The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation offers research services to provide factory letters, which can confirm the shipping date and original configuration of your revolver. 4. General Dating Guidelines (Post-War)
In this era, serial numbers were often strictly numeric and frequently overlapped between different models. A single number like "100,000" could apply to thirteen different models, making the physical features of the gun vital for identification. 2. The Letter Prefix Era (1940s–1980) smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database
Once you master basic dating, you can use serial number databases for more advanced tasks: The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation offers research
Inside the (open the cylinder and look at the frame where the cylinder arm meets it). smith and wesson revolver serial numbers database