[swamprat]

The S&W letter states that this gun was shipped from the factory with nickel finish.

 

[swamprat]

What was the shipping date of your S&W? The British proofs are post 1954. What are the letters at the 9:00 and 3:00 position on the crossed scepters?

Beautiful pistol.

JohnnyP,
That is interesting, I always thought it might be a "Battle of Britain" gun, but I guess not!
The 9:00 position letter is P and the 3:00 position letter is B.

This gun is a S&W 32-20 Hand Ejector 1st model introduced in 1899. It is one of the first ones produced; serial number 117, shipped on March 6, 1899 to P. B. Bekeart & Co., San Francisco, CA. I bought it at a Houston gun show in 1981.