"Ralph - is there any evidence that the factory ever removed recoil shields to sell as second models?"
I'm not sure I understand your question.
If you're asking if the same forging die was used for 1st and 2nd model frames, I don't know. I reckon the answer lies in the cost---does it cost less for a new/different/reconstructed die than it does to remove the shields(?). If they had a new die for the 2nds AND some leftover 1st frames with shields when they were into 2nd's, I reckon they did----costs less than throwing them out. When you look at the so-called "transitional" models (1st's that look like 2nd's), you see a frame WITHOUT shields, WITH grooves----AND with two pins. On the face of it, that makes no sense at all. That frame (with grooves and two pins) had the pin holes drilled to be a 1st Model. Given that, it stands to reason it also had shields on it---AND that they were removed. (Now we need to see/recognize that these "transitional" models CAN be either 1st's OR 2nds----and the ONLY difference is the serial number. A "transitional" with a number (within the 2nd Model numbers) is going to letter as a 2nd Model. A gun with the EXACT SAME configuration, and with a high number (outside the 2nd Model numbers) is going to letter as a 1st Model. I realize this begs the question---I threw it in to add to the confusion.)
So----now lets go back to this gun---no shields---no grooves---AND a high number---clearly a 1st. We know from seeing the "transitional models" they had already decided the grooves matter BEFORE the 2nd Model came to be. The same goes for recoil shields. The high number says this is a later 1st---later than some of the "transitionals" even (As best as I recall.). The cuts for hand and cylinder stop says this is a regular, everyday 1st---so go figure. Enter the ducks: If it looks like/swims like/quacks like, it is one. Somebody already said it: The shields were removed from this gun. Is it possible the factory did it? Sure---special order. Is it likely? At this point, I want to sit and stare at the gun---has it been refinished (as it most certainly would have been if the shields were removed after it left Springfield). Now, if the factory did it, it's more than likely they did it to a finished gun in inventory and refinished it---and I'm comfortable in saying those that can distinguish a factory refinish from original are few and far between. (I have a factory refinished gun (and had another). I KNOW they were refinished because I'm the one who had it done. I defy anyone to show me anything on the gun I still have that indicates a refinish. As to the other gun, I sold it to an erstwhile friend. I told him it had been refinished. He said that was no problem---that he was going to keep it forever. As it stood---as a like new, original gun, it would fetch $4,000. I sold it for $1,000---what I had in it. He apparently succumbed to our constant companions, avarice and greed---and sold it---for $4,000. Whoever paid that $4,000 is very much more than likely an experienced collector who lays out fairly big bucks on a more or less regular basis---one who can spot a refinished gun. He very clearly didn't spot that one!! Like I said----an erstwhile friend.
To add further to the confusion, pretty much all this assumes the guns were made in serial order. I know for a fact some of them were---by virtue of a copy of one page from the shipping records I have. It treats with 1st Model Single Shots from 14201 to 14300. EVERY SINGLE ONE of those guns are SS's---or at least appears to be. (Thirteen of them were shipped to the same distributor, and it doesn't say what they are.) They clearly dedicated certain blocks of numbers to be SS's. When you look at the 1st Model serial numbers in N&J, you're going to see other examples of dedicated blocks of serial numbers. AND you're going to see 1st Model numbers that appear willy-nilly----nothing orderly or dedicated about them. So the guns were made in serial order----sometimes----and sometimes not----another day at the office!
As is often the case, a letter is likely going to solve this mystery (to one degree or another). If this gun letters as a special order-----AND (as is also often the case) offers no clue as to what's special about it, then we're into sit and stare mode. We soon see it has no shields---and we know it should have. Is there anything else "special" about it? No? It follows the shields were removed by the factory--albeit not to sell as a 2nd Model. In the for what it's worth department, I have higher number 1st's with shields----quite a bit higher numbers.
I have heard of guns (1st's) ostensibly shipped with no shields----what I would call an "evolutionary" gun. I have never seen one. It at least makes sense that such guns happened. If anybody has ever seen one, it's Terry Wagner. If anybody has ever really studied this entire matter, it's Terry Wagner. If he sees this, and chooses to get involved, you can take what he says as gospel. Otherwise------------the mystery continues.
(I have a letter with that phrase in it-----"the mystery continues". It's a letter on an 8" .32 caliber 1st Model Single Shot. The letter says it's a 10" .22. Then it says "the mystery continues"----really burns my butt!! Oh well.)
Ralph Tremaine
And now that I've seen the pictures of this gun, the shields were SORT OF ground off, and I submit there's no way in hell the factory did that (but certainly could have).
AND---Chapter Last---it wouldn't surprise me to learn the shield stubs were simply polished---and the gun wasn't refinished.
