If the following question is not appropriate for this category pls notify me, so I can move it to the lounge section. I'm asking here because the Foundation is involved with computerizing the factory records.
My first question is: Do the records accessible to you include the specific descriptions of individual serial-number guns?
If so, I would expect the record to describe the type of finish, barrel length & any special features such as engraving, stocks, sights, etc.
Now for the big (second question): For guns that were made in both round- and square-butt frames, do the records state the frame contour for the specific serial numbers?
Most of the different sizes/calibers of guns made during the 1800s were of one frame type, but after November 1904 K-frames were made in both types. Prior to the 1980s, all N-frames were square butt but then Lew Horton's firm ordered round-butt 3" barrel 44 Specials.
My thinking is that if the records for individual serials can be entered into spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel et al, with separate colums for the various types of data, it would be possible to take a given model (Such as M&P 1905, M&P 1905 First Change, Second Change etc), and sort by barrel length, finish, butt contour, etc.
The collecting fraternity would then know exactly how many of a given model within the various groupings had the different barrel lengths, how many were nickel vs blue, how many were round butt, how many square butt, etc.