You buy a book that has the serial numbers in it.
When was 38 smith and Wesson serial number 172095
Your serial number was used by Smith and Wesson for the models 10,12,13,45,64,65,547.It dates this serial number to the year 1979.
Find a book with sn lists for S&W. The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, by Supica and Nahas has what you are looking for.
You don't decode the serial, you decode the date code stamped on the barrel starting in 1921. If you have something before that you need a model/serial to date it. Check the manufactured date link on the Remington Society of America for details.
serial number 28402
Dan Wesson 44 Mag value? Serial number 004852
You will need to add the model of Smith and Wesson to your serial number to get the correct year of manufacture.
No serial number given.
You don't decode the serial, you decode the date code stamped on the barrel starting in 1921. If you have something before that you need a model/serial to date it. Check the manufactured date link on the Remington Society of America for details.
No such serial number. The serial number is on the butt.
Your serial number indicates that your Smith and Wesson model 18 was made in the year 1962.