I have been under the assumption that the brush blue finish and the checkered stocks were replaced with the phosphate finish and smooth stocks at about the same time. Yet I have a Canadian BSR #938813 which has the brush blue and numbered smooth stocks. Factory letter merely states, "blue finish and walnut grips". Was there a transitional period where they retained the blue finish but replaced the checkered stocks with smooth stocks? I have another preVic 4 inch 38 Spcl #975727 which has phosphate finish and numbered smooth stocks which suggests a possible transitional period between the two configurations? What think ye?

You didn't give us the ship dates on your two Pre-Victory Models, however I assume they would fall in the early 1942 era. I don't believe military orders ( including BSRs) will have any defined cutoffs date, or serial numbers, as to when changes were made between brush blue & phosphates finishes, and/or smooth stocks vs. pre-war checkered medallion stocks. Fitters & Assemblers in that period just took whatever parts were on the top of the pile and put the guns together, so as smooth stocks appeared and checkered stocks were phased out, it was just luck as to what stocks got fitted to which gun. Likewise with finishes. Ed.

Only have letter on the BSR and it is March 4, 1942. Sorry, but do not have letter on the 4 inch which is apparently a DSC gun since it has no property or proof markings on it. opoefc, thank you for the insight.

Smooth stocks began very early in 1942 according to the Hellstrom notes. Yours shipped in March, smooth grips would be correct.

According to the available documentation at this time, the brush polish blue changed to sandblast blue in 4/42. So your BSR sounds like it has the correct configuration if it lettered to 3/42.