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I have just purchased a S&W revolver, on my Arms Licence, a .32 S&W, 3", Mod 31-1, bearing Serial No. H161***.
I want to know the year of make, etc. details of the same. Also, I would be grateful if the experts appraise the said Arm. Especially "Cottage Cheese" and "Vikram" (referred by a very good friend & mentor).
The marking in Spanish "Marcas Registradas" and the Birmingham Proof House nitro proof markings on the cylinder suggest that this was probably purchased somewhere in Europe - proof tested in UK & retailed in Spain perhaps? You can try writing to Smith & Wesson with the serial no. to get an exact year/ month of manufacture.
"Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire." -- Robert Heinlein
The bluing does not seem original to me, perhaps it has re-blued and the grips also seem to have been polished. Can you tell me where did you buy this from? Depending on how salty the air is where the gun is stored a 30-32 year old piece of metal must show some signs of oxidization on the surface which this example does not. Also the crane area where the arm swings out must show some surface wear even if this gun has never been shot and only been showed to potential customers. Again this example does not show this. It has perfectly black crane and swing arm area which is a bit unusual to me. Also the trigger and hammer is blued!!!
A lot of Mod 31 revolvers being sold by dealers as 'NIB' or 'peti packed' are in fact refinished/re-blued guns.
Did this one come with a box/papers? If so than can you post pictures of those as well?
The bluing does not seem original to me, perhaps it has re-blued and the grips also seem to have been polished. Can you tell me where did you buy this from? Depending on how salty the air is where the gun is stored a 30-32 year old piece of metal must show some signs of oxidization on the surface which this example does not.
I thought that at first too but then I looked at my Ruger M77 rifle. It was made in 1984 and I purchased it (used) in 1986. I have hunted with it and there are some dings in the stock but the bluing is perfect. I cleaned it every time I came in from the range or the field and rubbed it down with CLP.
With care, a proper bluing job can last well.
However, you are correct. I think that this has been re-blued. The hammer and trigger shouldn't be blue.
See this video:
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“Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense” — Winston Churchill, Oct 29, 1941
My dad has one (direct import in 1977) and the bluing shows no sign of wear... Must have shot at least 500 rounds through it over the years. The trigger and hammer have something akin to a colour case hardened finish and are not blued. The original finish on the wood is also somewhat "raw" (for lack of a better word).
"Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire." -- Robert Heinlein
