Welcome to the Forum. You have the information from the expert of experts and you can take it to the bank. Take Ed's advise and obtain that letter.
I do not know enough about engraving to tell you anything other than the fact that distributors did have many plain guns engraved. Distributors also provided non-factory mother-of-pearl stocks. When your 32 DA was made, pearl stocks did not yet have gold S&W medallions, so the stocks can either be factory or added by the distributor. A letter will help with both questions. The medallions appeared during the 1893 Chicago Exposition. Your revolver would have shipped from the factory around 1888.
I am quite sure you do not intend to sell the gun, but it is always a good idea to have the letter just in case. The difference between an all original factory gun and a post-factory engraved gun with non-factory stocks could add 2X to 3X to the value.
__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515
|