I bought a 29-2 yesterday and there are some stampings on the upper left frame and barrel I need help identifying. If it helps the gun is an N serial number with a 6 1/2" barrel, 3 T's, pinned and recessed with 95% to 98% condition. All the blue appears to be factory and there is enough wear that it doesn't look redone.

Any help will be appreciated as I have no idea. Sorry about the pics I'm not very steady and this is my first try at adding pics.

Thanks, Pecos

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...1&d=1294425393

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...1&d=1294425418

Attached Images

	stamping3.jpg (125.8 KB, 255 views)
	stamping4.jpg (126.8 KB, 226 views)

German proof marks meaning the gun was exported at one time, and probably got back here via a service person. I normally would not letter a model marked gun unless there was something like this that made it interesting.
I Karma lettered a 29-2 for another member a while back, and it had gone to Germany but didn't have the proof marks meaning more than likely it went to a US PX.

The checkered flag in the middle almost looks like some of the markings for Bayern (Bavaria) which is a blue/white checkered flag.

__________________
Vaya con Dios

Going from left to right:

The ones on the barrel and receiver are German Nitrous proof marks.

The next, is a Munich proof, similar to the single antler from ULM that can be seen on some German pistols.

The last, could be a date (1973?). Is there something under the two digits? I couldn't tell from the photo.

That's all I could find in my notes. Hope this helps.

Well those are standart German Proof Marks.
N doesn't stand for Nitro no more, it means Normal(er) Beschuss
(before 1945 N stood for Nitro, but after 1945 it just means normaler Beschuss = regular Load)
and the Beschussamt (Authority) was in München (Munich)
next is the year, nothing out of the ordinary so far.
If you want to google for "Deutsche Beschusszeichen" you may find more info.

Thanks for the correction.

I knew I came to the right place! Thanks for the prompt replies and the good info. I'm not much on proof marks so I was lost. I know it doesn't do anything for value but does make the gun more interesting to me.

Thanks again, Pecos

I have a model 581 with the same marks and couldn't figure where they came from. The last "shield" on the 581 has "84" which would match up with the production period for the 581 and pretty close to the date of manufacture (or at least when I think it came from the factory). Now, I picked this revolver up used and it is about 98%. So, I would assume that it went to Germany at some point and found it's way back to the states via a member of the U.S. armed forces? Would it have been sold on a U.S. base or by a German retailer? By the way, the 581 was not in production all that long, but it's a pretty darn good service revolver.

If I recall Wischo was the importer for SW's to Germany and a few have made their way back to this country.
Interesting factory letter...............

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

John
The letter I got Sal for his 29 said it shipped to Wischo. They were the largest distributor for S&W in Europe in the day.

Most likely the gun was imported to Germany for the German market and sold to someone that later sold it to an American soldier and he reimported the gun back to the US.
To my knowledge the Rod and Gun Club Stores on the local US Bases will buy new guns only in Europe/Germany, so they all have local proof marks as required by local law. I guess it has to do with SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) laws between host country and US Forces. Not to forget most S&W have Belgian proof marks, even so they were intended for German market, Wischo, as well as AKAH were the official Importers, some -not all- weapons even have WISCHO or AKAH markings on the frame, my 4003 (AKAH) as well as my 629 (WISCHO) have these markings.

Attached Images

PICT2728.jpg (55.3 KB, 58 views)