Factory Rework

Mad Mick · #1 08-25-2016, 04:25 PM

Apologies if this has been done to death, I have a No.3 Target in 32-44 which has in my opinion been refinished.
There is a rework star on the butt, put there after the refinish, the date under the grips is 11/10.
I have known this revolver for some time before I acquired, it so 2010 would be out of place?
There was a thread some time ago that stated the S&W ceased rework on these guns in the 60's (I think) but search as I might, I cant find it.
Any comments?

mrcvs · #2 08-25-2016, 04:56 PM

Yes, a star means it was serviced at the factory, but that could be for anything. It is possible it was sent to the factory in November of 1910 for something other than refinishing and refinished later. It could also be that it was refinished in November of 1910.

Please post photographs.

glowe · #3 08-25-2016, 05:18 PM

Welcome to the Forum. Any replaced exterior part would require a refinish so the gun would look uniform. I also think that the factory might refinish a worn gun that came to them for any reason to impress the customer with the thorough job they do.

Lots of variation in stamping parts occur on the older repairs, but often a replaced part would have a diamond stamp on the part replaced. If a new barrel was installed, many times it would be stamped with a diamond somewhere on the replaced part. Look the gun over for any stamps other than the standard serial numbers rib, etc.

JSR III · #4 08-25-2016, 05:34 PM

Photos would help. Sounds like work done in November of 1910.

Skeetr57 · #5 08-25-2016, 10:15 PM

I have a nickled .32-44 target that was sent back to S&W for a complete refinish and re-work in June of 1956. The only re-work marking are the date stamps on the left side of the frame under the grips, and the numbers are so small that a magnifying glass is needed to read them. It has no re-work stat stamped anywhere, but the barrel is a much earlier serial number than the frame and cylinder.

Mad Mick · #6 08-26-2016, 03:32 AM

First off thank you for your replies and apologies to all, rework date 10.11, had a senior moment.
The reason I am curious, is the type of finish applied to the gun, it is what I would associate with the modern hot blueing process, rather than the Carbona method used by S&W in period.
Finish is 99% plus, tight lock-up, bright bores and all matching numbers.
The rework star has raised edges, the serial number not, and I cannot find any diamond mark.
So did S&W use this method of bluing in 1911?
I have attempted to post photos, but they are not brilliant, the logo for example looks a lot deeper in the flesh.

H Richard · #7 08-26-2016, 09:54 AM

It is my understanding that S&W will not work on any gun that is not Model Marked, and then only back to about the 70's time frame as they have no parts to fit anything older. It may be even more restricted by now. The thought that S&W refinished that in 2010 just isn't feasible.

rct269 · #8 08-26-2016, 12:10 PM

I am quite certain the original/old bluing process was used in 1910---would go so far as to wager a substantial sum on it.

As an aside, I am also quite certain the <> mark sometimes found on reworked guns was not in use at that time (but no bet on that one). As a related aside, I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the use of the <> mark does NOT indicate a replaced part----at least not each and every time. The bottom line is these marks meant something of value to the folks who put them there at the time they put them there. ALL of our not so scientific wild guesses as to what they meant are just that.

Ralph Tremaine

And on the off chance that anybody KNOWS, are (were) barrels removed from frames (of hand ejector revolvers) when refinished by the factory?