I'm looking at a .32 HE 4th Change in a pawn shop that has all the visible numbers matching. I haven't pulled the grips to check them yet. The bottom of the barrel has a B-F, serial number, a S and a diamond. My .32 HE 3rd change only has a B and the serial number. Can someone tell me what these other markings mean?

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Diamond means it is a replaced barrel.
S stands for Service Dept. so they would get the barrel back after being blued instead of being sent to normal production.
I have never seen the F. Maybe it stands for "Frank".
You'll probably find a date under the left grip, like 6.33 for "June, 1933", and possibly some refinish marks and/or a star.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I believe the barrel has been replaced. Is there a star stamped on the butt? I'll guess you will find a date stamp on the grip frames when you remove the grips.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The bluing on it looked to nice to be original so I assumed it has been reblued. No star on the butt by the serial number. The tops of the diamonds on the grips are worn but the bluing on the frame by the grips looks perfect. That's why I figured it was a reblue. All the markings are sharp and the screw holes aren't rounded so whoever did the reblue did a good job. The back of the cylinder has the S and diamond on it also.

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I wonder........does the diamond and S on the cylinder mean a replaced cylinder?

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Lorin

Yes. As Lee stated above, take the stocks off and look at the left side of the butt-frame to see if there is a date stamped?? Just a thought, could it have been an early 38 Special originally?? The Model 1905 M&P started with serial number 62,450. What is the last patent date on the barrel, is it 1914?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

More pictures would be very welcome. I bet we will be able to sort out some of this with them. Especially under the stocks as has been mentioned.

This is the kind of gun that I find of extreme interest due to the potential (based on that date range) of a hit(s) in the SWHF database. I know myself, and I suspect others, would be very interested in potentially learning what the mysterious B - F marking might mean.

I'll go by there this week and get more pictures. Hopefully they won't have a problem with me pulling the grips off. It came out of pawn on the 19th. They won't budge on the price till its been out at least two weeks. Its currently priced at $339.

I ran by there at lunch yesterday and it was gone. They were packed so I didn’t get a chance to ask if it was sold or they had not pulled it out of the safe.