Police stamping/engraving on revolvers

[Wombat7]

Whatcha guys think? Remove this police stamping mark or keep it. Would it improve or decrease the value of the revolver? The stamping is really well done. I’m tempted to keep it on it just for the cool factor that it was used as a duty gun for a police dept at one time. Also does anyone recognize this particular stamping?

 

[GAGunguy]

Yes, I recognise it as "47." haha

I would leave it alone, its already been modified, bobbed. So you cant go back to original. I'm not a Smith expert btw.

 

[Wombat7]

Yes, I recognise it as "47." haha

I would leave it alone, its already been modified, bobbed. So you cant go back to original. I'm not a Smith expert btw.

I think I’m gonna leave it. Just too cool knowing it has some real history

 

[BLIP]

Don't change history, perfect just the way it is... other than the hammer...

 

[300_whisper]

I would grind it off.

 

[lostchild]

Smooth out that bob job on the hammer, shoot it as is.
No sense spending a lot of time and effort on a pawn shop special.

 

[RSB]

What model is it? Model 10? Need more pictures!!!
Maybe you could send off to S&W for a Letter?
Yes it costs, but you might learn that it was shipped direct to a police department or person who was attached to a LE organization. That would give credence to the stamped number. That could be a rack number, badge number, who knows? As for removing it? Don't muck up the character of a good ol' gun. Nothing to gain by refinishing it, you would just be erasing history.
Here's a suggestion. stare at that gun as you handle it, work the action, open and close it, feel its heft in comparison to its size. Then look at it and say " Man I wish you could talk". Say it out loud a few times. Do that and you'll understand why some of us are stringently against refinishing old guns. I can't stand to see the stories and history erased from an old gun even when I don't know them personally. Every time I handle one of my oldies I can "Imagine" the stories they could tell if only they could talk. But then again, I'm sure you already know all this.

 

[Shoot clean eat]

Leave it the way it is.

 

[atljetmech]

Might be the # of perps it dispatched....
Like notches on a handle...or headboard

 

[ItBeMe]

Just put some black electrical tape over it.