Mismatched new model army serial numbers from the factory?

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backpacker336

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Recently purchased this and I noticed the barrel serial and grips do not match. The trigger guard matches the serial number in the grips. I am also wondering what the "I" means before the numbers in the grips.
 

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Yeah right... the real kicker is I overpaid for this thing and the antique letter that came with it is for the barrel serial number >.<
 

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The revolver appears in pretty nice condition. The numbers are not very far apart and it could be a civil war production after the Colt factory was destroyed by a fire Colt was unable to complete their military orders leaving the military to go with Remington. That's around 1863-64? That may explain the mismatched numbers being war years and rushed to get the firearms out the door.
 
I figure the two numbers were inversed at the factory & the frame number is probably the correct number. The revolver would not have been rejected for that oversight. The letter on the frame is a heavier strike, maybe this is an inspector acceptance of this issue? Purely a guess on my part...
 
backpacker336 said:
Yeah right... the real kicker is I overpaid for this thing and the antique letter that came with it is for the barrel serial number >.<
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That's not unusual- the RUMPs (RCMP) have and continue to pick whatever numbers they choose to use on the firearm. It can be frustrating ... same thing happened to me: they used a 3 digit number on the front of the frame, instead of a clearly 6 digit serial number on side of frame ...

What's important is the number - that specific number they use is still on the frame, the correct model + description is all used in the letter.

I was also fortunate that my revolver is also the specific revolver they use in the actual FRT - it's a plus ✔️ and, when you Google this revolver make & model, my specific revolver comes up on the internet: the pictures and serial numbers etc, it's from 1873. Its the only one on the internet.
 
9.3 Hunter said:
"I was also fortunate that my revolver is also the specific revolver they use in the actual FRT - it's a plus ✔️ and, when you Google this revolver make & model, my specific revolver comes up on the internet: the pictures and serial numbers etc, it's from 1873. Its the only one on the internet."
Click to expand...
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Regards,
powderman
 
The number on the frame is consider the actual number for the gun, mismatch serial can happen, when a revolver fails quality control it is too expansive to scrap the whole unit, it is typically disassembled and various parts goes back into the bin to be reassembled with new parts. These revolvers were made in large quantities some 150+ years for both military and civilian market, so matching serial numbers wasn't a top priority to anyone.
 
I think it's a nice gun. Colt was making revolvers when Remington was still in diapers. During Civil War Remington had a steep learning curve about turning out high numbers of revolvers and quality control that goes with it.
I don't know and I'm only guessing but the upside down 1 is maybe an inspector? The other serial number they probably just got mixed up and stamped wrong?
 
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