Smith & Wesson Serial Number Lookup

Enter a Smith & Wesson serial number to estimate the year it was made — using collector and author transcriptions of the factory ledgers, row by row from their printed form. It is an explicit first–last serial range, model by model and year by year (125 documented ranges, 1899–1983): your serial is matched against the interval Smith & Wesson published for it, never guessed. Every result cites the chart row it came from.

What this chart actually covers. Pre-1950 serials are re-serialized across frames and the charts overlap deliberately — those answers carry the overlap note. The N/S-frame 1948–1955 window is only partly established: the printed 1954–1955 S row (S103,500–S139,999, the first Highway Patrolman year) is in the table, while the earlier band S72,000–S103,499 carries no printed range and refuses. The J frame is covered by the seven printed anchors only (1950–1969): an answer between anchors is derived between two printed rows and says so. From the early 1980s every frame shares one three-letter + 4-digit sequence — the three-letter era has dated observations but NO published ranges, so it refuses by design. The serial is a production-sequencing number: it predates proofing and shipping, so it is not proof or ship date.
Where this chart stops. This is a limit of the chart, not a verdict on the serial in hand. The tables transcribed here begin at 1899 for the hand-ejector line — their first printed row, 1–20,975, is itself unprefixed (1899–1902). Earlier Smith & Wesson lines ran their serials under separate systems these tables do not cover, including the small pre-war I / Improved I frames, for which no published year table could be sourced. The pinned data file's own caveat, quoted verbatim: “This serial predates the published chart (which starts at 1899 for the hand-ejector line). Earlier Smith & Wesson lines use separate serial systems, so the tool refuses to guess.”
The evidence behind “not a ship date”.

The window printed here is an approximate MANUFACTURE window from collector charts. Smith & Wesson records document SHIPMENT, and S&W did not ship guns in serial number order — the evidence is on this page.

It has been stated that "S&W did not ship guns in serial number order!" (forum_kchart (post by jcelect))

  • N509483 (28-2) — shipped Mar-78, as printed in the source
  • N542311 (28-2) — shipped Jul-79, as printed in the source
  • N580098 (28-2) — shipped Feb-81, as printed in the source
  • N581108 (28-2 6") — shipped Dec-80, as printed in the source

N581108 shipped Dec-80 while the LOWER serial N580098 shipped Feb-81 — the higher number left first; several N-frame rows in the same post repeat the pattern

artfulbullet (member John): "in most of it's years up to 1990 S&W did not ship sequentially"; forum_jthread (Absalom): "even the SCSW ranges do not reflect shipping irregularities"

Look up your Smith & Wesson serial number

Enter the number exactly as stamped — including any letter prefix.

Open the Smith & Wesson serial lookup →

How dating a Smith & Wesson by serial number works

Most serial charts give one number per year. Smith & Wesson is different, and using the wrong method gives the wrong year — so it is worth knowing what the chart actually asserts.

An explicit serial range per model and year

for every charted model year the published chart gives the first and last serial number of each year, for example a bracketed interval per year. That is the most precise form of this data: your serial is not merely compared against a boundary, it falls inside a documented interval. Where two published ranges overlap, the tool gives you the span rather than picking one.

Serial numbers are not a factory letter. The chart gives the last serial recorded for each production year, model by model. A result sitting on a year boundary is an estimate from that chart, not a certificate.

Which Smith & Wesson models this covers

The published chart covers 10 models across 125 ranges, and every one of them is listed on this page. There is no model beyond this table with data to search.

If your model is not listed, the published chart we hold does not cover it — the tool will say so rather than guess.

Published Smith & Wesson serial ranges

125 documented ranges across 10 models, from collector and author transcriptions of the factory ledgers, row by row from their printed form. Transcribed one row per chart section, exactly as published — the coverage note above states what is not here.

