DINGBATS---THEN & NOW (???)

[rct269]

Intent upon a bit of showing off for the Boss Lady, I asked if she knew what a dingbat was/meant. She responded with the Archie Bunker definition------and I had her right where I wanted her---or not.

I pulled her father's 1920 vintage M&P from the safe-----and no dingbats. (???????????)

Undeterred, I pulled a later gun---an item I kept from my collection to shoot---a K-38 (A K A a Model 14) from 1958-----and no dingbats. (?????????)

Now a bit worried, I pulled my last remaining hold-out, a K-22 (A K A a Model 17) also from 1958------and was saved from shame and ruin. Right there, before and after "22 LONG RIFLE CTG" on the barrel---------dingbats!!!

Speaking of shame and ruin, it immediately became quite obvious I hadn't been paying attention during prior discussions of dingbats---or if I had, it most certainly wasn't close attention. Either that, or I've made a startling new discovery----which seems rather unlikely. So what's up with all that?!! How come dingbats here and no dingbats there??!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Absalom]

Mysterious topic indeed.

Common wisdom is that they were not just decorative, but served to help line up the roll stamp and to ensure that the text in-between was not distorted by an uneven run. But then, Colt always managed without them ... ?

I can only speak to M&P’s. The dingbats around the patent dates appear to have disappeared when those moved from the side to the top of the barrel. Around the caliber, they prevailed longer, through the Victory; my post-war M&P’s lack them.

My asumption was that they fell into disuse as more precise machinery made them unnecessary. But if you still got them on a 1958 K-22, the decorative value may have played a more important role on some models.

 

[jscheck]

Thank you gentlemen for the education (love this board!). I, too, was thinking "Archie Bunker"!