22 revolver serial numbers mixed with a different model Colt, and the. Colt often mixed several models in the same serial number ranges or split models out by caliber.ĭuring the mid-1950's the serial number data is so mixed as to be almost incomprehensible.Īs example you may have a model of revolver made in.

To comply with the law, Colt began adding letters to the serial numbers as prefixes and suffixes to make each firearm have a unique number.Īn added issue is Colt's often confusing serial number system. This law mandated that from then on all new firearms had to have a serial number and that number had to be unique. In 1968 the Gun Control of 1968 was passed.

Since all Colt's started off at number '1' it's possible to have a number of older Colt firearms all with the same serial number. This can be a most difficult question to answer.įirst, identifying a Colt revolver can be frustrating because beginning in 1840 Colt always started each new model at serial number '1', and progressed upward until the model was discontinued, OR until the mid-1960's when the serial number system changed to meet Federal law. The second question is often 'What Colt do I have'?īefore you can determine when a Colt was made, you first have to determine WHAT Colt model you have. A common first question for a Colt owner is 'When was my Colt made'.

Colt sp1 serial numbers 209307