Have a GE 20ga with mismatched serial numbers. Read something at sometime about this situation but can't remember what it was. The serial on the receiver is 35687, on barrels 85687. The barrel # looks to have the 8 stamped over a 3. My research tells me that serial numbers stopped in the 70,00 range. Help!
My guess is that you're reading the "3" on the barrel as an "8".
IOW, the "8" is really a "3".
I suspect your leading "8" is a mistake. First strike with the 3 die rotated 180 degrees from nominal. Second strike to "correct the error with the 3 in its normal position. Resulting in an 8.
I have an H grade 12ga with mis-matched #'s @ 73,342 & 73,338. For some time these have been the "Two" highest SN's recorded in the LACA SN list. With your other four numbers all being the same I suspect it was supposed to be matching, but somehow, somewhere got mis-stamped. The 35687 # should date it to around 1900. On the list of patent dates on the trigger guard is there a 1907 date?
Now that I look again I can see the 3 in proper position but there is no doubt that an overstrike makes it an 8. Also the size and style of the numbers is significantly diffent from those on the reciever. Any thoughts?
Thank to all who responded.