31-1 help needed please

[hittman77]

Thought I had my info in order but after reading SCSW it's possible I don't understand it or wrote down wrong info. Hoping with the following info someone can help me ID the time frame this gun came from?

Here's what I know ..... or at least "think" I know. LOL

Blued (99% condition) 4 inch barrel 31-1.

Wrong grips as they're fake stags, square butt.

Flat latch.

On bottom of the grip frame is: H920. Is that significant or maybe just an inventory or assembly mark?

S/N on crane is 56911. I did not see (or maybe just missed??) if there was an alpha character before or after it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[22hipower]

H serial numbers started in 1969. The number on the butt is the serial number.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[H Richard]

Michael, the # on the "yoke" recess is an assembly # and meaningless outside the factory. The # on the revolver butt is always the s/n. Later in the (?) I think 70's, the s/n was also added to the yoke recess area when target grips were becoming more common and the s/n was covered up.

 

[hittman77]

Thanks guys .... I thought the s/n should be on the butt but guess the small number threw me off. Wasn't expecting 4 digits ..... would have considered 5 to 7 "normal".

 

[Green Frog]

Just a few quick observations and perhaps confirmations... first, the fact that it is a Model 31 means it should be a square butt version... some seem to have gotten away RB, but weren't supposed to. Second, the dash one (-1) indicates that it is built on the true J-frame platform. I'm sure you know by know that this revolver was built in 32 S&W Long, but it may be altered by reaming to 32 H&R, a procedure that has been done a fair number of times by folks on this forum. You have been given the year of shipping (best estimate without a letter) as about 1969, but I'm thinking that gun is pretty late to have a flat latch. I like the ne on my slightly earlier Baby Chief, but they aren't for everybody.

Those "fake" stags are also an acquired taste... but there are a lot of post factory J-frame grips out there, and both Magnas and Targets from the factory are fairly easy to find and tend to be much more reasonably priced than their larger brethren. By the time your example shipped, they "diamond" grips were gone, so the less expensive later grips are correct. On another thread we have been discussing how great but under appreciated the J-frame target grips are... you might give them a look.

All in all it's a nice little gun. Enjoy!

Froggie