Originally Posted by Bill Bates

i have a pre-29 with a 5 inch barrel I'm 99% sure was cut by the factory but I've not letter it. It has a <> stamp which indicates a replaced or repaired part by the serial number in the ejector shroud and a factory repair date 9 63 under the left grip. It also has a left hand thread ejector and a smooth (not polished) trigger.

I suspect all the work was done in 1963. If the barrel was cut it looks very factory and well done.

jfkidaho you might want to double check your's to see if it is similarly stamped.

BTW mine came from a retired Fish and Game officer from Idaho