Keith,
Your points are well taken. And one man's guess is as good as another. Like you, I find it hard to believe that the Durstans had thousands of guns worth of parts lying around. Its unlikely for ANY business, but especially so for a company in leaner times.
It is possible that some of the mixy-matching was done by the Durstans. Things like Krupp barrels on guns as low as H grade, and additional amounts of engraving per given grade are easily as attributable to the Durstans as to Ithaca.
But when you get to the markings...the forearm "P", the double stamped serial number on the barrels, and especially the "E" added to grade stamps for ejector guns, it makes more sense to me that a different management was doing this than the same one. Because altering markings dont move guns out the door in tougher times...but mixing parts and features will.
- Nudge
