“P”, (Not “T”,) Stamped Trigger Guard

[4T5GUY]

I was reading a post about 52’s. There was a question about the letter P stamped on the trigger guard. Further down someone else commented about their 52’s trigger guard was also stamped with a P. There was no mention of serial numbers. There were many speculations about this including the P stamp was worth more which I really doubt . The P stamp was never conclusively explained. The post was not on this Forum.

I remembered that I had a fairly early, (and different,) Model 59 that had a P stamped on the trigger guard. I never really gave it much thought before. I did a search here but didn’t find anything and nothing in the SCSW 4th. Does anyone know anything for sure?

Jim

 

[gmborkovic]

I thought the P stood for "Proofed".

 

[4T5GUY]

I thought the P stood for "Proofed".

Were all the somewhat early semi’s stamped with a P on the trigger guard?

I have a few mid 70’s examples with no proofs on the trigger guards, then many Troofed ones.

Jim

 

[Club Gun Fan]

It means it has been test fired.

 

[gmborkovic]

Test fired =proofed? Right.

 

[4T5GUY]

Test fired = proofed? Right.

Test firing is usually handling, inspecting, test firing for function and inspection again.

Proof testing is usually all the above except two over powered loads are used in test firing.

I think we’re still safe to call the marks put on after test firing, proof marks. It proves the the pistol functioned correctly.

Jim

 

[gmborkovic]

OK, were they test fired with two over powered loads?

 

[cougar015]

Pre-39, early Model 39's and 59's all had P stamped on the left side of the trigger guard until around serial number A300,000. After that it was changed to a T and the P was then stamped on the bottom of the barrel. The T continued even with the 2nd generation 39's. Per Richard McMillan's Monograph, The P means the gun was test fired at a 25% higher pressure than a standard round.

 

[gmborkovic]

Thanks cougar015, simple question gets a simple answer. You really know your mod-39s. Thanks

 

[Club Gun Fan]

The P simply means it was test fired. I got that straight from an employee. All he did day in day out was test fire. It had nothing to do with proof loads.

 

[ACEd]

The P simply means it was test fired. I got that straight from an employee. All he did day in day out was test fire. It had nothing to do with proof loads.

OK so what does the "T" mean, mostly inverted "T", and I think I have one with "U" steel stamped into frame?

 

[cougar015]

OK so what does the "T" mean, mostly inverted "T", and I think I have one with "U" steel stamped into frame?

Read post #8 in this thread.