According to the SCSW in 1980 when they started the letter/number serialization they started at AAA0000 in 1981 it starts AAD2120.
As serial numbers were used, do we assume (or know) that the letter portion rolls like an odometer clicking off a letter every 10,000 guns produced? For instance,start:AAA0000 to AAA9999 then goes to AAB0000?? After AAZ9999 would it go to ABA0000??? Does anybody know?
For a good theoretical exercise, follow along. In my 2nd edition of SCSW, the Model 940 introduced in 1994 in serial number range APC0001 to APC0300. Would a Model 940 marked with an APBxxxx or APAxxxx be an earlier production??
Another example is the Model 696 intro serial number CBS2xxx. Would an example of a 696 with a CBPxxxx serial number be earlier???
Any help understanding this will be appreciated.