When did the mp 15 serial number change

[CORNfedREBEL]

When did they switch the serial number designation from sw to sm then to sn? mine is sn 19xxx but have seen others with sm and sw

 

[CORNfedREBEL]

So far i have came to the conclusion that the sn is the newest and sw is the oldest, if anyone can confirm this chyyme in any time now

 

[armaliter]

Well who knows when they switched but I think your theory is probably pretty close. If everyone put there date of birth and serial number here we could tell. For instance on my lable on the outside of your box under the model # is a set of small #'s such as mine are 09090 meaning mine was made in 09 on the 90th day of that year and my serial # is SM30xxx. Same lable is on your case.

 

[CORNfedREBEL]

well just talked to sw my build date is 12-18-10, wow which means mine is only a few months old. as far as the numbers on my box i dont have numbers under my serial number

 

[shoofly2u]

Just purchased mine and the only thing on my barrel is 5.56 NATO 1/9. Above the magazine housing there is SN 24xxx, and the same serial number is on the box, but no date under the SN.

 

[armaliter]

I said look under the MODEL number not the serial number

 

[CORNfedREBEL]

doesnt matter there are no numbers any where that indicate the build date

 

[Foxtrot]

I said look under the MODEL number not the serial number

doesnt matter there are no numbers any where that indicate the build date

I don't have that under my model number either on the box/case. I have a bar code, but to the right of the bar code in small numbers is 0259 but I already know thats not the date according to S&W because they told me my weapon was made 22 Sept 2010. Then to the right of that I have another barcode with two sequences of numbers under it but its not the date according to S&W. My serial # is SN 12xxxx.

On the other hand, that 0259 could be a year-date-month if you kinda think about it some with the '0' indicating 2010, the '25' being the date, and the '9' being the month, which sort of works out in that it would be Sept 2010 then, but the date would be wrong because mine was on the 22nd of Sept - unless the 25 is actually the ship date or something like that. So maybe S&W was wrong about the date when I called them, maybe it was actually made on the 25th Sept 2010.

Someone told me that S&W didn't actually track the manufacture date, that they only tracked the shipping date.

Under the second bar code there are two sets of numbers '221808' and '13601'

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

No #'s here either.

 

[CORNfedREBEL]

mine is 0277, build date is 12 18 10 sn 19xxx so my sn number is higher and those numbers doesnt match mine, i think the only way to know is call sw, they must get alot of calls asking for the build dates.

 

[MPDC]

mine is 0277, build date is 12 18 10 sn 19xxx so my sn number is higher and those numbers doesnt match mine, i think the only way to know is call sw, they must get alot of calls asking for the build dates.

My serial number begins with SN four digits 25XX and purchased December 7th, 2010, OR model.

 

[CORNfedREBEL]

ur not curious as to what the build date of ur gun is? urs was within the first 2600 of the sn models, u should call and ask ur build date so we can figure out about when they had to switch from sm to sn!

 

[MPDC]

I Emailed them but no response yet.

I'm really not that concerned but had thought mine was earlier than it appears to be.

In any event, fit and finish are beautiful, tight and it is very accurate right out of the box with Troy flip ups added. Totally satisfied.

 

[Foxtrot]

Just a question.... why is important to know when they switched from SM to SN anyway?

I mean, is it going to change anything...like in...will you stop using the weapon or something?

 

[MPDC]

Just a question.... why is important to know when they switched from SM to SN anyway?

I mean, is it going to change anything...like in...will you stop using the weapon or something?

Not too important for me. I was curious at first because I
didn't realize that they had changed prefixes (SW, SM, SN) and thought my lower , four digit number meant I had a very early production model. While that was not of concern, I kind of wanted to know just how old the apparent "New, old stock" was, out of curiosity.

No big deal either way as it has the chrome lined bbl. and excellent fit and finish anyway.

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

It'll become important if they start changing the quality of components on other models like they did with the 15T. Mainly because, at least with the 15T changes, once the downgrades were made any spec info on s&w's site is gone for good.

 

[Foxtrot]

well, I called S&W, gave them the serial number and they told me the manufacture date, made in Sept 2010.

 

[MPDC]

S&W returned my email request and advised me that my M&P15OR, SN25XX, was produced on 11/04/2010. I had thought it was much earlier because of the four digit Serial number but now it is obvious the SN designation is part of the serial number, not just standing for, "serial number", LOL.

 

[CORNfedREBEL]

ok so how did they produce 17000 guns in 30 days period? i think the lowers are older than they are saying, mine is sn19xxx, and mand on 12 18 10,

 

[MPDC]

It might have to do with sourcing from suppliers as was explained about early versions.

S&W , it was believed , had QC folks "picking" from the suppliers parts bin and rejecting what didn't meet their standards. Are they making the lowers themselves now?

Perhaps mine was just "laying around", misplaced or under something. It is flawless in finish and the fit with the upper has zero slack apparent. I was very impressed with the quality compared to friends' ARs of other makes.

It did come in a case, inside a box and the owner's manual has a 2010 print date. Also came with a 30 round Pmag like the later guns. Purchased from Bud's and picked up at local FFL 12/7/2010. "We made that gun on 11/04/2010" per email from Jeff at S&W Customer Service.

Truly, other than for pure "complete history" knowledge, I really could care less when it was made given the quality and function and think most changes are reflected in different model numbers athough nomenclatures (eg M&P15T) might remain the same.