Online S/N Resource?

Bisley

Active Member
Here's my predicament:

I am looking to sell some rifles in my collection, pre-war leverguns and the like, over the next few months. Is there any free website that I could punch in a make/model/serial number combination and get a production date range for a given firearm? Thirty-odd years ago my Dad sent some information off to "Numbers" group by snail mail -- plus $25.00, I recall -- and discovered that Colt never heard of the 2nd Generation .44 x 7 1/2 with ivory grips in his collection. He did learn that the 1st Generation .38WCF x 4 3/4 with stag grips was made in 1926. Of course if somebody needed a modest credit card fee for online research or restricted web access I could understand that too.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
depending on what you have you may never find out the actual date, other than a range of years.
some of it you should be able to track down by google search.
I found the date for my K-22, win 92's and a few others by simple searches, or by a search then following a link I found on a website somewhere.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
The Cody Museum .
Winchester and S&W for sure . I don't think they do letters any more .
I recently ran some numbers generally that gives a month year .
Colts are a wreck . The collectors insist on the frame numbers for 1917s while the Army Number is usually accepted as the correct number for dating by everyone else ........ Mom has a 1915 frame/crane with a 1918 USA # .
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Nope, you have to buy books, some out of publication for more than 25 years that are fairly expensive. Even "Springfield Research Service" has been purchased by Krause Publications and you have to up front the money.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
First I've heard that Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Cody Museum) is no longer offering letters on Winchesters. Got one from them about 10 years ago on a model '73 takedown.

If your 'lever guns' are Winchesters they might be able to help you over on the Winchester Arms Collectors Association site. winchestercollector.org

I know that some of the guys over there have access to the old "polishing room records", which show some dates. There's a link on their front page to find out when your Winchester was manufactured or at least shipped from the warehouse.
 

Urny

Missouri Ozarks, heart still in the Ruby Mountains
Proofhouse.com is worth a look. I suspect their numbers may be no more infallible than most others.
 

Bisley

Active Member
Thanks a bunch.
I'm on the road this weekend but I will probably look into the gun histories after I get back to Indiana. Travel, taxes, etc all came first last month.