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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 07-06-2013, 11:11 PM
riversalmon riversalmon is offline
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Default Frame and Barrel flat stamp?

Want to know what a star on the frame after the serial number indicates? Also a < B > on the under barrel flat would mean? Thank you for your time.
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Old 07-06-2013, 11:37 PM
delta-419 delta-419 is offline
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Talking Markings

A 5 point star on the butt next to the serial number indicates a return to the factory for some type of work. The "B" under the barrel indicates that the gun was a factory blue finish. Hope this helps. Show us some photos of your Smith, we love photos.
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Old 07-07-2013, 03:34 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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If this: <B> was to indicate a B in a diamond, that indicates a Blue replaced barrel by the factory.

Besides the star there should be a Date for a return to the factory; 3 or 4 digits stamped on left side of grip frame on the 'toe' stamped vertically or horizontally, that will not match any other stamped #s on the gun, Ex: 3.48 for march 1948, 10.57 for Oct 1957, etc.
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Old 07-07-2013, 03:50 PM
riversalmon riversalmon is offline
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Hondo, On both the barrel flat and left side by the grip aligning pin, there is a B in a diamond. Also on the left side grip frame, also by the pin, there is a 2 and an M. on the right side there is a J, 4, and a B with out the diamond, all surrounding the grip aligning pin with an 8 stamped lower on the grip below the pin. In addition there is a 9 5 stamped on the left upper portion of the grip frame near the top. This gun is a pre k22 that has a four inch barrel and appeared to be a fixed sight model. ser# 635xxx *. Interestingly it appears that the barrel was altered by cutting the original barrel, turning down an inch or so of the remaining barrel. Then the cut off piece with the front sight was drilled out so it would slide over the turned down portion of the barrel and attached . This enabled the barrel to be shortened while still retaining the original front sight. The adjustable rear sight was removed and into the recess a fixed sight was perfectly machined and attached to the frame. I am wondering if it would be worth the effort to letter the gun and see if any of the modifications were done by S&W. Thanks for your attention RS
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Old 07-07-2013, 05:09 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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RS,

That's a very good description of the work and various markings. And an interesting gun. Someone did a lot of careful machining on it. Let's take this one step at a time:

1. That serial # indicates it's a pre war early 1930s K22 Outdoorsman. No rib on the barrel, correct?

2. <B> on barrel and frame w/o a date stamp on the grip, can indicate work done in the S&W Service Dept. before the gun was ever shipped new but a <S> stamp is more common. The star following the serial number indicates it went back to the factory for something. These could have been two separate events. The usual date stamp for a factory re-work is not one of those you listed.

3. The 95 high on the left side of grip frame is not common but I have seen a similar 86 stamped there which some think could be a date stamp.
The various # and letter digits on the grip do not appear to be anything but the usual inspector stamps at the factory. The 'B' may be for blue but it's usually on the left side.

4. Usage of the star and the rework date stamp varies depending on the time period. After about the mid 1960s the star was no longer used. Date stamping was sporadic from about the same time. So as you can see, this is not an exact science. I am not an expert so hopefully someone with more knowledge may be able to add more info.

5. The work done sounds very professional and expertly performed. But I've not heard of those types of modifications being done at the factory. The factory would not shorten a barrel that way. But we never say never about S&Ws.

6. Getting a letter for $50 will most commonly only state the gun's original configuration, when it was shipped from the factory and to whom; usually a distributor and may not be too helpful. However in the 1930s sometimes they went to individuals so the letter could hold a surprise.

Any work done by the factory after original shipping will not be shown. That has to be researched by the SWHF (see below) after first obtaining the letter.

Firearm History Letter Request - Smith & Wesson (at S&W website)
Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation (SWHF) has digitized and indexed records for the years, 1932-1941
Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

Hope that's of some help.
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Last edited by Hondo44; 07-07-2013 at 05:17 PM.
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Old 07-07-2013, 05:14 PM
Masterpiece Masterpiece is offline
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Default River Salmon's Photos!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by riversalmon View Post
I am wondering if it would be worth the effort to letter the gun and see if any of the modifications were done by S&W.
I've attached Two of River Salmon's Photos most relevant to the present discussion so you can see the modifications that were done to his Revolver!! As I stated to him when we were in contact, this work is unlike "Anything" I've ever seen done by the factory...You Decide!!

Also, if it were myself, I'd apply the $50 cost of the Letter elsewhere as I seriously doubt it will turn up anything of interest concerning these being "Factory" modifications...Of Course That's Just My Opinion!!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg RiverSalmon K-22 Barrel R.jpg (67.3 KB, 57 views)
File Type: jpg RiverSalmon K-22 Top View.jpg (67.0 KB, 51 views)
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  #7  
Old 07-07-2013, 05:35 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Thanks for the photos. Looks like a nifty and handy little trail gun in its present configuration.

The rear sight is not what I imagined. The sight tang groove was apparently milled slightly deeper as shown by the cut into the frame above the barrel threads and the attachment screw hole was plugged.

Then two pieces were added in the rear; a filler where the frame was notched for the original adj sight and the small custom rear sight blade with square notch.

It was a bit of a problem to get the larger diameter of the end of the cut off barrel to mate flush with the smaller diameter of the original muzzle piece with the sight on it.

I agree, definitely not factory work.
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Last edited by Hondo44; 07-07-2013 at 05:41 PM.
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Old 07-07-2013, 08:54 PM
riversalmon riversalmon is offline
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Well thank you for the insight gentlemen. I guess I'll save my money and just shoot the "thing". Amazingly accurate little piece though. I have an 18 that's now playing second fiddle and as the man said "beauty is skin deep" --- " let's try it on paper". Thanks RS
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