El Numero Uno said:
Can anyone add any info on this subject. We know that the Single Sixes were marked with letters; A through E or F. The Blackhawks, Hawkeyes and No.1's (at least)are marked with X-1 through X-Whatever. At some point, after GCA68, the 880- prefix was used, at least with 880-00003 on a GP-100 Prototype.
Need to ask DF how the Auto Prototypes were marked, if at all?
What other markings have been used? Who knows anything about this?
Thanks,
The early .22 autos used an "X" prefix as well. Was told once by an old employee that generally only the toolroom prototypes received a special number and that pre-production runs would get regular production serial numbers, often taken from other series numbers (I.E. prototype Super Blackhawks #15527 and 15528), which makes sense....just take one off the production line and make it a prototype, then figure out how you're going to sn them later.
The prototype P85's used a V prefix followed by six digits, generally V0000xx etc.
44 Carbines, 10/22's, .357 flattops, .44 flattops and Hawkeye's used "X" prefix numbers, the SA's with their numbers stamped on the bottom of the cylinder frame ahead of the trigger guard.
Then Ruger used other sequences also. I've seen a pic of a prototype KMK678GC #KGMX1, and Prescott produced .22 auto prototypes are numbered with an 890- prefix, with no rhyme or reason as to why the sn's on some of those are so high (i.e. 890-025xx range).
Prescott's PC4's and PC9's used another different sequence for their prototypes, using what is believed to be a date of the prototype was made....EX061996.
Chet15