Hello Jim. Hope you and yours are well. Drew directed us to your FORUM message dated September 26, 2020. I am going to address some of your questions. Others, I will let alone because they would only be speculation. I agree, the explanation should be less interesting then we have made it. I do not believe that the USA-F markings are barrel inspector marks. It is a procurement instrument identifier code. My opinion is written below.

You asked what would be the reason for a hyphen in the USA-F marking? Military contracts have hyphens. Google - ‘Military Contract Number Examples’. You will see hyphens in contract numbers. Secondly, firearm inspector codes do not use hyphens. Google – ‘American Manufacturer Firearms Inspector Code Examples’. Thirdly, the military regulations under ACQUISITIONS, Subpart 4.1603(a)(3)(vi) shows the ‘F’ is a contracting instrument, e.g. purchase orders and orders. The ‘F’ designation and the contract hyphens are a strong indication that USA-F is a contract instrument identity code, and not an inspector code.

In the first paragraph you asked what would be the explanation for the USA-F markings appearing on shotguns made in 1939 at least two years before the first purchases were made from Hunter Arms Company stocks? The 1941 shotgun purchase was not the first time shotguns were manufactured and sold to the military. The purchases orders began in 1939. There had to have been a contract between the two parties before any work could be performed.

Your September 1, 2025 FORUM message asked why were so many USA-F marked shotguns shipped to private companies and individuals, and not to the military? The U S military entered into purchase agreements and Purchase Orders’ (contracts) with the Hunter Arms Company (HAC) with the intention of purchasing the agreed upon firearms. However, the U S military at some point changed their firearm acceptance criteria and the Smith shotguns no longer met their needs. The military decided that they needed firearms that mounted bayonets, had interchangeable parts without special fittings, shotguns that fired more than twice, and generally more adapted to combat operations. So the military did not purchase many of the shotguns that they ordered in contracts. This left HAC with inventory stock that they could sell to private companies and individuals. The U S military decided to purchase slide action and semi-auto shotguns by the tens of thousands from other manufacturers rather than choosing side by side shotguns. This is the likely scenario since HAC ended up selling only 2,288 shotguns to the military.