I saw a gun on an auction that i am very interested in. The only issue is after the s/n on barrel flat is a stamped star. I can't remember if it means the the barrel has been replaced or that the gun has been worked on in someway by S&W. This is a 1953 J frame. Any help..? Thanks in advance
Mike

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Replacement

Thanks that was what I though but wasn't positive.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

S&W typically stamped the frame SN on factory replacement barrels and added the star to show that it was a replacement. I don't think many would consider it a major defect.

To a shooter it means nothing, to a collector it means not all original.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Undercover police officers used them in the 20's and 30's.

I would be surprised to see a star on the barrel without one also being found on the butt of the gun,along with a date stamp on the left side under the grip. I have owned several guns with stars on the butt, which only indicates a trip back to the factory, but only one had a star on the barrel (as well as in several other places). Usually there was a diamond or an S stamped on the barrel to indicate a replacement.

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Tom
1560

What Tom said. Stars are not normally stamped on a replaced part, but rather a diamond is more common. A star should be found near the serial number on the butt and a set of numbers should be found under the left stock. The numbers will signify the month and year the gun was returned to the factory. Let us know if that is the case? Of course, there is always the possibility that someone new at the factory just stamped the gun incorrectly??

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Gary
SWCA 2515

And then there was an Indianapolis P.D. Registered Magnum that lived here for a while--------with a star on the left grip frame, on the cylinder (under the ejector), on the crane, and on the barrel (in the shroud). There was a five digit number on the left grip frame which could have been a date---two different dates actually. The gun presented essentially as new----inside and out (especially inside). The finish (nickel) was frosty when it arrived---bright and shiny shortly thereafter---with no flaws.

I absolutely, positively KNOW it was refinished/rebuilt---and have not one shred of proof to point to----other than the dreaded star (s)---which prove something---sometime----maybe.

Ralph Tremaine

I forgot---it had a "Humpback" hammer too (as did all of them in that shipment)---what appeared to be a brand spanking new "HH".

I have two guns which may be examples of the extremes in factory rework marks. One is a .32 RP in nickle. It was built in the 192o's and went back to the factory post WWII for rework. It has a new cylinder, new barrel, and a new nickle finish. It also has a star on the barrel, on the rear face of the cylinder, in the yoke recess in the frame, on the yoke, and on the front of the grip frame, and the date stamp on the left side of the grip frame. The top of the frame was also milled to match the wider front sight of the post war barrel. The other gun is a NM#3, .32-44 Target that went back in June of 1956 and looks new. It apparently got new nickle, new bluing on the sights and barrel latch, new case hardening on the hammer, trigger and trigger guard, and new hard rubber grips, but it doesn't have a star anywhere. It does have a date stamp on the left grip frame.

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Tom
1560

Mike,

I agree with everything posted above. The main rule with S&W is there are no rules. Only trends.

Just FYI: The Model of 1953 is a "New" I frame and didn't become a J frame until Oct 1960 as the Model 34-1& 35-1, or Jan 1961 as the Models 30-1,31-1,32-1 & 33-1.

This photo is a comparison of a .22/32 Kit Gun "J-Frame" (Model 63 stainless Kit Gun, top), and a Model of 1953 "New I-Frame" (Pre-Model 34/Model 34 22/32 Kit Gun, bottom). Same size trigger guards and grip frames, but note the 1/8” difference in frame length in front of the trigger guard and top strap, also compare the cylinder length and cyl window length.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

"Only trends." Yes, indeed!! And sometimes they run in opposite directions---at the same time---or from one day to the next.

The moral of this story: At such point in time as you decide you absolutely, positively KNOW something is so----don't get it carved in stone!

Ralph Tremaine

Funny Wiseguy .

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I type. Therefore I am.