Originally Posted by
miamijim
Does not apply to plate stamped serial numbers.
Format must be stamped directly into the metal. First character is a letter followed by 3 numbers, a space, then more numbers. Nobody knows what the 'letter' signifies but some speculate its factory code.
Not quite correct, the year and month decoding does not apply to all plate stamped serial numbers.
Some of the plate stamped serial numbers have the year and month encoded in them.
All of the plate stamped serial numbers that I have seen with 7 digits and that begin with '6', '7', or '8' have year and month information.
All of the plate stamped serial numbers that I have seen with 7 digits and that begin with '0', '1', or '2' do not have year and month information.