There is one theory that you guys are over looking.. Smith&wesson has always stock piled a bunch of frames and components due to WWI and WWII.S&W was a major suplier of the military and had military contracts for a long time. They did not waste the frames they used them. I have a friend that has a 4" model 10-5 with a C prefix serial number. it is odd but it does happen. Just like there are several .45 1917 N frames from WWI with military stampings on them out there that were later used as other N frame civilian models.

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M.J.Hanna