S&W Mod 13-1 Markings

The Old Salt

June 21, 2009 14:09

I have a S&W Mod 13-1, in .357, Nickle finish, Ser. #3D14***. On the R.H. side of the frame under the cylinder are the words:
MADE in USA
MARCAS REGISRADAS
SMITH & WESSON
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
Can anyone tell me why a S&W has Spanish stamped into the frame?

All components are stamped with matching numbers.

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  Hawk Carse

  June 21, 2009 14:34

  Because Smith & Wesson was very popular in Latin America and they did everything they could to let you know you were getting a real Smith & Wesson instead of a cheap Spanish copy. I suspect it is more tradition than anything these days, there are not the cheap copies that there used to be.

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  beantownshootah

  June 21, 2009 15:33

  quote:Originally posted by The Old Salt
  Can anyone tell me why a S&W has Spanish stamped into the frame?
  
  Its because at one point, Spain and the various Latin American countries became flooded with direct knock-offs of Smith revolvers.
  
  Supposely, in one case Smith sued for trademark infringement, but actually lost the claim when one of the courts in question found for the defendants, claiming the trademark wasn't properly communicated on the gun.
  
  Eventually Smith started labelling the guns "marcas registradas", which just means "trademark" in Spanish.

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  The Old Salt

  June 21, 2009 18:47

  Thanks guys.

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  givette

  June 22, 2009 00:00

  Tidbit: If you need a timeline, "Marcas Registradas" first appeared mid 1922. It's also a rough estimate of when S&W started heat-strengthening their cylinders (same as today's cyl's). You would need a SerNo lookup to be sure, but there's no problem unless the DOM of your revolver is near the changeover date. Best, Joe

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  dcs shooters

  June 22, 2009 16:20

  With the 3D serial number it was made at the end of 1978.

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