Botched Serial Number on 17-1

[Retired W4]

The main SN, on the butt, is fine but the stamping on the yoke cut is over stamped by MOD 17-1. K427934 likely puts it into the 1960 range (-1 territory). The gun came to me with beautiful targets of the era but they obscure the serial number on the butt. I am requesting a letter solely to see if the targets were on it out of the factory. No big deal to me, but any time the gun is transferred through an FFL the grips would have to come off.

It seems odd that S&W would do this to one of their guns. I know mis-stampings are seen all the time but this one is pretty bad.

 

[BC38]

The main SN, on the butt, is fine but the stamping on the yoke cut is over stamped by MOD 17-1. K427934 likely puts it into the 1960 range (-1 territory). The gun came to me with beautiful targets of the era but they obscure the serial number on the butt. I am requesting a letter solely to see if the targets were on it out of the factory. No big deal to me, but any time the gun is transferred through an FFL the grips would have to come off.

It seems odd that S&W would do this to one of their guns. I know mis-stampings are seen all the time but this one is pretty bad.

Yeah, looks to me like someone was having a bad day and accidentally stamped the model number over the top of the assembly number.

That isn't quite the same thing as an intentional "overstamping". A true OVERSTAMP is a deliberate, intentional attempt to CHANGE the original model number of a frame by stamping a new model number OVER the original model number for that frame.

JMO...

 

[Truckman]

Yeah, looks to me like someone was having a bad day and accidentally stamped the model number over the top of the assembly number.

That's not an assembly number, it's the secondary location of the serial number...But if it's still intact on the bottom of the grip frame, there's no real harm...And the number in the yoke area appears to remain readable anyway......Ben

 

[Bald1]

I’d immediately put it on GB for $2k. It’s unique, one of a kind, scarce and hard to find.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

The main SN, on the butt, is fine ...

It is good to go. So Case closed.

 

[Retired W4]

Other than the mess under the yoke, the gun is pretty much flawless. I believe it's never been in a holster.

 

[Alk8944]

The serial number in the yoke cut is strictly for convenience and was added at the request of police departments so the stocks did not have to be removed when the guns were either brought in to the department armorer or when used for range qualification. Many departments insist that only the issued revolvers be used for qualification and this allowed them to easily verify this!

The only serial number that is the "official" or "legal" SN is the one on the butt and as long as that is not obliterated or damaged there is no issue with the gun legally. The number in the yoke cut could even be removed entirely and there would be no issue, legally or otherwise! What you see in the yoke cut is simply the result of an error. Why it happened, who knows! It is nit something that would concern the factory at final inspection in any way. So far as dealers are concerned they must remove the stocks and verify the butt SN to be in compliance with federal legal requirements. Whether some do or don't do this is their problem if they get caught!

 

[Truckman]

It’s unique, one of a kind, scarce and hard to find.

Don't forget to add it's also rare......Ben

 

[glenncal1]

-1's are fairly rare anyway so yours is a little extra rare. It will be interesting to see if it letters with the Target grips, it doesn't look like Target Trigger or Hammer.

 

[65Whelen]

-1's are fairly rare anyway so yours is a little extra rare. It will be interesting to see if it letters with the Target grips, it doesn't look like Target Trigger of Hammer.

The -1s are rare hard to find. I sold one couple years back. At the time all the members here told me don't sell it you'll regret it, they were right.

 

[BC38]

That's not an assembly number, it's the secondary location of the serial number...But if it's still intact on the bottom of the grip frame, there's no real harm...And the number in the yoke area appears to remain readable anyway......Ben

OK, someone had a bad day and accidentally stamped the model number on top of the secondary serial number then.
My point wasn't about it being am assembly number. The point that it wasn't an intentional overstep to change the model number (or serial number).

 

[ken158]

Just a factory mistake and the butt number rules anyway. No need in wasting a frame.

 

[fiasconva]

I have a strike over on my pre-Victory('41) on the yoke that makes it look like there is an extra digit in the serial number. The number on the butt is good and easier to read.