Hey Bobbijean. What front sight do you have ? We are 16 serial numbers apart. Thanks, Jim.
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38/44 Outdoorsman unmarked model 23
- Thread starter Bobbijean
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Hey Bobbijean. What front sight do you have ? We are 16 serial numbers apart. Thanks, Jim.
Given the time frame and serial number, I would guess that this occurred on a somewhat frequent basis. I also believe that the popularity of the Model 27 and Model 29 far surpassed that of other N frame revolvers. The .38/44 Outdoorsman and the .45 Model of 1955 sold far less often and could easily sit in the factory bin for a long time before shipping.
Case in point is my .45 Target Model of 1955. Serial number S130822. According to Roy, the frame was manufactured in 1955, but the gun was not assembled until a later date, and it was finally shipped on March 31, 1959. Interestingly, the invoice includes an entry for "6 M25" revolvers, the page of the invoice that shows serial numbers indicates "6 45 Tar 1955".
So at this time, the factory called this particular gun both Model 25 and/or .45 Target Model of 1955, interchangeably, and either would be correct. So they went to the bin, pulled out 6 boxes and some were stamped Mod 25 and most likely two of them were not model marked, including the one I have. Even more interesting is the fact that my gun is a 5-screw.
Most likely a not very common occurrence and it is one more little thing that makes our hobby so interesting.
Case in point is my .45 Target Model of 1955. Serial number S130822. According to Roy, the frame was manufactured in 1955, but the gun was not assembled until a later date, and it was finally shipped on March 31, 1959. Interestingly, the invoice includes an entry for "6 M25" revolvers, the page of the invoice that shows serial numbers indicates "6 45 Tar 1955".
So at this time, the factory called this particular gun both Model 25 and/or .45 Target Model of 1955, interchangeably, and either would be correct. So they went to the bin, pulled out 6 boxes and some were stamped Mod 25 and most likely two of them were not model marked, including the one I have. Even more interesting is the fact that my gun is a 5-screw.
Most likely a not very common occurrence and it is one more little thing that makes our hobby so interesting.
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This just confirms what everyone has been saying. By 1959, the five screw frames had been out of production for a long time (1956). No model marked revolvers had five screw frames. The units in question were assembled several years before they shipped.
