A mystery Devel

[alexan]

Latest addition to my Devel collection. Obviously a Basic Option, however, Devel SN stamp says WR16. I have no idea what it means, and nobody I know does. Anybody out there has any idea?

 

[koz5614]

Very cool. I've never seen that suffix, either. Maybe a run of guns for a Government Agency?

 

[BC38]

I don't know much about it, but the first thing that came to mind was that the W16 marking wasn't put there by the factory. Maybe an inventory mark put there by an agency that took delivery of a bunch of them?

 

[vipermd]

Probably a departmental marking, but it would not be part of the SN#. I have been unable to find anything that stated that the prefixes were officially "added" to the SN#. Any info would be appreciated. Any available Devel ammo? Be Safe,

 

[THE ROLLING STONES]

alexan,

The person that if anyone would known would be Wayne Novak of Novak Sights.

THE ROLLING STONES

 

[alexan]

alexan,

The person that if anyone would known would be Wayne Novak of Novak Sights.

THE ROLLING STONES

I've spoken with Wayne a few times about it, and he has made inquiries, too. Nobody heard of it, and he hasn't seen this prefix before. That this is Devel, there is no doubt. The typeset is authentic (I've nine other Devels to compare).
For those who are new to Devels, they were made by Charles Kelsey in very limited numbers, but made a high impact on the industry. For more, look at my previous post "M39 & 59 and their conversions".
Just hoping that someone out there has a knowledge on this.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Don't know about the W16 marking, but that is a sweet little 9mm!

Congrats.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Always thought they were a much more practical option than the more famous ASP..... and it goofy sight. And the reason I grabbed the first 3913 I could..........................

What rear sight is that?

Vague memory...... didn't some of them end up with State Dept. Security.. not Secret Service......