|
L.C. Smith serial numbers, as they are related to year of manufacture, are confusing. SERIAL NUMBER DATA BEFORE 1890 ARE NOT AVAILABLE. During the period of 1890 to 1916, many numbers are not sequential with blocks of overlapping numbers assigned to different types of shotguns, such as hammerless ejector guns. Starting in 1917, serial numbers of all types, gauges, and grades are intermixed. Adding to the confusion is that some pre-1913 ejector guns have an “E” at the end of the number, while others do not. Others have the suffix “R” (on both regular and featherweight frames). Many other inconsistencies occur. Serial numbers for the L.C. Smith Gun Company (1946-50) started with FWS1 and ended with FWS 56800. Serial numbers for the period of 1946 through 1950 include Hunter and Fulton shotguns. Serial numbers of guns produced by the Marlin Firearms Company (1968-71) had a prefix of FWM. You will need to know if the shotgun is pre-1913 or later gun because some of the early serial numbers were repeated in later years. In fact, some serial numbers were used five times between 1890 and 1950.You can determine if it is a pre-1913 or later by comparing information given under Grades of Shotguns on this website. With a little time and perseverance, you should be able to determine the year of manufacture, but remember that all serial numbers are not in the records. Unfortunately, several blocks of serial numbers (46,000 – 49,999, 70,000 – 78,999, and 90,000 – 99,999) have been lost.
You may determine the year of manufacture in three ways.
- Order a RESEARCH LETTER from the LCSCA.
- To LOOKUP A SERIAL NUMBER, enter the serial number (with a prefix of the single letter S or M when applicable; do not use all three letters such as FWS), select the gauge, check the boxes for a hammer gun and/or a pre-1913 gun, and click on "Lookup".
- The alternative is to do a visual search of the table that follows. The data in the following table were adapted from Brophy (1977).
|
|
|
1890 |
30,000
to 32,527 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1891 |
500
to 559 |
16,
12 and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
32,528
to 34,381 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1892 |
34,382
to 36,615 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1893 |
36,616
to 37,324 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1894 |
37,325
to 38,892 |
12
and 10 gauge |
50,000
to 50,867 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
1895 |
27,766
to 29,999 |
12
and 10 gauge hammer guns |
38,893
to 40,334 |
12
and 10 gauge |
50,868
to 51,735 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge |
60,000
to 60,144 |
16
gauge |
1896 |
40,335
to 42,219 |
16,
12, 10, and 8 gauge |
51,736
to 52,602 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
60,145
to 60,289 |
16
gauge |
1897 |
42,220
to 44,104 |
16,
12, 10, and 8 gauge |
52,603
to 55,301 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
60,290
to 60,434 |
16
gauge |
1898 |
560
to 3,173 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
44,105
to 45,999 |
16,
12, 10, and 8 gauge |
55,302
to 58,000 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
60,435
to 60,579 |
16
gauge |
1899 |
60,580
to 60,724 |
16
gauge |
100,000
to 105,210 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1900 |
60,725
to 60,869 |
16
gauge |
79,000
to 84,943 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
105,211
to 105,917 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1901 |
5,000
to 6,959 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
60,870
to 61,014 |
16
gauge |
84,944
to 89,999 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
105,918
to 111,681 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1902 |
6,960
to 9,000 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
61,015
to 61,159 |
16
gauge |
111,682
to 119,035 |
12
and 10 gauge |
125,000
to 129,700 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
200,000
to 200,025 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
1903 |
61,160
to 61,402 |
16
gauge |
119,036
to 120,767 |
12
and 10 gauge |
129,701
to 133,039 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
200,026
to 201,758 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
1904 |
61,403
to 61,685 |
16
gauge |
120,768
to 124,419 |
12
and 10 gauge |
133,040
to 137,445 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
201,759
to 203,272 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
300,000
to 300,301 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1905 |
61,686
to 62,156 |
16
gauge |
124,420
to 124,999 |
12
and 10 gauge |
137,446
to 144,409 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
203,273
to 205,098 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
300,302
to 305,787 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1906 |
62,157
to 62,653 |
16
gauge |
144,410
to 150,221 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
205,099
to 207,093 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
305,788
to 311,528 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1907 |
1,000
to 1,204 |
20
gauge |
5,000
to 5,131 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
62,654
to 63,698 |
16
gauge |
150,222
to 156,901 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
207,094
to 209,368 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
311,529
to 318,079 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1908 |
