Meaning of a "star" in S&W serial numbers ???

Magnum Wheel Man · February 15, 2011, 10:24 AM

I just bought an old "Lemon Squeezer" on line, that has a star in the serial number... I thought I read somewhere that if a gun was returned to S&W for repair, that they added a star to the serial... I tried doing a search, & didn't come up with anything after going through 6-8 related threads...

is that correct ???

Winchester_73 · February 15, 2011, 04:39 PM

Yes, but the star marking method for reworks was discontinued at some point, I want to say in the 50s or perhaps the 60s.

Magnum Wheel Man · February 15, 2011, 04:43 PM

thanks... this is a 4 didget serial number... so it's pretty early... I'd guess in that case, the gun was sent back to S&W for repair of some sort...

does anyone know if you get a Jinks letter, if it'll list the repairs performed in cases like this, where the gun was marked as repaired ???

James K · February 15, 2011, 07:03 PM

Yes, repair and/or refinishing.

Jim

Winchester_73 · February 15, 2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

does anyone know if you get a Jinks letter, if it'll list the repairs performed in cases like this, where the gun was marked as repaired ???

This topic was just on the S&W forums and the experts there said that the repair records are tied to a name, not a gun, so to get the records, you would have to have the owners name or at least the person who sent the gun into S&W at that time for the repair. Its rarely in the letter for this reason. I suppose on occasion they are able to find repair records without the person's name, but this apparently is a rare instance.

As Jim said, the star could mean almost anything, from something minor, like a trigger or hammer replacement, to a barrel replacement, mechanism exchange, reblue etc.

I talked to S&W about factory refinishes just about a month ago, and they said they discontinued marking frames completely for those who send their guns in. The type of marking and place can usually narrow down the send in to a specific period which helps the situation marginally anyway.

R.O · February 15, 2011, 07:22 PM

did you inspect the frame ? ,my S&W also has a star behind the serial,but the frame has an encirkeld P and 4-22 , that's the date when the gun was refinished,I send my letters of request to Mr Jinks and see what he has to say

James K · February 15, 2011, 07:32 PM

They later went to a diamond, around 1970, I think.

I have a K-22, bought in 1955, and by the 1970's I had shot it so much it began to loosen up and misfire because the firing pin was worn down. I returned the gun to S&W through my dealer, asking that it be repaired to factory standard. They contacted the dealer saying that they could reblue the gun for $17, and if I wanted that done, to send the money. I sent the check so fast the envelope smoked. Two weeks later, I got the gun back. They had not just repaired it: they had stripped it to the frame and completely rebuilt it with all new parts, including a new barrel and cylinder. And reblued it. And stamped diamonds by the serial numbers. All for $17. I thought it was a good deal.

Jim

Magnum Wheel Man · February 16, 2011, 07:19 AM

Thanks for the info guys...

RO... I haven't recieved the gun yet, but will do a full inspection once it gets here...

I already had a 38 S&W "lemon squeezer" & just bought this one, in 32 S&W, to add to my collection... so I don't have it in hand to be able to speculate wheather the star indicated a repair or a refinish ??? from the pics, the finish looks "good" but not really nice, so I'd suspect a repair... but won't be able to better guess, until it gets here...

February 15, 2011, 10:24 AM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Meaning of a "star" in S&W serial numbers ??? I just bought an old "Lemon Squeezer" on line, that has a star in the serial number... I thought I read somewhere that if a gun was returned to S&W for repair, that they added a star to the serial... I tried doing a search, & didn't come up with anything after going through 6-8 related threads... is that correct ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

February 15, 2011, 04:39 PM	#2
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	Yes, but the star marking method for reworks was discontinued at some point, I want to say in the 50s or perhaps the 60s. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

February 15, 2011, 04:43 PM	#3
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	thanks... this is a 4 didget serial number... so it's pretty early... I'd guess in that case, the gun was sent back to S&W for repair of some sort... does anyone know if you get a Jinks letter, if it'll list the repairs performed in cases like this, where the gun was marked as repaired ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

February 15, 2011, 07:22 PM	#6
R.O Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2010 Posts: 153	did you inspect the frame ? ,my S&W also has a star behind the serial,but the frame has an encirkeld P and 4-22 , that's the date when the gun was refinished,I send my letters of request to Mr Jinks and see what he has to say Last edited by R.O; February 15, 2011 at 07:35 PM.

February 15, 2011, 07:03 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Yes, repair and/or refinishing. Jim

February 15, 2011, 07:32 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	They later went to a diamond, around 1970, I think. I have a K-22, bought in 1955, and by the 1970's I had shot it so much it began to loosen up and misfire because the firing pin was worn down. I returned the gun to S&W through my dealer, asking that it be repaired to factory standard. They contacted the dealer saying that they could reblue the gun for $17, and if I wanted that done, to send the money. I sent the check so fast the envelope smoked. Two weeks later, I got the gun back. They had not just repaired it: they had stripped it to the frame and completely rebuilt it with all new parts, including a new barrel and cylinder. And reblued it. And stamped diamonds by the serial numbers. All for $17. I thought it was a good deal. Jim