Brother Cutter
Not the first time, and certainly won't be the last that I've choked on crow; but please recall, as you enjoy gloating, that I prefaced all my opinions with requests to see additional pics; and further, that I described the inconsistencies I saw and advised anyone considering purchasing this gun to evaluate it as a parts gun only. It was painfully obvious from the additional pics that the fitting of this set of barrels was an after-market cobble job, that this set of barrels most likely came from a 1938 or later vintage gun with a high single-sighting plane rib, that someone had filed and tapered the short rib in an effort to fit them to the lower standing breech of the early frame, and that in doing so had marred a portion of the factory rib matting and then made a poor attempt to disguise the repair. You, as an engraver, immediately spotted that issue in spite of the very limited initial photos; and I tip my hat to you in recognition.
As to the frame stamp, I've seen many things faked on Smith guns; but never the frame stamp. But even if it were faked, we have the shipping records for this gun which would clearly verify the vital basics of the gun as to grade, the auto ejector option, original barrel length, and bore size; so if someone were astute enough to attempt to fake the grade stamp on the frame of this gun, he would still be unable to alter/fake those original shipping ledger records. As to your comment regarding getting a legit serial number, then using that number on a field grade to fake a higher grade, yes that is certainly possible. But given all the serial numbered parts inside a Smith gun, combined with the additional internal finish work given higher grade Smith guns; I think that scenario is a stretch in this instance given the crude manner in which those numbers on the barrels of this gun were altered; don't you? And now that I've publicly eaten my crow, let me say that I continue to stand by my comments on this gun, and Smith guns in general; and further, will continue my quest to find odd and usual Smith related guns and artifacts (as was the case this week), and which information I hope to eventually publish in the DGJ so that it can be shared with all who are interested.
