1916 Navy?
 

I just came across this 1916DWM and am interested in the opinions of the experts. I apologize for the pictures and will try to get some better ones. Here are my questions. The pistol matches as far as the frame goes and the internal parts, although the firing pin is unnumbered. The gun as a couple of odd features that I have not seen before. First is the large mental part just in front of the trigger and below the take down lever. It is at the location where you would typically find the serial for the frame. Second, the barrel is odd. It seems to be a bull barrel and I think has been cut down. The interesting part is that the barrel has a 6 on in in place of the serial number and the gun has a matching 6 on the bolt stop. Also, the alignment mark on the barrel seems perfect. Never seen one like this before. Any insights?

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_1588.jpg


http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_1596.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_1601.jpg

It appears that someone may have tried to build a carbine, gave up and cut the barrel back to pistol length.

I think the slot and insert in the front of the frame has been milled to attach a stock / forend tenon. Is the metal insert removable, or held in with a cross pin? It's unfortunate that they used a Navy for the conversion.

If and when you post additional photos. Try to get some nice clear ones of the rear sight. If it's an original Navy sight in good condition. It would be somewhat valuable on it's own.

Thanks Ron, that helps and makes sense. I will take a look at the manner in which the part in front of the trigger guard is installed.

Was there such a thing as a Navy Carbine? More pictures to come after a bit of cleaning.

Yes, there was a Navy carbine. A rarely encountered variation made of pre-1918 parts during the 1920's.
Tom A