Hi all, what does a star following a serial number on a Bekeart mean? Thanks for any help!

Hello 56, I believe it indicated some factory service. Maybe parts
replacement of some kind. Or a re-finish?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

It means that the gun went back to Smith & Wesson for work. All of the Smith & Wesson guns up to about 1980 received a star when they were returned to the factory for replating, fixing cylinders, fixing barrels etcetera. If you take off the grips oh, look on the left side toe for a date like 11. 12 that would be the month and year did the factory worked on the gun.

Guy

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Thanks everyone. Does this situation (a return to the factory) affect a gun's value?

FYI. Sometimes the date code will not have the period. But the digits mean the same thing as Guy stated (month and year). You just have to interpret it.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Yes, any redoing of the original finish reduces the guns value. That being said, Factory refinishes are better tolerated by collectors because they tend to be done well and much better than aftermarket.

Guy

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Okay, that is logical and a good learning since I'm new to collecting. On a somewhat related note, how is a gun's value affected if all metal numbers match but the grips are correct but either don't match or are un-numbered? I have a lot to learn in order to not overpay!

IMO, the most important thing for a new collector is to obtain the newest copy of the book "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Nahas and Supica. It is a veritable gold mine of information. Then spend hours and hours studying what is of interest to you. It is not intended as a coffee table book, but, rather, a text book. There are other valuable books available that should be in your "library", but this is a good place to start.

Believe me, the slightest little difference that you would not ever think about could mean hundreds of dollars difference in price. By and large, some of the more important things to know is serial numbers and locations. When was what stamped and where. When did such and such begin. When did such and such end. Barrel stampings and trademarks, locations and size of them. It just goes on and on.

As to your specific question about stocks, (S&W called them stocks, not grips.) if they are service or magna stocks, they should be marked with the guns serial number on the right stock panel. Target stocks were very rarely ever stamped with a serial number. So even with a factory letter that says this gun left the factory with checkered walnut target stocks, you will never know if the ones on a gun in question were the same ones that it was born with. If they are period correct, you pretty much have to assume they are the originals.

If the stocks are service or magna and they are not serial numbered to the gun, then the gun is worth less. Additionally, if the stocks are not even period correct the gun is worth even less. With few exceptions, if the stocks are not factory, value of the gun is even "more" less. If the stocks are un-numbered but period correct, most likely they are not original to the gun. But there is no way to prove it, one way or the other. And speaking of exceptions, there are exceptions to every single rule.

I can't believe how much knowledge I have gained in the past several years, and how little I still know. I have seen folks on this forum who have collected S&W for 50, 60, 70 years and are walking encyclopedias say "I did not know that."

Last thing I have to say about S&W is "Never say never." Someone will prove you wrong. This is what makes it so daggone enjoyable.

EDIT: One more last thing to say. If you are serious about collecting S&W, join the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association AND the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Thanks everyone... all information was useful and appreciated!

They also used a diamond stamp. The first 2 photos are on a 22\32 heavy frame [diamond on barrel underside & date on the butt], the third is on a 3rd Model single shot.

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gunnerz, what did the diamonds represent

That the gun was returned for service---same as the star.

It's worth noting the S&W Historical Foundation has (some) records from the Service Department for a certain time period. Just as a (so called) factory letter is worthwhile, so too is an inquiry to the Historical Foundation for anything they may have. Some information is good, more's better, and too much is just right.(!!)

Ralph Tremaine

As an aside, Guy (from the Wiregrass country) noted the star was in use up to sometime in the 80's. It would simplify our lives were that to be the case, but 'tain't so. The star went away sometime in the '50's. (I had a K-22 I returned in April of 1960. It was marked with a <>.)

And as another aside, the fact a gun carries a mark indicating it has been returned for service does not necessarily mean it was refinished---never mind more than a few of us automatically presume otherwise. The fact of the matter is a factory refinish is often times undetectable (excepting later on when refinishes were similarly marked). I believe that to be the case because the preparation and finishing was done by the same folks using the same equipment as the original finish.