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    Re: Grade/ serial # question Archived Message

    Posted by C Helms on March 20, 2014, 3:44 pm, in reply to "Grade/ serial # question"

    I've been recording 90,000 serial numbers just for my own interest/curiosity for about 6 months. I don’t have that many (10-12), but I did luck out and find an early number and a late number in the series.

    It's an interesting period because several changes took place from near the start (90618) to near end (99634) in guns I've recorded.

    Some of these changes include:

    -checkering style on the grip changed on OO/O’s.

    -old style to new style extractor forend

    -bushed pins to bushed pins w/brass retaining screw.

    Some things appear to have stayed the same.

    -rotary joint check

    -damascus style on O's (no twists observed)

    Obviously, I don't have enough to make any determinations. In fact, I seem to be asking myself more questions now than before I started. But, I've learned quite about small details on guns from this period I hadn’t even looked at before.

    If forced to guess, I'd say the date range is probably 1897-1899, give or take a year. If I could find an OO early in the block, I'd move it up a year. My earliest OO on the list is in the 95,000 range.

    There are known serial numbers that cover the 1897-1899 range. When I see them, I also write them down and record the gun features to see if that gives me any clues on dates and changes I've noted in 90,000 block. No revelations at this point.

    I did hold a 45,XXX No. O w/good two rod damascus last night that dates at 1898. It matched my early 90,000 O grade in every small detail I could find.

    Doesn't mean there isn't, but I haven't recorded any ejectors in the 90,000 block yet.

    Anyway, I thought I'd share what I know…which isn't much . I’m not even sure how much longer I’ll continue to do this.

    Chris

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