Star/astrik at the end of the serial #?

[THEMULE]

Can somebody shed some light on this please?
What does it denote? My guess is a factory re-work/repair, but I've only seen that on the SIDE of the grip frame. Not the bottom/butt.



It's not mine. It's an auction, that some may have already seen.
Thank you.
Bob

 

[vytoland]

Can somebody shed some light on this please?
What does it denote? My guess is a factory re-work/repair, but I've only seen that on the SIDE of the grip frame. Not the bottom/butt.

View attachment 275819

It's not mine. It's an auction, that some may have already seen.
Thank you.
Bob

this may help...................

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...65-star-stamp-old-revolver-mean-anything.html

 

[Muley Gil]

Yes, the star indicates a return to the factory.

 

[model3sw]

If you remove the grips you will find a date on the left side of the grip frame. Either a 3 or 4 digit number usually separated by a period or dot. e.g. 10.33 would be October 1933 4.55 would be April 1955.

The star was not always used (but mostly was used) as an indicator in line with the serial number.

The earliest markings like this, that I have ever seen or recorded, is about the early 1900s. I have 1926 on a S&W American Transition that I own, the latest I've ever seen was 1973.

Likely it extends even further back a few years but not much newer than 1973.

Some other markings might be a DIAMOND SHAPE EMBLEM with a B or a N inside or near it, or a R-N (for refinished nickel) or R-B (refinished blue) or R-S (refinished standard) blue. The R-N, R-B, R-S are usually but not necessarily inside a rectangular shape border.

Some guns may have more than one date for each time it was returned for repairs or refinish.

A S&W Letter from Roy Jinks may include the data on when returned if within certain years in his database or others may be at the S&W Historical Foundation who you can contact only after you have the S&W letter from Roy Jinks if you are a donating member of the Historical Foundation. Charges from the Historical foundation are per-page. Your membership in the S&WHF does not get you free documents but it does get you the privilege of ascertaining if other documents are present and copies of what is there.

Currently, I believe, the S&WHF has converted / scanned / indexed records from the 1920s through most of the 1940s. Based upon what gun it is, possibly some in the 1950s.

 

[JSR III]

Actually these stories of it being a factory rework stamp are totally off base. The real story is that I marked all of my guns with the star marking so I could tell my guns from other folks guns.

If you will PM me I will send you my address where you can mail my gun back to me. Thanks in advance for your prompt consideration.

 

[les.b]

Here's my oldest rework...Roy says the gun was shipped in July of 1887, but it has the star, and this date on the frame:



So, right after they got back to regular business after WWI would be my guess. October of 1919.

Best Regards, Les

 

[THEMULE]

So my suspicions are true.
Thank you.

Mr Redfield,
I will send the seller a message and politely explain that you are in fact the true owner of that firearm and find out when you should expect delivery.

Thank you folks, always helpful.
Bob

 

[JSR III]

Mr Redfield,
I will send the seller a message and politely explain that you are in fact the true owner of that firearm and find out when you should expect delivery.

I am guessing that this is one of those "don't hold your breath times in life!!!"

 

[Doc44]

 

[JSR III]

WOW Bill, they wanted $8.25 to polish and blue a revolver??? What a rip off.