Double stamped Smith

[mstan99999]

I picked up a model 29 this weekend and when I got it home and looked closer at the frame, I noticed that what I thought was a dash 3 was actually a dash 2 with a 3 stamped over the 2. It is an 8 3/8 nickel gun that is not pinned or recessed.
Has anyone ever seen this before?
Thanks!!
Matt

 

[Old Fuff]

It's not common, but it did (and does happen). Smith & Wesson would make up frames and serial number them before they were made into finished revolvers. Therefore you may find examples that either have, or haven't features that the serial or model number would make you think they should. In this case it would appear that a frame stamped -2 didn't get made into a completed gun until the -3 change was up and running, so they over-stamped the model number. Interesting, but not consequental.