Looking at a 1960 vintage 2 inch barrel Model 12 Airweight 4 screw pinto, blue anodized frame with nickel barrel and cylinder. The serial numbers match on the butt, barrel and cylinder, with a star on both the barrel and cylinder. There does not appear to be an "N" stamped on either the barrel or the cylinder. I haven't had a chance to take off the grips which appear to be original to see any markings on the frame. Could this have been a factory rework on an originally blued gun sent back to the factory to be made into a pinto? And would a reworked gun be considered a factory pinto even though the barrel and cylinder were refinished in nickel?

The short answer is yes, it may be a factory gun, or one on which the barrel and cylinder were refinished to make a two-tone. A refinish stamp on the lower left grip frame would indicate it was redone as you know. A letter of authenticity would help to clarify.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Update on markings, frame is marked R-S in a rectangle and a date of 6 72.
Assembly number 57784 is present on the frame and yoke which also has a "B" stamped on it. The side plate has assembly number 57791. The serial number is C472648. The same serial number appears on the barrel, cylinder and extractor. Both the barrel and cylinder are finished in nickel and have a star next to the serial number, however there is no star stamped on the frame. Neither the barrel or cylinder have a "N" stamping. The rest of the finish is blue. Frame is stamped Mod-12. The diamond center grips are also numbered with the SN on the right grip panel. I know, I know this thread is worthless without pics. Pics coming soon...

The serial number puts its production in 1960. The refinish date was June 1972. If the factory had done the refinish it 'may' have been stamped R-B-Ni; a letter of authenticity may show it was shipped as a blue or two-tone, but if blue it would not document the refinish.

http://www.swhistoricalfoundation.com/swhf_letter.pdf

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

[IMG]1960 I.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://1960 II.JPG

Didn't I read here on the forum something about that the star is the mark for a gun worked on at the factory? And the rectangle with "R-" in it indicates refinishing?
Ya learn a ton from this forum. I don't really go to others any more.

hoss, I believe yours is a factory Pinto, but not a factory original Pinto. I recently acquired one and posted it here. Maybe this will help to clear up some of your questions.

Pre-27 "Real Pinto"

We need pictures, please.

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John
SWCA #3401 SWHF #737

A thread on pintos with six posts and no pics yet?! Not going to lie- kinda disappointed. Pinto threads are usually chocked full of pics

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Some Might Say.

I have a 12-2 pinto that much later and it is marked n on the frame and n under the ejector also on the frame is a circle with r e . The box label shows the finish as bn

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I have tried to post pics but this forum says I have no "security token" and nothing comes up...I'll have to ask my IT guy (my son) if he can figure it out...

Mine looks like yours with the exception that it is a round butt, has the flat latch (blue), diamond grips (numbered to the gun) and is a 4 screw. And no N stamps anywhere. Makes me think that the factory refinished it as a pinto. Eventually the letter will come and tell the story.

I do not have a letter on mine as yet. Would love to see pictures of yours