Posted by David W on June 28, 2008, 11:27 am, in reply to "need help"
With the serial number you have given, and the time date your gun would match a hammer gun of 1901, but I don't believe there would have been an "R" (Regular frame) in front of the serial number as they were all built on Regular frames. The date that does make sense is 1926 and by then Featherweights (FW) were made along with Regular frame (R) guns. Longer barrels in the 30"-32" were very common and up until 1890 when Hunter Brothers took over and started offering 28" barrels.
If your gun has external hammers than it was built in 1901 and should also have a grade stamp on the receiver possibly "F" (lowest grade) to "AA" (highest grade), and have Royal Steel (F grade only), Twist Steel, or Damascus barrels.
If the gun has internal hammers,then the date would be 1926, there should be a stamping on the tops of the barrels stating grade on one side and "Made in Fulton, N.Y." on the other. Also on the receiver's water table there might be a stamp Field, I (Ideal), S (Specialty) and others.
Good luck and let us know what you have and here's hoping that you will become a member of the L.C. Smith Collectors Association