When you don’t have matching numbers or assembly numbers the possibilities are endless.

My 6” 1st Model Russian is in the 16,000 serial number range and it has matching assembly numbers not serial numbers on the back of the cylinder and frame.

What is extremely difficult about this variation are the oddities regarding the Russian contract guns. That’s what yours appears to be since it has a matching serial number on the cylinder and frame. The Americans also had assembly numbers like example A409 on all parts.

A factory letter won’t help since yours is an assembled gun. It screams 44 Russian and so does the barrel/ cylinder.

The story that it was an original 44 American frame is not supported by the lack of assembly numbers.

It’s possible that many of the rejected 1st Model Russians( Part of the Russian contract) were assembled and sold later but they would have matching numbers if assembled by the factory so who knows?

There were also overlapping or duplicate serial numbers between the 44 Americans and the Model 1 Russians.

So what exactly would you tell the historical dept?

It really is too bad the barrel and latch do not have numbers on them. Without those numbers it’s an assembled gun with endless possibilities

Murph