doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Mismatched numbers

This from the Baltimore Arms thread:
SR#5135 on the action and 3135 on the forend iron.

I have seen this anomaly more than once. I always think it is a replacement if on a commonly built gun.But sometimes I have to really stop and think of the times and what may have transpired.
With the small builders and those that had limited resources, it may not be so odd to use parts that were in the bin.
One of the most perplexing guns that I have come upon is a Lindner built T.M.Golcher. The serial number was 11XX and the fore end iron was 200 more or less than that number.
Was it a mis-stamp or simply put together from the parts that were available?
I am certain that Lindner would have never allowed it out of Suhl that way, but what happened in Phila, I can only imagine.
I have decided to not worry about it in the old and rare guns and just be thankful that the parts are all there and intact on a desirable part of my collection.
Of course, being the Scotsman that I am proud to be, I bargain like there is no tomorrow on such a gun. LOL
Best,
John

What are the odds of finding a iron with the same last three numbers? One in a thousand. I think that often this is no more than a case of the wrong punch being used when made. When I see all the same numbers except one I think mistake first and replacement part second.

All minor flaws are fair game when dickering over price.

The best of both worlds. Depends whether your buying or selling. Never encountered that many mismatched numbers.

A few years ago I was looking at two SXS Merkels for sale. One was a box lock, one a side lock. We carefully broke them down, kept them separate. I was told the same guy sold them to the dealer. I was checking the serial numbers and someone [either the original seller or the dealer] had the forearms switched around. I asked the dealer to confirm this and he verified it. They were both a tight fit, but interchangable.

I tend to agree with Ky Jon. I just don't see this kind of thing either, not to say they aren't out there. Be sure the first number is not partially worn on one piece and they actually are the same. Someone with less than perfect vision may have struck them wrong, as Ky Jon suggests. If you get a bargain because of such a tiny error, put on your tape or DVD of Scotland The Brave and have a wee sip of a fine single malt to celebrate. We of Scottish blood would celebrate with you.

Sure that is not just a combination of a poorly struck 5 and the lighting of the photo on that forearm iron?!? Not a lot of difference between a 3 and a 5.

Here is the pic I dont think it is a camera issue.

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?

Fellows:
I am thinking that my intended point is being missed.
What I want to point out is that fakers often bring our attention to the glaring error and expect (most often true) us to not notice the small errors that taint the gun.
In the 19th century, it was not uncommon for people to be almost, if not entirely, illiterate. Granted, one expects anyone to notice the difference between numerals, but, so what.
I am not speaking to that.
I just want you to bypass the glaring error to seek out the hidden ones when thinking of paying the big bucks for the rare and valuable.
Best,
John

I believe the fore iron for this gun is the original iron and not a replacement. I have seen many examples of lower grade American guns having miss-stamped and over-stamped serial numbers; this is just one more example.