I´ve recently seen one in what I would call good to fair condition: frame retains most of its original bluing, but it is very faint at the cylinder and barrel (holster wear, maybe?)

Good bore with minor pitting, good timing with almost no rotational play. Matching S/N on barrel and cylinder, non-matching stocks.

And here comes my question: I expected to find the S/N at the frame (right next to the landyard loop), as I have seen in some #3 Russian 3rd Models.

However, this particular revolver has cutouts for fitting a buttstock and there is almost no space at the butt, between the swivel and the cutout. The S/N is not there.

Assuming that these cutouts were factory made (not sure about this), which would be the right part of the frame to look for the S/N?

Thanks,

NewDeparture.