Very curious about serial number to shipping dates. I just checked a few letters.

347xx .44 Standard configuration, shipped on August 7, 1899 to Takata, Yokohama, Japan
... then ...
346xx .44 Target Model, shipped August 14, 1907 to Von Lengerke & Antoine Co. Chicago.

New Model 3 .44 Target (numbered in the regular NM3 serial number range) shipped in 1907 is exactly 168 serial number LOWER than the one shipped to Japan in 1899.

It is researched written and accepted that the Japanese Contract guns were numbered within the standard numbering system for the New Model 3s. As we've studied, Japanese guns did not have their own serial number range like the Frontiers, or .32 &.38-44 Target series, etc

Perhaps some Japanese NM3s were shipped in a separate SN range ? I wonder. I guess that's a question for Roy.

8 years later shipped USA at 168 serial numbers LOWER than one shipped to Japan is sure odd.

Another S&W enigma that requires further research.

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