[Ron Wood]

Panda

I have not been able to find a reference for exact dates of manufacture by serial number, but according to Christian Reinhart (â??Pistolen und Revolver der Schweizâ?�, 1988) there were 37254 of the Revolver, Ordonnanz, Modell 1882 produced between September 1883 and the last issue and close of production on 21 November 1932. The serial number started with 1 through 37254. There was a special serialization for pistols made for civilian or commercial sales. This special series had a â??Pâ?� prefix. The civilian model was exactly like the military issue. The serial range of the civilian model is not indicated but presumed to have started with P1. There were modifications to this model in 1886 (about serial number 1501), 1888 (about serial number 540 of the â??P-waffenâ?� [Privat or Private/Civilan]) and 1893. The 1886 and 1888 modification consisted primarily of an improvement to the loading gate that incorporated a hammer block. The 1893 variation was issued to the â??Bicycle Corpsâ?� (Radfahrerkorps) and was produced in three lots totaling 337 pieces. It had an unusual large fixed lanyard loop attached to the base of the grip.

Reinhart lists the serial numbers of the 82/29 (Revolver, Ordonnanz, Modell 1929) as 50020-68229, with the first issue occurring in February 1933, and the last issue in June of 1946. Fritz H�¤usler ("Sweizer Faustfeuerwaffen â?? Armes de poing suisses", 1975) lists the range as being from 50001-68229 and indicates that the 82/29 was â??an improvement over the Model 82â?� and the â??new design featured a simplified mechanism and strengthened frameâ?�. H�¤usler also states that the 82/29 was produced in a civilian sale series having a â??Pâ?� prefix serial number in the range P25001 to P27000. No specific dates of production were listed for either the military or civilian models. He goes on to indicate that â??a number of the P-series revolvers were used by the Border Police [Customs Service]â?�.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Ron