Recently a significant number of 10-10, 10-11, and 10-14 revolvers have come back to the US from France. The one sure location on virtually all S&W revolvers for the serial number is on the bottom strap of the grip frame. The serial number on that vintage of revolver will consist of three letters followed by four numbers. On a 10-11 tge serial number will also be found on the frame’s mating surface for the crane, directly above the 10-11 marking. On some law-enforcement contracts the serial number is also marked on the left side of the frame, below the cylinder as you describe. The 10-11 was produced for a relatively short period of time between 1997-2001. It was produced simultaneously with the 10-12. The 10-11 was supposed to be a tapered barrel model, and the 10-12 the heavy barrel model. The Heavy Barrel was discontinued in 1997, so the 10-11 frames that were leftover were used to build Heavy Barrel revolvers. It appears that a large number of these were used to fulfill law-enforcement contracts overseas. The Uncle Mike’s synthetic grips are the original grips for this gun.