What does it mean if the cylinder of a 19-3 is stamped with a star when you look at the open cylinder from the back where the bullets go in?

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I believe the star usually indicates some factory repair or replacement. Gun may have been returned for a defective or damaged cylinder. I would think the star means it was replaced but maybe they stamped it for a simple adjustment.

It is called a "Re-work Star", and indicates the revolver was returned to the factory for repair or re-finishing. It could mean almost anything.

If you take the left stock off you will find a number on the side of the fore-strap like 10-75, or just 1075. This number indicates the month/year the gun was serviced, in this case October 1975. I there is also a box or cartouche with R-S this would indicate a re-finish if it were a carbon steel gun. I have no idea what a re-polish and passivation on a stainless steel revolver would be indicated by.

If there is a star on the bottom barrel flat, and a hand-stamped serial number on the cylinder and barrel, this would be a good indication the gun was fully disassembled for polishing.

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