I don't recall any high-grade A-5 production records from Matt Eastman's book; and I'm doing this grade guestimation from memory; but this gun looks like an early Grade III (I can't see any gold; but gold inlays would make this gun a Grade IV). Early A-5's were produced in four cataloged grades; the Grade I had absolutely no engraving (just roll-stamped maker's name and address), the Grade II was engraved in a fashion virtually identical to A-5's produced after WW II with flourishes of scroll, the Grade III featured scroll and game scenes (dogs and birds, and the examples I have seen had very nicely figured/colored English walnut stocks), and the Grade IV was the highest grade and featured intricate game scene engraving with gold inlay and gold wire borders. One characteristic of the Grade III gun was the engraved dog on the back side of the A-5 "hump"; old-timers referred to this figure as a "smiling dog". And although I don't recall high-grade production numbers, Eastman does date serial numbers so that you can determine the year of production.
Last edited by topgun; 08/22/07 09:06 PM.
