We have been joined by a new member to the forum, Don Kenna, who originally posted to the "Register as a Member" topic. I replied to him and he, in turn, posted the following which I have taken the liberty to copy and resubmit here. Hopefully, some of the regulars here will have some answers for him. Here it is;
Thanks, Capt. John:
I do have a question or two about my most recent acquisition, a USFA Pre-War Black Powder Frame revolver in .45 Colt with a 7.5-inch barrel. Serial number is P126696. It has a couple of anomalies, the most noticeable of which is its complete lack of any caliber or chambering marking anywhere on it--not on the barrel or the trigger guard. (Before anyone tells me that this is normal for that configuration of USFA revolver, I should state that I have a presumably earlier [P119XXX] Pre-War Black Powder Frame revolver in .45 Colt with a 4.75-inch barrel, and ".45 Colt" is stamped on the barrel and ".45 Cal." on the trigger guard.) Also, the serial number is stamped only on the forward underside of the frame, but not on the trigger guard. The number is stamped rather sloppily at enough of an angle so that the front edge of the trigger guard partially covers the last number. Finally, the front edges of the cylinder flutes are chamfered only very slightly.
That's all the bad news if it can be termed such. The revolver otherwise exhibits the typically near-flawless workmanship, fit, finish, and timing that I came to expect from USFA. I suspect this revolver may have been a very late assembly, after the decision to close down had been made and announced, and the work force was rushing to complete final orders.
Any other ideas or comments?
Don Kenna