JNewell
Member
I agree that there's no way to tell on this gun. I actually prefer the newer style, which I believe is only MIM, because it tends to rub my thumb less. YMMV, of course. When I swap them, I put the original part in the original box so that it doesn't get lost or misplaced.
Congratulations on an excellent find. The no dash 396s are getting hard to find, at least in Texas. I sure it was expensive, given the circumstances. But your heirs and assigns would probably squander you sustenance on good times and riotous living, so you might as well blow it yourself.
As to the thumb latch, it might or might not be original. I bought mine in '96 (or early '97, I have to look it up), at Carter's, in Pasadena. They had three, all very close in serial number (I checked, because I have sort of an unnatural lust for consecutive pairs, not that I've ever found many). The middle numbered gun had the old latch, like yours. I don't how you would prove it, one way or the other.
Enjoy...they are neat little guns.
Charles
