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Old 07-07-2010, 12:59 PM
10/22 10/22 is offline
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Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian.  
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Default Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian.

I've had a New Model 3 for some time and I have a question about it's serial numbers.
Originally blue it was professionally refinished nearly 50 years ago. I thought the gunsmith must have polished off the serial number from bottom of butt. At the time I didn't care if he did or not, but now I'm not sure. It carries a low number of 52xx on all other parts. Finding no number on frame and wondering how he could polish it off with all other lettering very plain and clear and with the bottom of the old ivory grips matching up completely with butt, I looked it over hard.
I found a star and possibly a double digit number between the locking lugs of frame. I know Smith puts a star on rebuilt, repaired pieces, but do they do it in that location as well? I'm puzzled by this.
10/22
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Last edited by 10/22; 07-07-2010 at 01:03 PM.
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Old 07-07-2010, 02:49 PM
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Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian.  
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My NM #3 is missing it's grip frame serial number, too. Mine shipped in 1882 and had a non-factory lanyard ring installed, probably by the retailer and it completely obliterated the serial. Like yours, all other number match.
Those ivories are beauties!
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Old 07-07-2010, 09:16 PM
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Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian.  
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Welcome to the Forum! The star stamp is a fitter's/assemblers mark. While it's not all that rare to find an occasional S&W with no serial number visible on the butt, my guess would be that your gun's butt number was polished off, and the grips refitted to the gun. The picture of the left side of the gun shows that considerable buffing took place before the gun was refinished, probably years ago. If you do a magnaflux Xray of the butt, it will probably indicate the metal's molecues were disturbed by the original but number stamping, and maybe even make the number readable. Ed . #15
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Old 07-08-2010, 12:10 PM
10/22 10/22 is offline
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Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian. Serial # question Smith & Wesson early New Model #3 .44 Russian.  
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Default Polished numbers off

You may be right about butt being polished and grips refitted, but it would have to be done very early in it's life. When I found this gun I was young, had to have one and picked it out of a basket of broken Smith & Wesson's in an antique shop in LA, CA. All I could afford was this almost no blue finish left, rough #3 with beautiful ivory grips. I'm the one who had it blued and I do not think the Smith refitted grips, in fact I'm sure of it, so there you have it. We can only guess or as you say have it magnafluxed.
And thanks on the assembly star.
Jim.

Last edited by 10/22; 07-08-2010 at 12:22 PM.
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