Dot "Diamond Dot" Taffin Personal Collection Master Engraved Ogawa Smith & Wesson 31-1 Flat Latch 32 Regulation Police 3" Revolver 1961 C&R
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: 31-1, .32 Regulation Police
Serial Number: 742220
Year of Manufacture: 1961 / C&R
Caliber: .32 S&W Long
Action Type: Single/Double Action Revolver with Swing Out Cylinder
Barrel Length: 3", Pinned
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade set on the barrel's tapered rib. The rear sight is a square notch rear sight milled into the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are hand made Tony Kojis TK Grips two-piece smooth ivory panels. There are a few light handling marks. There are no major defects. The checkering is mostly strong. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blue, Case Color hammer and trigger
Finish Originality: Original to engraving by Master Engraver Shiro Ogawa
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. There are a few light marks, the most noticeable is on the right side of the barrel at the muzzle. There are some scattered light handling marks. The case color is vibrant. There is very faint oxidation on the straps. There is a faint turn line on the cylinder. There is gentle thinning on the leading edges, primarily on the side of the muzzle. The markings are clear. The screwheads are sharp. Overall, this revolver rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder produces very light side-to-side play in full lockup of each chamber. The single-action is crisp and the double action is smooth. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver includes a Tony Kojis TK Grips card with a hand written note by Tony with specs for the revolver.
Our Assessment: This Smith & Wesson Model 31-1 .32 Regulation Police carries exceptional provenance as a documented piece from the personal collection of Dorothy “Dot” Taffin—longtime spouse of the late, highly influential firearms writer John Taffin. Known affectionately within collecting and writing circles as “Diamond Dot,” she shared more than six decades with Taffin and was a consistent, respected presence throughout his work and personal collecting life. That association alone elevates this revolver beyond its already desirable configuration, placing it within a tightly defined sphere of historically relevant firearms tied directly to one of the most respected revolver authorities in modern firearms literature. The engraver, Shiro Ogawa, further enhances its significance, while the involvement of noted craftsman Tony Kojis—a close personal friend of Taffin—adds an additional layer of documented interpersonal provenance through the fitted ivory grips.
Built by Smith & Wesson in 1961, this flat latch Model 31-1 in .32 S&W Long already presents as a highly desirable early production small-frame revolver, further distinguished here by master engraving, premium grips, and preserved mechanical integrity. Condition remains Excellent with strong bluing retention, vibrant case colors, and only light handling evidence including a faint cylinder turn line and minor muzzle-side mark, while the bore remains bright with sharp rifling and rates 10/10. Mechanics are tight and properly timed with a crisp single-action break and smooth double-action function, and the revolver retains strong visual definition throughout the engraving and metalwork. As a complete package—factory-correct foundation, master engraving, artisan grip work, and direct provenance from the personal collection of Dot Taffin—this piece stands as a high-tier collector revolver with layered historical and personal significance well beyond its mechanical and aesthetic merits.
