I have a 357 Mag 10" octagon barrel that came with frame #1861. Since serial numbers started at 1001 in August of 1968 this is from October. I also have a 10" oct. & 10" bull 221 fireball, 10" bull 22 Hornet, Super14 44 Mag that I had Mag-na-ported, Super14 7TCU, Super14 in 22 Long Rifle Match and perhaps the most fun of all; a 12" Hunter (w/iron sights) in 375 Winchester. The muzzle blast is the size of a large beach ball, but the recoil is very mild. I have both a early and a e-z open actions. I currently have the Hornet and Bull Fireball scoped and am thinning the herd of rabbits and ground hogs from my garden! I had an 223 Super14, that I couldn't get to group under 3" @ 100 yards. I bought it used and think it was damaged (ammo I loaded for it shot well in other Contenders) This was about 1983-4. It had the crummy little Phantom 2.5x scope that was rail mounted. I've been thinking of adding a extension to the TCU barrel and making it a carbine. Ivan