Hi all,

Having read many of your posts over the past months, I recently decided I wanted to acquire an S&W K22 variant. I previously had been given a 19-3 by my dad, but that was my only S&W.

I wwatched a few GB auctions skyrocket, and then happened to find a pretty nice 17-4 for sale at a (semi)local Cabelas here in Texas. I'm sure I overpaid by at least $100 for what would qualify as a "good" deal on these forums from the more experienced, but I at least walked away with a revolver in my hands and a smile on my face

That said, I have a couple of newbie questions I haven't seen come up before in my reading of this (sub)forum.

In addition to the serial number inscribed in a wavy line on the underside of the barrel, my 1980 17-4 has a small diamond with what appears to be a "5" above it. I've skimmed the S&W Manual (bible) available on Amazon and I think once upon a time they stamped barrels when they reblued one with the letter B, and also added Date (Month/Year) if reworked by the factory, but I'm curious what the diamond and this 5 might indicate. I'm pretty sure it was not reblued nor returned to the factory as its a late model and there is no mo/year nor "b".

Anyone know?



My current "collection"

My / Dad's 19-3, 17-4, and 14-3

That does not look like other diamond stamps I've seen here.

Welcome! I think your new 17-3 is out of the era in which the diamond stamp signified a replacement barrel. It is likely a fitter's or inspector's stamp but no one knows what the vast majority of these mean. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks for the responses guys, I'm beginning to think that this gun did get some work done at the factory, maybe when it came right off the assembly line. I think that "5" is probably an S which may mean rebluing was done...or maybe the barrel was replaced as murphy suggests.

I also noted a bunch of proof marks on the grip frame when I removed the stocks including an R-S in a box and G1, G5, and G20 in the corners. Weird.. Maybe it means nothing more than part numbers.

That last curiosity is that the grips have been stamped with the final four of the serial number. This gun, made in 1980, is way past when they stopped serializing the grips... I wonder if they did this to ensure that they were kept with the gun when it was worked on? Don't know just a theory.

Not sure if it hurts the value, but really don't care either way. It's fun to shoot. took it to the range for the first time this morning. Fairly stiff hammer cock - especially compared to my dad's 14-3 (in photo) which is phenomenal.

It's fun to try to figure out these guns - thanks for your help and if anyone has any further insights I'd appreciate it!

T

Ah, you didn't mention the R-S - that indicates "refinish-standard" (blue). Are the small digits just above this 8 80? This may mean the month and year it was redone, August 1980. Also possible the stock panel was stamped to keep it tracked with the gun, but at that time numbering of Magna stocks was still being done - it looks as though there were six digits originally. Perhaps they fitted a set from another gun and had to restamp these? Curious.

G1, G5 and G20 are more mysterious inspector/fitter stamps, along with the S and E on the right side. You may see the 14548 elsewhere on the gun, like the yoke arm - another number to keep parts together.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Alan,

The more I poke around the more I learn. Wow, thanks, I think those numbers above the R-S are indeed an 8 and an 80! So it must have been reblued August 1980 as you note. Maybe rebarreled at the same time since the barrel has a diamond on it?

What's weird is that the serial # lookup I used says the gun was MADE in 1980. So it must have had a bad blue job initially, or maybe just a bad barrel that required a total new blue, it doesn't seem likely that it would leave the factory then come back in the same year, no? I guess unless the original buyer wasn't happy...

I didn't realize they continued stamping serials into the stocks into 1980. I thought that ended a decade earlier...

I don't think the serial # on the stock had different numbers -- it does sorta look like there is a 77 below the line of the serial #, but I think the first two "spaces" are intentional blanks pressed into the stock -- sort of like the old DYMO tape clickers did leaving a hint of the other number on the roller, but this is a total WAG on my part.

fun to explore this stuff!