Matching cylinder, or not??? New Model 3

[Benedons]

Hi,
New to the forum, glad to be here.
I am a pawnbroker/FFL in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Just got in this .44 Russian.
Numbers on butt don't match the cylinder. I've read that some 2000 cylinders were swapped out at the factory, within these number ranges, but, I haven't been able to find the exact data on which ones were. Trying to find out if this is a factory swap or not.
Notice there's no logo on the grips.
I can post more and better pics if you need them.
Frame serial is 31,7XX, the cylinder is 24,389
Anyway, here are some pics and if someone can help me with the information, I am grateful.
Chuck

 

[mmaher94087]

A bunch of these were shipped to Japan and the cylinders do not necessarily match. This one might be worthy of a factory letter. The form is in the "downloads" above. It will run $50 and take four months to research.

 

[Benedons]

Thank you!

 

[opoefc]

I doubt if there's any records of serial numbers of which cylinders got switched, nor would a factory historical letter tell you if your gun was one of the ones that got switched. The shipping records are kept by butt serial numbers, not cylinder serial numbers. The grips appear to be correct style for the New Model No. 3 revolver you have ( no logo) and if they are original to the gun, they will have the butt serial number stamped on the back of the right grip panel. The fact that the cylinder has a S&W serial number different than on the butt is indicative of the gun being one of those that got switched around. The other possibility, as Mike suggests, is that the gun got shipped to a location like Japan, where it is common to see guns with mixed parts, done by the Japanese over the time of their use. Most, but not all, guns sent to Japan have a Japanese mark on them somewheres indicating a military, naval or police use. Ed.

 

[Benedons]

Thanks, Ed.
I'll send in for the letter, anyway, might give some idea of where the heck this thing has been and make it easier to sell and determine a value.
I took off the grips, they are numbered different, as well.
I will assume that it's more or less, what you are saying, just a weapon that got a new cylinder and grips at some point in its life.
The grips are 16946... so, I have three eras???
16xxx grips, 24xxx cylinder, 31xxx frame...
Any idea on $$? Eventually, that will be what I'll be looking up. I won't keep it.