ModelYearSerial range
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1948–1952 C1–C233,999
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1953 C236,004–C261,483
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1954–1956 C277,555–C402,923
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1957 C402,924–C405,018
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1958–1959 C405,019–C429,740
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1960 C429,741–C474,148
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1961–1962 C474,149–C622,699
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1963–1965 C622,700–C810,532
C prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1948–1967) 1966–1967 C810,533–C999,999
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1968 D1–D90,000
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1969–1970 D90,001–D330,000
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1971–1972 D330,001–D420,000
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1972–1973 D420,001–D510,000
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1973–1974 D510,001–D659,901
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1975–1976 D750,001–D870,000
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1976–1977 D870,001–D999,999
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1977 2D00001–2D80,000
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1978 2D80,001–2D99,999
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1979 4D00001–6D10,000
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1981 7D10,001–9D44,500
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1982 9D44,501–17D8,900
D prefix, K-frame fixed-sight models (1968–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1983 17D8,901–21D0883
J frame unprefixed (1950–1969) 1952 7369–21342
J frame unprefixed (1950–1969) 1953 28916–28916
J frame unprefixed (1950–1969) 1955 55050–75000
J frame unprefixed (1950–1969) 1957 117770–125000
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1969–1970 J1–J99999
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1973–1974 J100000–J250000
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1975–1976 J250001–J370000
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1976–1977 J370001–J610000
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1977–1978 J610001–J670000
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1979–1980 J670001–J760000
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1981 J760001–J915400
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1982 J915401–1J18600
J prefix (1969–1983), including the 1J/999J99 flips 1971–1972 1J1–999J99
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1899–1902 1–20,975
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1942–1944 V1–V769,000
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1902–1903 20,976–33,803
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1903–1905 33,804–62,449
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1905–1906 62,450–73,250
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1906–1908 73,251–120,000
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1908–1909 120,001–146,899
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1909–1915 146,900–241,703
K frame hand-ejector line, unprefixed serials (1899–1942) 1915–1942 241,704–1,000,000
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1946 K101–K614
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1947 K615–K18,731
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1948 K18,732–K73,121
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1949 K73,122–K84,149
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1950 K84,150–K104,047
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1951 K104,048–K136,690
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1952 K136,691–K175,637
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1953 K175,638–K210,095
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1954 K210,096–K231,255
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1955 K231,256–K266,154
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1956 K266,155–K288,988
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1957 K288,989–K317,822
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1958 K317,823–K350,547
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1959 K350,548–K386,804
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1960 K386,805–K429,894
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1961 K429,895–K468,098
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1962 K468,099–K515,478
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1963 K515,479–K553,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1964 K555,000–K605.877
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1965 K605,878–K658.986
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1966 K658,987–K715,996
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1967 K715,997–K779.162
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1968 K779,163–K848,781
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1969 K848,782–K946,391
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1970 K946,382–K999,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1970 1K1–1K39,500
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1971 1K39,501–1K999,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1970 2K1–2K22.037
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1971 2K22,038–2K55,996
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1972 2K55,997–2K99,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1971 3K1–3K73,962
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1972 3K31,280–5K6,616
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1972 4K1–4K1,627
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1973 4K1,628–4K54,104
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1974 4K54,105–4K99,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1973 5K6,617–5K73,962
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1974 5K73,963–6K58,917
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1975 6K98,918–8K20,763
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1974 7K1–7K26,043
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1975 7K26,044–7K70,577
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1975 8K20,000–9K100,000
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1975 8K20,764–9K1
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1976 9K1,001–9K99,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1977 10K001–24K9,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1978–1979 25K001–56K9,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1980 57K001–91K6,800
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1981 91K6,801–124K000
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1982 125K000–269K9,999
K prefix, K-frame adjustable-sight (target) models (1946–1983), the number-before-letter forms included 1983 270K000–311K273
N frame, unprefixed (1908–1941; 1942–1945 none) 1908–1929 1–30,000
N frame, unprefixed (1908–1941; 1942–1945 none) 1930–1941 34,000–62,000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1969–1972 N1–N100000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1970–1972 N1–N60,000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1974–1977 N200000–N200000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1975–1976 N300000–N300000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1977–1978 N400000–N400000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1978–1980 N500000–N500000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1979–1980 N600000–N600000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1980–1983 N790,001–N932,999
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1980–1983 N800000–N800000
N prefix on N frames (1969/70–1983+) 1982–1986 N900000–N900000
N-frame S prefix 1946–1947 S62,489–S67,999
N-frame S prefix 1947–1948 S68,000–S71,999
N-frame S prefix 1954–1955 S103500–S139999
N-frame S prefix 1955–1956 S140000–S149999
N-frame S prefix 1956–1957 S150000–S175999
N-frame S prefix 1957–1958 S176000–S181999
N-frame S prefix 1958–1959 S182000–S194499
N-frame S prefix 1959–1960 S194500–S206999
N-frame S prefix 1960–1961 S207000–S219999
N-frame S prefix 1962–1963 S228000–S231999
N-frame S prefix 1963–1964 S232000–S235999
N-frame S prefix 1964–1965 S236000–S257999
N-frame S prefix 1965–1966 S258000–S261999
N-frame S prefix 1966–1967 S262000–S289999
N-frame S prefix 1967–1968 S290000–S304999
N-frame S prefix 1968–1969 S305000–S329999
N-frame S prefix 1969–1970 S330000–S333454
N-frame S prefix 1969–1970 S330,000–S333,454
Post-war S prefix on K frames 1944–1945 S769,001–S811,119
Post-war S prefix on K frames 1945–1948 S811,120–S990,184

Questions

Why does my serial number not give a year?

It falls in a gap between the published ranges, or in a model year the chart does not cover — the tool will show the nearest documented range instead of guessing. A public lookup should not invent an answer.

How accurate is this?

The ranges are reproduced exactly as published in collector and author transcriptions of the factory ledgers, row by row from their printed form. That is not a factory letter — for a definitive date, the factory records are the authority.

Where does the data come from?

eleven collector, dealer and author charts opened 2026-10-18 — Smith & Wesson itself publishes none of them — Zero manufacturer sources: S&W has never published a serial→year chart, and the Historical Foundation's own words stand on this page — "There is not" a way to tell a model from a pre-1980s serial. The eleven charts (vzgrips, all4shooters, collector forums and dealer prints) agree where they overlap; where two published tables disagree the tool prints both, never an average. 20 printed rows are malformed in the sources themselves (D659.902, E2000000… for 1980–83) — they are preserved with their anomalies and refuse, not repaired. 12 further chart notes ("War Years:", "N97xxxx highest known") carry no bound and answer nothing.

Records & archives

A chart says what the factory serials mean. Our records note for Smith & Wesson says who actually holds the factory records today, whether a letter of authenticity can be ordered, and what it costs and takes — observed, not assumed.

The Smith & Wesson records & archives note →

Other makes

Serial-number charts are published for: