Have 2 guns from an estate. They are both 1917 model army, 45acp caliber. One has an S before the ser. no. underneath the barrel where the ejection rod sits under the barrel. The other one has the S above the no. that's on the yoke which doesn't match the no. that's on the bottom of the grip butt. It also has a notched rear site and a ramp front site that looks like they were factory installed. It still retains the original finish. It also has a really great trigger and has checkerd oversized walnut grips,(target?). They both have the screw in front of the trigger guard. The first gun has been refinished and looks like someone did it wiht a really fine beltsander. Smith didn't do that did they? This gun has a brand new hammer and trigger and locks up very tight, no play with the cylinder at all , bore on both guns are fantastic shape. Any help os these is greatly appreciated. All lettering on both guns is in great shape also. What is with the letter S?
Thanks
David Lone Wolf Gun Shop

Can you post pics? I'm not quite grasping everything you describe. It would also help if you could report the serial numbers from the butt of each gun. You'll have to take the target stocks off the one to be able to see the number. It's important to know if there is an S stamped in front of the serial number on the butt; it may be separated from the number by several spaces. Feel free to xxx out the last two or three digits of the serial numbers if you want to mask a gun's precise identity.

The thing about the S is that it can be either a part of the serial number in postwar revolvers, or a mark indicating the service department on replacement parts on a gun that went back for repair.

Is there a serial number on the rear face of the cylinder? Does that have a preceding S too?

__________________
David Wilson

I believe they are inspectors marks S, S1 or S2, as I have been told by those more informed by me

Dan