Any re-work or parts change done to a new pre shipped revolver is done in the Service dept as Ed posted above. However, to my knowledge, there's no paperwork available like when a gun is returned after sale for re-work/changes.
DIAMONDS: were stamped on factory replaced parts or heel of grip frame on left side for refinish followed by letters, sometimes in a rectangle or diamond, with an R (for refinish) or S (for standard blue finish) followed by B (blue), or N (nickel), on 'heel' of left side of grip frame. On barrels with extractor shrouds, these stamps will occasionally also be found on the back end of the shroud and only be seen with cylinder swung out.
A Diamond can also mean:
Parts modified by the factory on a new gun like a shortened barrel BEFORE originally being shipped can have a diamond stamp sometimes with an S inside indicating service dept. work, but w/o a rework date like guns returned to the factory!
It can mean a gun that had service work done, just like the Star was used.
"Parts on Hand"- i.e. replacement parts sold out the door.
There might also be letters in diamonds like <S> (silver), <G> (gold), or a P (plated) with a circle.
These are just rules of thumb, not at all meant to be an all inclusive list, and often lack consistency (especially size of digits) like anything from S&W.
O STAMP: An O on the grip frame, barrel, etc., for the ‘Outside Repair Dept.’ (and preceded the S stamp, which from observations began late in 1953).
“It is the mark of the repair department. The Service Department at Smith & Wesson was for a period of time referred to as Outside Repair Department to separate it from the repairs that were being done in house. On new revolvers that did not pass inspection and had not been sold, these revolvers are recycled. It was important that they get returned to the right location as they get mixed in the process. That is why you find them with different markings. I hope that this helps, Roy”
In previous comments, Roy has stated that when an order came in for one gun with a special option like different barrel length, lanyard swivel on the butt, etc., if that configuration was not in inventory, the factory would not build a gun just for that order. They would always modify a gun in inventory by sending it to the Service (or Outside Repair) Dept because it was faster and easier, than disrupting the regular assembly procedure.
That’s why we see pre war guns ordered with a lanyard ring that didn’t normally come with a ring, drilled thru the serial # on the butt, and the serial # restamped on the left side of the grip frame! Post war guns all had serial numbers stamped off center, maybe for that reason.
For example: 5” barrels are scarce, therefore I suspect all of them went to the Outside service dept to have the 5” barrels installed on unsold guns in inventory with standard barrel lengths. Therefore stamped with the O or later, stamped with an S. Unless it was a large order for a police dept of say, 30 guns all with 5” barrels, then all the guns in the order were built from scratch thru the normal assembly process, and would not be stamped with O or S.
R STAMP: “The "R" indicates an “in house” rework of the revolver [on a gun that never shipped and therefore would not have a date stamp as opposed to rework on a customer gun]. Found on guns in inventory and not sold before World War II, reconditioned, and updated often after WW II before the factory could sell it.” Roy Jinks
"The R marking can also indicate that a frame, barrel, etc., was removed in manufacturing and returned to service dept for a repair, probably a finishing repair. This is done so that the barrel is returned to the Hard Fitting Department to be reinstalled and does not go back into the production line.” Roy
“Well there is no question how this gun was shipped. Below is attached a copy of the scan of the invoice. Just to let you know that on all important collectables that have special features I always check the invoice, if they are available.” Roy
__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819
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