S&W three letter prefix serial numbers

[Petrol & Powder]

Around 1980ish (maybe 1981?) S&W went to a three letter prefix for their serial numbers. These started with AAA and, for the most part, ran in order. AAA, AAB, AAC, etc.
Does anyone have a reference that matches those three letter prefixes to approximate manufacturing dates and/or special runs?

 

[oscarflytyer]

Colts are easy to date. Smiths have been a 'hole 'nother story, ime. I have had to go on the Smith collectors forums and do a lot of research, and then get input, and usually only get a window. Unlike Colt, I can get a year. Remington you can get month and year from the barrel codes.

 

[CZ93X62]

S&W dating is kept intentionally vague, in order to sustain the S&W Collector's Association with proceeds from "Factory Letter" requests. You can get a fair estimate/rough date from "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson", but be aware that the 3-letter/4-numeral sequencing skips around among frame sizes, models and calibers now.

The timeline of the change to the present sequencing was c. 1980, at roughly the same time pinned barrels went out of vogue. As in all things S&W, there are exceptions to any "rule" within manufacturing and nomenclature discipline. That said, SCS&W has some guidance, starting in "Appendix B" on pp. 485. On pp. 490 appears the sub-heading--"The Dreaded Triple-Alpha Serial Number Ranges". Res Ipsa Loquitor. They are listed in year-sequential order, and "A dog's breakfast" is a true definition of the scrambled info. Post the 3-alpha sequence and I'll take a stab at it. Text states, and I quote--"Between 1980 and 1983 all models were transitioned to a serial number system that consists of three letters followed by four numerical digits." (pp. 490)

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Thank You

 

[oscarflytyer]

as CZ says, ONLY "nail" is the Smith Letter - and $! Having said that, I just got my first lettered Smith! Bought a Victory off GB, and includes the letter. Plus a book about what the purchasing company did during the war effort (Steel Car Co; built armored tracks it looks like!). Will prob post a separate thread with details. If interested, push me! In process of moving, so pls be patient!

 

[John]

Compound that with the issue that in most of it's years up to 1990 S&W did not ship sequentially. Boxes and stamped frames might sit on a shelf for a year or more before being shipped or barreled. Some got overstamps some didn't.