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A friend did a PPT DROS several years ago and the gun store used a serial number from the crane area on a S & W J frame. It was an older model 30. All went through and he has had possession of the revolver ever since. He took off the extended grips and saw a different number on the butt and is now not sure what to do. The gun store he used to do the transfer is now closed, out of business. He asked me for advice and I'm not sure. I have several newer J frames and they all have the serial number at the crane and the butt but they match on mine. He showed me the pistol and the number is clear, not changed or altered, but different, both numbers are on the frame. In fact the number appears again, under the grips. He does have a copy of the DROS that he showed me and the number matches the crane number. Any suggestions for the proper procedures to correct or should he just leave it alone because the one number matches the DROS?
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I've always heard the number is usually in both places and is the same. It's that way on my 686. This is the first I've heard about a revolver having different numbers.
I wouldn't worry about it.
I'd guess it's a mistake from the factory. I might be interested enough that I would contact S&W with both numbers as if they were 2 different handguns and see what they say. Maybe do a little internet research and see if this is a rarity, might add some collector's value if the factory did indeed put 2 different serial numbers on one handgun.
Rogue American, Media Mercenary.
"A firearm is just a tool. Any tool can be used as a weapon, but the most powerful weapons were written."Comment
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The number is the one on the bottom of the grip. S&W know about this and have stated which number to use.Comment
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Not his fault, so don't have to do a single thing! as long as the number is matching on both the DROS paperwork and the handgun then it should be okay, afterall he legally did the PPT with the FFL.Comment
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I don't think it matters at this point. I'm sure type-o's happen a lot. Anyone looking up the serial number is probably going to use the one that is most visible.sigpic10mm collectorComment
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Did a little research and it seems that the number recorded on the DROS was the assembly number, bet it has happened before. S&W should have thought it through better.Comment
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Smith & Wesson serial numbers
Smith assembly numbers repeat on different models and within the same model. That means the possibility of another Smith (or more) with the same assembly number is out there. Your friend can always file a firearms ownership record with CA DOJ and list the correct serial number. That allows him to recover his firearm if it is ever stolen.Comment
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