I bought a Webley&Scott this spring, serial number on trigger guard is 82556, barrel flats have 82536, forend iron has 82556. I didn't worry about it for three reasons:

1. Law of averages as stated above are 1 in a 1000.
2. The 3's and 5's look remarkably similar. Someone in the
plant simply mistook a 5 for a three imo.
3. The gun dealer didn't notice it either.

My only question remaining is, which serial number is the legally correct one?

"Every one must believe in something, I believe I'll go hunting today."