I have a ww2 era smith and Wesson revolver it’s has a number stamped in the bottom of the grips (918709) I’ve searched this number and found it to be a service number to Philip pike he was part of the royal artillery and secondary unit was heavy anti aircraft could this be a possible connection with the gun More pictures
I’ve emailed smith and Wesson and sent them pictures the serial number is v749000 but the number on the bottom of the grips did not come from the factory like that they said no number would have been stamped into the actual grips
I'd try the S&W serial number DB as well. Never can tell what might turn up. I haven't used it since I don't have any S&Ws but I've used the Colt one many times with excellent results. Serial Search
Oh right ok thank you for letting me know, I was getting near enough the same results from different websites so thought it may have been some what legit
I’ve just tried and it’s saying the serial number you entered is not valid for this consumer advisory
Looking again at the number on the wooden grip is it '918709' or S18709'? The first figure is not that clear.
I've just been browsing the S & W site and they don't appear to offer a general serial number look-up, only in regards to specific model recalls/safety notices (consumer advisories).
Last bit of reply I’ve just posted the reply I got from smith and Wesson, they offer you a authenticity certificate and can tell you about the gun and how it left the factory
It would be highly unusual for an Other Rank to have their service number on an issue firearm. Equally for them to be allowed to carry a private purchase item (yes, irregularities happened 'in the field' however this doesn't have the 'feel' of that). This looks like a co-incidental inventory number. It could possibly be a war aid number however that is not my expertice. More likely, if it is a commercial de-act product there are often post war user inventory numbers on them as these get dragged from odd armouries around the world.