Some general tips on identifying a S&W revolver.
This is where you find the serial number on a S&W revolver. It may appear in other places, such as the frame under the cylinder crane, under the barrel or on the rear of the cylinder, but this is the one sure place to find it. There may or may not be letters as part of the serial depending on the model and date of manufacture. If there are letters present they are a part of the number.
This is where you find the model number on a S&W revolver. The model numbers were assigned in 1957 and guns made previous to this date had no model numbers and went by names such as “Military & Police Model” in the case of the Model 10. Unfortunately, some people, including dealers, will routinely call such guns “Model 10s” for convenience or out of ignorance and this can lead to confusion. The model number will be stamped like “MOD 10” or “MOD 10-6” with the -6 (or -1, -2, -13 etc.) indicating one of the engineering changes the guns went through over the years. As noted, sometimes the serial is found here but not always. Other numbers may also be found here but they are assembly numbers used in the factory and are meaningless to us.
S&W revolvers made before 1945 can be spotted by the hole in the left side under the cylinder release. The post-war guns were redesigned to eliminate this feature.
The M&P revolvers made before 1952 had a rounded front sight. The guns made after this date had a sloping, ramped type front sight. Note the three guns pictured below. The two on the sides were made in 1949 and the middle one dates from 1969.
Also note the hammer shapes on the three guns seen above. The guns made 1946-1952 (or so) have the crooked hammer spurs with the later guns having a spur that makes a gently downward sweep. The pre-1945 models have a higher spur that grows from the top of the hammer rather than the middle as seen on post-war guns and it tends to stand more erect than the sweeping shape found on the post-war guns. See the hammer below for a pre-1945 example.
Hopefully these tips will allow you to make a general identification of your gun. With the correct serial a close estimate can be made of the date of manufacture. For $30 S&W will send you a letter detailing when your gun was made and where it was shipped. I am told one can email S&W Customer Service and they will respond with the same info for free although I have not tried this, yet.
