I am watching a S&W 32 revolver and the barrel and inside the grips area are marked with an "S" next to a diamond. Does anyone know if that means anything? Are these factory markings? Thanks for the help.

It is possible those markings indicate a standard refinish, but they might also mean other things.

Bill

That mark usually indicates the gun has been back to S&W for a repair or rework. It's the mark of the service dep't, assuming the .32 you are watching is a 20th century gun. When you say ".32 S&W" you are covering a lot of ground and a span of 150 yrs. Exactly what ".32 S&W" model are you watching? Ed. #15

It is advertised as a 1903 5th change with a 2" barrel. Barrel does not have serial number under it, just the "S" and diamond. It looks to be a Regulation Police with a 146XXX serial number.

If you post a picture or two it would help alot. Also is it a 32-20 or 32 long?

It's a 1903 but I believe the pistol you are referring to is actually a Hand Ejector, not a Regulation Police. I think the grips have been modified to make it look like a square butt however it is actually a round butt and it does not seem to have the stepped backstrap. I've never seen a pre-WW2 1903 in 32 Long with a 2" barrel in person, however I'm sure they made them. If we are talking about the same pistol I think the almost $400 asking price is optimistic, but I'm not a good judge of these things.

Peyton, it is in 32 long and I don't know how to copy pictures from an auction site. Walnutred, this one has a reserve price but it is not shown so we must be looking at two different revolvers.

We may be talking about different firearms. The one I was thinking about closed on May 17th with a high bid of $375 W/ $30 shipping, reserve not met. So the seller was wanting around $400 for it, even with the poorly fitting aftermarket grips. It was gunbroker #168698943. I have no idea what kind of premium a 2" barrel would bring but it must be substantial.

Brick, A barrel with no serial number and the "S" stamp ( S for the service dep't) means that the barrel has been changed and the gun probably had a longer barrel when originally shipped. Ed.