Low ser.# S&W ser.# prefix single # 3

Are you getting these numbers from the correct location on the butt of the gun or some other location. None of the numbers you have listed make any sense.
 
I've never seen a serial number like those on Smith and Wesson revolvers.
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I've never personally seen a single-digit S&W serial either, but I've read different authorities on the subject state that, prior to 1982, S&W would always omit the preceding zeroes after an alphabetical prefix. For example, C-series postwar K frames started at C1 rather than C000001, and proceeded through C9, C99, C999, C9999, etc. This system continued when S&W used the "wandering J" and "wandering K" in the 70s, e.g. the 5K prefix started with s/n 5K1.

FWIW the post-1982 3-letter 4-number system did away with this convention; e.g. the MPA prefix started with MPA0001 rather than MPA1.

I have personally examined a M34-1 with s/n M22x, and IIRC someone on the S&W forum owned M10-5 s/n D8.

I'd just like to know how vrichard managed to put together this collection. :cool:
 
Richard,

You posted these before. I'm not sure what you are hoping to accomplish by reposting them ? Perhaps perodically update the old threads instead. I guess I just don't understand what you will get my making new threads with the same subject.

They are nice guns, and IMO they should not be separated, and I hope you feel the same. As a S&W collector, I value the collection.

Here is the first time you showed us these, 2010:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=407486

March 2013:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=520560
 
IIRC, vrichard explained that he was dropping the rest of the serial, so that H3 is actually what many of us would write as H3xxxx. I am not sure what he wants or what information we can give him. Before they adopted the current three-letter four-number system, S&W assigned prefix letters to models or frames. The letters are in no special order, so Dxxxxxx was not necessarily made before Hxxxxxx.

Jim
 
It seems my memory was faulty, and I apologize for the error. Vrichard sent a PM saying that those are the serial numbers, in full, and that he has the boxes and also factory letters for them. Certainly an interesting collection.

Jim
 
I can't decide which is harder to understand. The objective of the original post or the responses to that! Either this is really pointless...or I'm getting dumber as I get older.

Dave
 
I have no opinion as to the purpose or validity of the post (do we even need such things?) but S&W did indeed start with serial 1 on model runs. If there is a prefix (post WW II guns) they started with with the letter and the number 1.

C1 (M&P from 1948), N1 (Model 28-2 from 1970) etc.

vrichard (or somebody) has been collecting S&Ws with the serial 3. This fascinates some collectors. I knew a guy many years ago who had about 30 guns of all types with the serial 9.

The lowest number I have is a Remington rifle serial 122. Mildly interesting to think it came off the line in the first day or two of production, but beyond that it doesn't mean much to me.
 
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