Do Your Revolvers Have Dimples?

[JH1951]

A friend, fellow collector, and fellow Forum member raised an interesting point. If the dimples are a hardness test, wouldn't the results be a bit skewed by doing the dimple over top of another stamping such as the "N" as seen in several of my pictures? From what I can see, it appears that the N was there first, then dimpled. I was really leaning towards the dimple being a hardness test, but that throws a wrinkle on to my sheet.
So far we are all guessing.....

 

[sigp220.45]

New Model 640 - yes, flat latch Model 36 and nickel Model 49 - no.

Remington Rand 1911A1 - yes.

 

[Hondo44]

Well I finally got the chance to refer to my notes and this is what i have:

PUNCH DOTS after test firing at the factory:
These marks are made by the test shooters to show that the gun had gone through the range test firing.

A tiny P was the first mark used after test firing. You will see it on the top break revolvers generally under the cylinder and in the front lower corner of the cyl window on Triple Locks. The British Svc .455 Revolver and the early 1917 Army can also have a P in the front lower corner of the cyl window, or no marks at all. Later, two tiny round punch marks can sometimes be found on the left side of the grip frame’s front strap, near the top, just below the stock circle under the stocks. Also can be a single punch mark on left side grip frame. A single dot over the B for blue on the right side grip frame has been observed.

Beginning in the 1950’s period, two dots will be found in the front lower corner of the cyl window or single dot on cylinder under the extractor star.

My Triple Locks have the punch mark in the cyl window but it’s not a dot; both of mine have what can only be interpreted as a tiny P.

 

[KyleeMarks]

When I inherited my grandfather's old Colt revolver, I noticed similar dimples but never thought much of them. Now, your observation has me wondering about their purpose too.

 

[Hondo44]

I collect Colt SAA revolvers and have some of all three generations. But I haven't observed any punch dots (dimples) nor have I read anything about them being observed on Colts.

Do you remember where on the gun the dimples are located?