SW99 - The serial number is located on the frame at the rear of the pistol. For long guns manufactured in the early 1980's, please contact the following dealers for parts and service. Smith & Wesson discontinued these models and no longer has a parts inventory. Only two examples of this model are currently known; Serial numbers 211 and 438. Smith And Wesson S Database Serial Numbers Are Found. Assembly numbers and the early style frame are the identifiers for the first issue revolvers - after about serial 500 full serial numbers are found in the five usual locations.

Smith And Wesson Model 36 Serial Numbers
Smith And Wesson Identification Guide
Smith And Wesson Serial Number Lookup

Smith & Wesson produced approximately 169,595 U.S. Army Model 1917 Revolvers between 1917 and 1919. All revolvers were polish blue with 5.5 inch barrels and chambered to shoot the .45 ACP round. Early production revolvers had the ordnance acceptance mark of GHS (Gilbert H. Stewart) which was replaced with the ordnance bomb pictured below around April of 1918. The final inspection mark of Eagle/S# started to appear around June 1918, before that date there was not one present on the rear trigger guard web (see inspectors mark image below).

S&W M1917 revolvers in this serial number range were shipped to the American Expeditionary Forces at Bush Terminal. Also to be found on the right side of this example is the mark of the Ordnance Office “OO” as they served as guard guns in the 1930s.

The Original finish on the S&W M1917 was bright polish blue with case hardened hammer and trigger, they were configured to use the .45 ACP ammo with a moon clip (holds 3 bullets, also allows for extraction).
The inspectors mark of Col. Gilbert H. Stewart (GHS) can be found on the left side of the receiver until April, 1918 and then a Ordnance insignia (bomb) until end of production.
The serial number can be found on the butt, back of cylinder, underside of barrel, inside right grip, underside of extractor, inside of crane.
'United States Property' mark is located on the bottom of the barrel.
Barrel is tapered. Unlike the M1909 barrel.

New Model Number Three

Always interested in perfecting Model 3 revolver D.B. Wesson redesigned and improved old Model 3 in hopes of attracting more sales. Russian contracts were almost filled, so the company decided to devote the effort necessary to improve on this design. In 1877, this project was undertaken. Extractor housing was shortened; cylinder retention system was improved; shape of grip was changed to a more streamlined and attractive configuration. This New Model was available with a 3.5', 4', 5', 6', 6.5', 7', 7.5' or 8' barrel length, with 6-shot fluted cylinder. The 6.5' barrel and .44 S&W Russian chambering is the most often encountered variation of this model, but the factory considered the 3.5' and 8' barrels as standard and these were kept in stock as well. New Model No. 3 was also chambered for .32 S&W, .32-44 S&W, .320 S&W Rev. Rifle, .38 S&W, .38-40, .38-44 S&W, .38 US (.38 Colt), .41 S&W, .44 Henry rimfire, .44 S&W American, .44-40, .45 S&W Schofield, .450 Rev., .45 Webley, .455 MkI and .455 MkII. They are blued or nickel-plated and have checkered hard rubber grips, with S&W logo molded into them, or walnut grips. There are many sub-variations within this model designation and the potential collector should secure detailed reference material that deals with this model. Approximately 35,796 of these revolvers manufactured between 1878 and 1912. Nearly 40 percent were exported to fill contracts with Japan, Australia, Argentina, England, Spain and Cuba. There were some sent to Asia, as well. Proof marks or military marks of these countries or factory shipping records will establish their provenance.Variations of the New Mod. No. 3 include: Maryland Militia – US, HN, and DAL markings – 200 made – maybe double standard value; Revenue Cutter Service – US purchase, no special markings, i.d. by serial number – 50% premium; Turkish Model – .44 Henry Rimfire; P, U, & AFC markings, own s/n range 1-5461 – 50% to 100% premium; Japanese Navy – usually with Anchor marking – possible slight premium; Japanese Artillery – Japanese kanji on ejector housing – 25% to 50% premium; Argentine Model – marked EJERCITO ARGENTNO, 2,000 made – 50% to 100% premium; Australian Colonial Police with detachable shoulder stock – double value if stock included; Unusual configurations – rare barrel lengths, rare calibers, and special order sights all add to the value of a gun, depending on the rarity of the variation. Related models – several models shared the same configuration but were offered as distinct models in their own serial number ranges. Their listings follow this one and include: New Model No. 3 Target Model; New Model No. 3 Frontier Model; New Mod. No. 3 38 Winchester Model; Revolving Rifle – based on New Mod. No. 3 frame

Standard Model

6.5' barrel, .44 S&W Russian.

Courtesy Mike Stuckslager

NIB	Exc	V.G.	Good	Fair	Poor
^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000

Japanese Naval Contract
Smith serial number dates

Largest foreign purchaser of this model. More than 1,500 produced, with anchor insignia stamped on frame.

NIB	Exc	V.G.	Good	Fair	Poor
^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000

Japanese Artillery Contract

Smith And Wesson Model 36 Serial Numbers

This variation numbered in 25000 serial range. They are blued, with 7' barrel and lanyard swivel on butt. Japanese characters are stamped on extractor housing.

NIB	Exc	V.G.	Good	Fair	Poor
^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000

Maryland Militia Model

Variation is nickel-plated, has 6.5' barrel and chambered for .44 S&W Russian cartridge. Butt stamped 'U.S.' and inspector's marks 'HN' and 'DAL' under date 1878 appear on revolver. There were 280 manufactured between serial numbers 7126 and 7405. NOTE: Rarity makes valuation speculative.

NIB	Exc	V.G.	Good	Fair	Poor
^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000

Argentine Model

Essentially not a factory contract, but a sale through Schuyler, Hartley and Graham. They are stamped 'Ejercito/Argentino' in front of trigger guard. Order amounted to some 2,000 revolvers between serial numbers 50 and 3400.

NIB	Exc	V.G.	Good	Fair	Poor
^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000	^$0000

Australian Contract

This variation is nickel-plated and chambered for .44 S&W Russian cartridge. Marked with Australian Colonial Police Broad Arrow on the butt. There were 250 manufactured with 7' barrels and detachable shoulder stocks. Stock has Broad Arrow stamped on lower tang. There were also 30 manufactured with 6.5' barrels, without the stocks. Speaker

Smith Wesson Age By Serial Number