1,205
to 1,329 |
20
gauge |
5,132
to 5,379 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
63,699
to 64,226 |
16
gauge |
156,902
to 159,519 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
209,369
to 210,579 |
<16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
318,080
to 322,129 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1909 |
1,330
to 1,788 |
20
gauge |
5,380
to 5,677 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
64,227
to 65,021 |
16
gauge |
159,520
to 163,160 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
210,580
to 211,885 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
322,130
to 329,476 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1910 |
1,789
to 2,587 |
20
gauge |
5,678
to 6,238 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
65,022
to 65,861 |
16
gauge |
163,161
to 166,705 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
211,886
to 213,084 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
329,477
to 333,081 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1911 |
2,588
to 3,615 |
20
gauge |
6,239
to 6,593 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
65,862
to 66,821 |
16
gauge |
166,706
to 168,761 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
213,085
to 214,246 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
333,082
to 336,572 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1912 |
3,616
to 4,630 |
20
gauge |
6,594
to 7,076 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
66,822
to 67,683 |
16
gauge |
168,762
to 171,415 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
214,247
to 215,615 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
336,573
to 341,717 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1913 |
4,631
to 4,999 |
20
gauge |
10,000
to 10,786 |
20
gauge |
7,077
to 7,521 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
67,684
to 68,704 |
16
gauge |
171,416
to 173,371 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
215,616
to 216,939 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
341,718
to 345,493 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1914 |
10,787
to 11,451 |
20
gauge |
7,522
to 7,828 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
68,705
to 69,681 |
16
gauge |
173,372
to 175,483 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
216,940
to 218,260 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
345,494
to 350,857 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1915 |
11,452
to 11,873 |
20
gauge |
<7,829
to 7,935 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
68,682
to 69,999 |
16
gauge |
400,000
to 401,758 |
16
gauge |
175,484
to 176,091 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
218,261
to 218,829 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
350,858
to 352,431 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1916 |
11,874
to 12,361 |
20
gauge |
7,936
to 8,149 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
176,092
to 176,576 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
218,830
to 219,603 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
352,432
to 355,068 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1917 |
12,362
to 12,666 |
20
gauge |
8,150
to 8,250 |
20
gauge hammerless ejector |
176,577
to 178,522 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
219,604
to 219,750 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammerless ejector |
355,069
to 359,624 |
12
and 10 gauge |
1918 |
12,667
to 12,753 |
20
gauge |
178,523
to 179,841 |
16,
12, and 10 gauge hammer guns |
359,625
to 361,701 |
12
and 10 gauge |
> 101
to 3,850 |
all
types and gauges |
1919 |
3,851
to 18,252 |
all
types and gauges |
1920 |
18,253
to 35,228 |
all
types and gauges |
1921 |
35,229
to 44,566 |
all
types and gauges |
1922 |
44,567
to 51,985 |
all
types and gauges |
1923 |
51,986
to 64,187 |
all
types and gauges |
1924 |
64,188
to 75,897 |
all
types and gauges |
1925 |
75,898
to 86,695 |
all
types and gauges |
1926 |
86,696
to 93,841 |
all
types and gauges |
1927 |
93,842
to 103,900 |
all
types and gauges |
1928 |
103,901
to 114,817 |
all
types and gauges |
1929 |
114,818
to 125,347 |
all
types and gauges |
1930 |
125,348
to 132,827 |
all
types and gauges |
1930
to 1938 |
134,243
to 136,741 |
all
types and gauges |
1931 |
132,828
to 134,242 |
all
types and gauges |
1932 |
136,742
to 137,779 |
all
types and gauges |
1933 |
137,780
to 138,371 |
all
types and gauges |
1934 |
138,372
to 140,146 |
all
types and gauges |
1935 |
140,147
to144,296 |
all
types and gauges |
1936 |
144,297
to 151,123 |
all
types and gauges |
1937 |
151,124
to 162,670 |
all
types and gauges |
1938 |
162,671
to 171,179 |
all
types and gauges |
1939 |
171,180
to 181,701 |
all
types and gauges |
1940 |
181,702
to 190,280 |
all
types and gauges |
1941 |
190,281
to 197,124 |
all
types and gauges |
1942 |
197,125
to 201,794 |
all
types and gauges |
1943 |
201,795
to 202,959 |
all
types and gauges |
1944 |
202,960
to 204,084 |
all
types and gauges |
1945 |
204,085
to 205,423 |
all
types and gauges |
1946 |
S1
to 8,595 |
all
types and gauges |
1947 |
8,596
to 25,661 |
all
types and gauges |
1948 |
25,662
to 41,825 |
all
types and gauges |
1949 |
41,826
to 55,608 |
all
types and gauges |
1950 |
55,609
to 56,800 |
all
types and gauges |
1968
to 1971 |
M56,801
to 59,152 |
Field
Grade |
M100,000
to 100,188 |
Deluxe
Model |
|
