Reading serial number

[EdwardM]

I suppose questions don't get much more basic than this but here goes:

I just received a Model 2. Am I correct that when holding the revolver with the serial number on the butt facing me and the barrel pointed to my right the number is stamped closer to the right edge of the butt?

As luck would have it that makes the number 6696 - but if the correct way to read the number is with the barrel pointed to my left then it's 9699. The seller listed the number as 6696 so I would think that's correct but thought I'd check.

Thank you for not laughing.

Ned

[mmaher94087]

EdwardM,
"I just received a Model 2. Am I correct that when holding the revolver with the serial number on the butt facing me and the barrel pointed to my right the number is stamped closer to the right edge of the butt?" That is correct. Mike #283

[jrd1976]

With modern guns the barrel points to your left to read the serial number on the butt.

I have no experience with antiques.

I once saw a modern Marlin rifle (also read with barrel pointing left) when read the other way (upside down as you illustrate) that rendered a perfectly valid but incorrect number. I think it had 6's, 9's, and 0's with an "S" and a "W" that read "S" and "M".

[murphydog]

Correct, pre-WW II the number was read from the rear of the grip frame to front, then (starting with Victory Models?) it changed from front to rear.

[twaits]

I used to have an Iver Johnson that was 69096