2nd Model HE marking

[ydennekb]

Picked this up today, 2nd model HE, in 44 Special. Was told the lockup was tight but it’s quite the opposite, so I’ll be looking for a smith before shooting this one.

I’m curious about this mark just forward of the side plate. I can’t make out what it says, anyone have any ideas what it is?

 

[Truckman]

My guess would be an import mark......Ben

 

[Absalom]

..

I’m curious about this mark just forward of the side plate. I can’t make out what it says, anyone have any ideas what it is?

That’s a real Rohrschach test. The longer you stare at it, the worse the letters appear. And no sequence that I seem to see makes sense to me so far.

Are there other non-factory marks anywhere? An import mark is a good guess, but it seems quite old. I don’t think it’s a standard post-1986 importer mark.

 

[ydennekb]

None that I’ve seen. You can see most of the marks in these photos other than the serial on the bottom of the grip frame, serial under the barrel, and the roll marks on too of the barrel.

 

[22hipower]

Not sure what the stamp is but its where it should be stamped Made In USA. Might be an import stamp but I'd expect to see some foreign proof stamps too if it had been exported and re-imported. Looks like it has had an interesting life and not the best of care.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Wiregrassguy]

My best guess is



(m)AIN 1 ADTAN

 

[Modified]

Man that thing has been through the ringer, old reblue that's all but gone now, and that stamp.

My first thought was "Not English Make" because of the size and position, but looking at it closer it doesn't look like that at all.

I wonder if someone stamped something on it after it sat in police evidence after being used to whack a wiseguy?

When you get that cleaned up and tuned up I bet you will have a beloved shooter for decades to come! Good pickup.

 

[ydennekb]

That’s exactly what I was hoping for. Seems this one may have the non heat treated cylinder, so I’ve got some reading to do before I start loading.

 

[handejector]

That is probably an importer's stamp. Not all foreign countries proof guns.