I just found a shooter with 30'barrels DT EXT 12ga. like new with box and sales reicpt from a man who bought the field grade new in sept. 19 1945 ? the year is smudged. THIS gun has a blued receiver and owner was telling me he bought it at a local sporting goods shop, new. At the time the local shop had field grade L.C. Smiths for $95.00 but they had two on speacial for $70.00 and just wanted a house gun, he bought the $70 gun which was blued, but the other three field grades were case hardened. He did not know why these were blued. The serial #: fw204xxx I had a gunsmith tear the gun down and the inside looked like brand new upon inspection there was no signs of case hardening or buffing, all parts were untouched from the factory. This is a Marlin style rib & gun is in approx. 95% condition. Could this be a transition gun when Marlin bought L.C. Smith?