Smith And Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers Database May 2026

Once you master basic dating, you can use serial number databases for more advanced tasks:

Since S&W does not publish a single, complete, real-time public database, enthusiasts have crowdsourced and compiled extensive references. Here are the most reliable resources to treat as your Smith and Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers Database.

In the 1960s and 1970s, S&W was owned by Bangor Punta. Quality dipped. Serial number databases can tell you if your revolver is from the "good" early 1960s or the "spotty" late 1970s.

Depending on the era of production, the serial number location varies: smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database

Let’s walk through a real-world scenario. You have a revolver with the serial number "D 45678" inside the yoke cut. Here is how to treat that number as data.

Step 1: Locate the Serial Number

Step 2: Identify the Model Number If it says "MOD 10-5" – you have a Model 10, engineering revision 5. If it says no model number, you have a pre-1957 revolver. Once you master basic dating, you can use

Step 3: Query the Database Go to the Smith & Wesson Forum or pull out the Standard Catalog. Look for the table specific to your frame.

  • In this case, "D 45678" likely shipped in 1968.

    • Step 4: Cross-Reference Features Does your database entry match the gun? If your database says the serial number range was for 4-inch heavy barrels, but your gun has a 2-inch tapered barrel, you have either a rare variant or a mismatched gun.

    For collectors, historians, and buyers, Smith & Wesson (S&W) revolver serial numbers are the key to unlocking a firearm’s production date, model lineage, and provenance. This post explains what serial-number databases are, how to use them responsibly, where to look (and what to avoid), and best practices when researching and documenting S&W revolvers. Step 2: Identify the Model Number If it

    If you’d like, I can:

    Would you like the spreadsheet template or a list of recommended reference books?

    A database cannot detect a refinish, but it can warn you. If the serial number on the butt is faint, washed out, or has rounded edges, the gun was buffed and reblued. This halves collector value. If the number is restamped, it’s a red flag.