Serial_ Numbers

Location and Length of Serial Number ranges
There can be as many as 10 serial numbers located on a '49, subject to differences for each model. Those locations are listed and depicted below. Further down is a table of the most common abbreviations for each model.
1	Barrel	These three located together on the underside of the gun, ahead of the trigger. All three show the full serial number.
2	Frame
3	Trigger Guard
4	Cylinder	Under the "COLTS PATENT" stamped on the cylinder. Generally the full number, until later models when it is abbreviated to 5, 4, or 3 digits.
5	Butt Strap	Always full length number - but in later models can be split into two rows, as shown below.
6	Wedge	Often abbreviated, as listed below.
7	Arbor	Regularly abbreviated.
8	Loading Lever	Generally 4 digits when applied.
9	Lever Latch	Very hard to see without dismantling the latch spring etc - which is definitely not advised.
10	Grip	Hand written, in black ink (occasionally pencil). Few grips are removed, so abbreviations are not well documented.


Barrel, Frame, and Trigger Guard	Arbor, Trigger Guard, & Frame	Cylinder	Butt Strap

Wedge	Loading Lever	Grip	Lever Latch


The following table shows, for various models and serial number ranges, whether a number occurs in each location, if it is normally a full length number, or how many digits it is most frfequently abbreviated to. It is important to note there are many variations to these "norms". Some are noted below.
		Barrel	Frame	Guard	Butt	Cylinder	Wedge	Arbor	Lever	Latch	Grip
Baby Dragoon without Rammer
	3 to 1888	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	N/A	N/A	Full
	1890 to 14152	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	3	3	N/A	N/A	Full
Baby Dragoon with Rammer
	11670 to 15461	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	3	3(1)	Full	3	Full
Wells Fargo - Short Frame
	14462 to 15784	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	3	3	N/A	N/A	Full
	15785 to 63348	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	4(2)	N/A	N/A	Full
Wells Fargo - Long Frame
	78488 to 99996	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	4	N/A	N/A	Full
	99997 to 164182	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	5	4	N/A	N/A	4 or 5
2-Line New York
	14454 to 45000	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	3	3	4	3	4 or 5
	45001 to 69000	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	3	4	3	4 or 5
	69001 to 100000	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
	100001 to 175000	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	5	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
	175001 to 174537	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
2-Line Hartford
	171452 to 182000	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	5	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
	182000 to 184500	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
	184800 to 201600	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	5	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
	201900 to 205100	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
	205900 to 206532	Full	Full	Full	Full	5	5	4	4	3	4,5, or 6
1-Line New York
	187131 to 198918	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	5	4	4	3	4
	198919 to 261680	Full	Full	Full	Full	5	5	4	4	3	4
	261681 to 327761	Full	Full	Full	Full	4	5	4	Blank(4)	3	4
	327762 to 327850	Full	Full	Full	Full	3	5	4	4	3	4
	327850 to 332993	Full	Full	Full	Full(3)	3	Blank	3	4	3	4
Notes:
1	At least one example (#12872) exists with full number on arbor pin.
2	5 digits are occasionally seen.
3	From approximately # 330000 these numbers are stacked in two rows of three, as depicted above - without exception.
4	Exceptions are the "L" marked export guns in the ranges 269000 and 296000-298000 which have 3 digits.