Smith & Wesson Serial Number Location Question.

[Phydeaux642]

Am I correct in my thinking that all S&W hand ejector revolvers have (had) the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame? I got to wondering about this after finding the M13 Aircrewman with no discernible serial number I spoke about in a previous thread.

 

[Jim Watson]

There is one series of Regulation Police that has the serial number on the frontstrap.

 

[doc2rn]

They usually put them on the inside of the crane.

 

[Oyeboten]

Hi doc2rn,



No...you might be thinking of Colt.


Colt used to locate their Revolver Serial Numbers inside the Crane.


S&W, generally, or on the various Hand Ejectors anyway, Serial Number used to be in three places -

Butt

Front Cylinder Face

On the 'flat' underneath the Barrel, close to the Frame.


Later, it seems the latter two locations were ommitted, and, only the Butt was used to locate the Serial Number.

At that time roughly, inside the Crane began to be used to stamp a Model Number.


Far as I recall...

 

[Oro]

Most of the 20th Century, S&W revo's had s/n's in FOUR places:

1) bottom of grip frame
2) under barrel on ejector cut
3) on rear of cylinder face
4) under ejector star visible when removed or actuated and gun angled.

In the '60s this changed to just a) bottom of grip frame and b) inside yoke cut.

I did not see your Aircrewman thread, but if it did not have a s/n on the grip bottom I'd be very suspicious. The only lettered ones I've seen (few, maybe 2?) had a s/n there as far as I recall. Not proof of anything, just a flag that raises suspicion or indicates something unusual is going on.

 

[Phydeaux642]

I did not see your Aircrewman thread, but if it did not have a s/n on the grip bottom I'd be very suspicious. The only lettered ones I've seen (few, maybe 2?) had a s/n there as far as I recall. Not proof of anything, just a flag that raises suspicion or indicates something unusual is going on.

No serial number on the grip bottom. Plus, it looked as if the back of the cylinder had some grinding done to it. I stayed away from it thinking that someone was trying to hide something.