The serial numbers beginning in 1886 were at 15,000, then 17,000, 21,000. I have no serial numbers for 24,000 and so believe there were none made. The next block is 25,000 then 26,000. This is about the time that Lyman Cornelius sold the gun works to John Hunter in 1888. The equipment was moved to Fulton where unfinished Syracuse hammer guns were assembled. The new Hunter Arms Co. now in Fulton started in 1889. Many of these guns do not have a makers name on the barrels and are what I call Transition guns and are in the 25,000 up to 26,644. This gun has the rounded lug that protrudes through the receiver whereas the others have a squared lug.(there are some exceptions) These are from 1889. The first I have in 1890 is 26,872, 27,000, 28,000 and 29,000 up to 29743 are from 1890 also. After serial number 29,999 started the hammerless guns starting at 30,000.
I do not believe that between the blocks of serial numbers that there were 1,000 guns made as this is shown in the later Ledgers. So it is anyone's guess as to how many hammer guns were made prior to 1894. For some reason that was never reveled, there were no hammer guns made from 1891-1893. A total mystery.
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