, 37, 38, or 49, or a combination of those.

Serial numbers 999J99 and J100000.

Of course with the same models, these are the other options:

786544 & J1

J99999 & 1J1

J999999 & 1J00000

 

[handejector]

Would two consecutively serialed Registered Magnums also have consecutive registration numbers?

Years ago, I owned a Reg Mag shipped to the Butte, MT Police Dept. A couple of years after I got the gun, a member here posted a gun he bought in a pawn shop for, as I recall, $350. It was a well used Reg Mag like mine- a 5" Blue. The number was consecutive to mine. I offered him many times what he paid for it and assembled a consecutive pair. Both were Butte guns. As I recall, there were 14 guns in the order. The Reg numbers were not consecutive, being off by 3 or 4. The higher number gun had the lower Reg number.
Sold them to an SWCA member from Montana.

 

[handejector]

5. Pre M29 Serial# 174378, 4-screw (shipped as pair)
6. Pre M29 Serial# 174379, 5-screw
- LETTERS have been requested. Shipped on same invoice as a pair. Purchased as a pair.

THAT is an interesting pair!

 

[long colt frazier]

These four 34s are consecutive serial numbered.

 

[Doc44]

S&W would provide consecutively numbered pairs or even quartets on order for an additional $5.00 or $10.00 per gun. As far as I know, this service was not advertised as it was an administrative challenge to do this. That is why there are very few pairs that were ordered and shipped.

Bill

 

[Flygas]

At the Tulsa gun show last April, I bought a .38/44 Outdoorsman, serial number 60005. A few months later, Amoskeag offered at auction a .38/44 Outdoorsman, serial number 60006. According to Roy, 60005 shipped in January of 1940 and 60006 shipped in March of 1940.

 

[rct269]

This is an isolated situation, applicable only because all the guns, 196 of them, were consecutively numbered (657174-657369). These are the pre-war Regulation Police models (the barreled frames actually) found in a S&W warehouse in the mid 1950's, and eventually completed (in 1957 with pre-war parts) in accord with discussions with Herbie Harris (H.H. Harris---Chicago Distributor (and retailer)) who took all of them. It pretty much stands to reason he sold some of them as consecutive pairs, but I don't know that one way or another. I bought one of them from him ($135)---having driven 600 miles out of our way on our honeymoon in 1959 to pick it up---my bride's first real introduction to lunatic fringe gun collectors.

I got another one 30 some odd years later (still as new) at a Knoxville gun show. It's story is it was tagged "22/32-.32 caliber-$450". They were selling for $2000 at the time. It wasn't consecutively numbered to my first one, but that was okay---all things considered.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Pizza Bob]

I have this pair of consecutively numbered 629-1 Iditarod Commemoratives from 1988...

While the presentation case and the barrel rollmark say 1 of 1000, the bank for which these were a premium, went under before Smith filled the contract. There were only 565 completed. I understand that it wasn't that unusual for these to be found in batches of two or three consecutively numbered guns because the bank's inventory was liquidated, which made it possible to buy as many as your wallet would allow. I got these in the secondary market (not from the bank liquidation) and have all boxes etc. I even have a spare presentation case - which is a story in itself.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[SigKev]

I have a consecutive serial number set of Model 57s that were special ordered one with a 4 inch barrel and the other a 6 inch barrel and both with Rosewood stocks and bright blue finish.