Had my eye on this from a few days back, so went to get it...

Interesting combination, a 1915 revolver with 1984 stocks

Oh, is this a refinish date?

What's this star next to the serial number?


I think I'll letter this thing. What do you folks think?
rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

Yes, the 1.44 indicates a trip back to the factory, as does the star next to the serial number.

You will note that that this date was right in the middle of WW II. You would think that wartime production of the Victory model revolvers would have pushed repairs to the side. Well, I asked Mr Roy Jinks about this, as I have a 3rd Model .44 Special that was returned to the factory in February 1942. He told me that the repair shop continued to operate throughout the war years, as Smith & Wesson was determined to provide customer service to its loyal patrons.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

If it went back for a refinish they did a decent job, and having the work documented/stamped on the gun as factory doesn't hurt the value much IMO. Just adds to the character of the gun. It's a good looking piece with honest wear. You going to find some period-correct stocks for it?

Might have been a Factory re-Finish in 1944...and or, the Blue does look like aged 1915, but, more like aged 1940s era...and there is some suggestion of buffing having occurred prior to it's original state...at least looks that way on my computer monitor anyway.

Interesting old S&W, and, I bet it will be fun to shoot, too!

Common thinking on these .32-20's is that their cylinders were not heat treated until around 90,000. So be gentle with this old girl. Take her to the range, but shoot "cowboy" loads. Get her some new shoes too!

Drew

Look for a diamond near the serial number on barrel and cylinder. The trip back to the factory is not a guarantee of a re-finish. If could have been for repairs and/or parts replacement or all three. Diamond marked parts are factory replaced parts.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Muley Gil Said: "You will note that that this date was right in the middle of WW II."
That was one of the reasons I found this revolver interesting.

Dragon 88 said: "You going to find some period-correct stocks for it?"
I hope to, either original or reproduction.

Sebago Son said: "So be gentle with this old girl. Take her to the range, but shoot "cowboy" loads. Get her some new shoes too!"
Thank you, I will observe the low pressure warning.

Hondo 44 said: "Look for a diamond near the serial number on barrel and cylinder. The trip back to the factory is not a guarantee of a re-finish. If could have been for repairs and/or parts replacement or all three. Diamond marked parts are factory replaced parts."

Bingo! The barrel has a diamond with a "B" inside it, stamped adjacent to the serial number. The serial number matched that on the butt and cylinder, but appears slightly less "worn" than the others. If this is a correct barrel replacement stamping, You and Oyeboteb seems correct in implying that there may have been other work on the return trip. I will try to get a picture, camera skills permitting.

Thank all of you for your comments, lessons, and assistance. It is certainly appreciated.

rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

It may have been a request for a different length barrel which an S&W letter will verify. Or more likely to replace a barrel with a bad bore. Isn't it nice that Smith stamped the new barrel with the matching serial #?

The tip off to a barrel change for me was the ejector knob which is the post c. 1930 style. Your revolver originally came with the 'mushroom' style that required a different notch in the barrel; neither of which were available in 1944. Shown here on 22/32 I frame Target (top gun):



Your barrel and ejector style:

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Jim
S&WCA #819