On the frame where cylinder yoke crane rests it has a number 23212 with a R stamped there along with what appears to be a 10-5. I thought I read that if a gun was refinished by S&W that it had an R stamped on the frame. Could that be what this R is there for?

All of the guns that I've seen (only a few) with a factory re-finish had the "R" stamp along with a date on the grip frame.

In that location it is much more likely an assembler's, fitter's or inspector's stamp. As lonestar57 mentioned, the refinish stamp (R-S for standard blue, R-Bi for bright blue, R-N for nickel) would usually be on the left lower side of the grip frame with a date code.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

See if you can find the same number stamped in the metal on the side of the grip under the stocks and on the back side of the side plate.

If so,it's an assembly number and the R is probably the assembler's/inspectors mark

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Thanks for the info. I thought the R would be on the grip frame but I wasn't sure. The gun isn't mine and the guy hasn't removed the rubber grip yet to check serial number and whether the serial number is on the grip or not. He said the grips look like Hogues but he wasn't sure if they were original grips but figures they aren't.

If a gun was worked on by S&W isn't there a stamp or something showing that on the grip frame also?

Not any more; the stamps indicating factory work were discontinued many decades ago. At one time they would put a star(asterisk) at one end of the serial number on the gun butt. They also stamped the date of factory rework on the left side of the grip frame. All that is not done anymore.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821