Floating J

[JP@AK]

Does anyone have any idea why S&W decided to use the floating J in 1971-72? Why interrupt the series for a couple years, then in 1973 go back to a standard sequence?
As far as I can tell, the company did not do this with any other set of numbers. On the D series, for example, they waited until they had used up all the D numbers and then started putting single digits in front of the letter, in a logical progression. This "floating" letter business is only in the J frame series. I just find this extremely odd and wonder if anyone knows why.
Jack

[s&wchad]

I'll hazard an educated guess - they did it because it was the easiest and cheapest solution to a problem. They were set up to stamp six characters when the '68 GCA caused them to to add the J prefix. That only allowed for 99,999 guns and those numbers were used up by about 1970. "Floating" the J bought them two more years of production before they had to add a seventh character.

[JP@AK]

Well, that makes sense. It is certainly a plausible explanation. Thanks.
Jack