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Thread: S&W Serial Numbers

  1. #1
    Member TGS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Back in northern Virginia

    S&W Serial Numbers

    When looking at Model 19s, I see that most have a serial number prefix of 1K, 2K, 3K, etc.

    Are three letter prefix's always indicative of a special order? Or did they simply switch over the three letter prefixes after a certain point?

    And is there a definitive list of SKUs and who ordered them without having to send a $100 check to Jinks?

    Thanks for any insight.
    "Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll."- Last words of Todd Beamer

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    South Florida
    Buy the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Supica and Nahas. It will set you back about 40 bucks and worth much more. It contains just about everything you would ever want to know about all things S&W. It is the Bible for anyone interested in S&W. Trust me you will enjoy having it.

    To answer your question the serial number system was changed to 3 letters and 4 numbers starting in 1980.
    Billy

    Gunsmith, M/C mechanic, Retired Army, NRA Life Member
    "When you have to shoot...Shoot don't talk" Tuco

  3. #3
    1k, 2k, etc are just where the serial number sequences ended up over time. Some good reference stuff over at:

    https://www.northeastshooters.com/xe...e-a-s-w.68254/

  4. #4
    Member jtcarm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Texas Cross Timbers
    No, three-letter prefixes became “standard” in the 80s.

  5. #5
    Member jtcarm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Texas Cross Timbers
    Sorry, I didn’t see Bushy had already answered ( also don’t know how I put standard in quotes[emoji848])

    Even the Standard Catalog may not be 100% on SNs and years and will tell you so.

    That’s not a slam against SCSW. It’s well worth the price if you’re interested in S&Ws, and certainly cheaper than a letter.

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