"X" In The Crane Area

[FPrice]

My local FFL just took in a beautiful 6" Highway Patrolman. The finish was a briliant blue on the frame but a slightly blue on the barrel. IIRC correctly the serial number on the butt was S117xxx.

But in the crane area there was a light "X" just before the (again IIRC) serial number .

Any ideas on what this all means? Also, I am pretty sure that it has Highway Patrolman on the right side of the barrel.

???

 

[murphydog]

Probably just an inspector’s stamp or the like. Made well before the X frame, or the X-Men. ��

 

[JP@AK]

6" Highway Patrolman.

IIRC correctly the serial number on the butt was S117xxx.

But in the crane area there was a light "X" just before the (again IIRC) serial number.

An S117000 serial number points to c. 1954. For that reason, I strongly doubt the serial number is stamped in the yoke area. Too early for that. I suspect there is a 5 digit number there that is unrelated to the serial number.

The X is just a fitter's mark.

 

[DARE]

Here is the yoke area of my 5-screw .44 Magnum that shipped in 1956. An X and a 5 digit number. It is I believe, a fitters mark and an assembly number. It is not the serial number.