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  #1  
Old 08-12-2013, 03:34 AM
jw mathews jw mathews is offline
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Default Content of factory gun records?

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.
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Old 08-12-2013, 05:53 PM
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Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records?  
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jw...There are hundreds of thousands of records with some being quite detailed and other not. I think what you suggest would be a project that might take several lifetimes if not longer. Also, most shipping records do not list the serial numbers of the guns in the shipment.

Bill
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Old 08-23-2013, 04:46 PM
jw mathews jw mathews is offline
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Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records? Content of factory gun records?  
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Doc 44--thanx for response. When a collector requests a factory letter, my understanding is that the s/n is researched thru shipping records, because the factory didn't record "build dates" (at least, not perhaps until somewhat recently--but I don't know for sure).

My main point in asking was to find out if the butt contour was recorded (for guns that were made in both square & round butt versions) in addition to bbl length, finish et al. In most cases (not special orders) the number of guns--and other serials--in a shipment is likely not relevant, because inquiries for historical info relate to specific s/ns.

If members of the Foundation are assisting in organizing factory archives & gathering data on specific firearm s/ns during a given time period, perhaps one of those vilunteers might know what that data looks like.
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Old 08-24-2013, 08:45 AM
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jw...I looked through some of the records we have digitized (1930-1941to date) and did find some of the invoices, etc. specified a round butt. I assume a square butt when a round butt was not specified. The barrel length and finish are also specified. The serial number is usually not specified on the invoice and is found in the shipping records (separate from what I have on CD-R). The serial number is usually specified on a factory return for repair or refinish.

The factory (at least from 1950 up through the mid-60s) recorded numbers of guns built on specific date only by model using the factory designation (for example, NT-430 for the 44 Magnum). The barrel length, serial number, and finish were not recorded. I don't know what was recorded after the mid-1960s.

Bill
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Old 01-25-2014, 10:44 PM
sercher sercher is offline
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Smile looking for info.

does any one know the name of the co. that must have bought out m.w. robinson, S& W's gun distributer back in the 1800's-1914 ?
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Old 01-27-2014, 06:09 PM
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sercher...You should post your question in the antique section of the forum. You might get an answer there.

Bill
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