[bill m]

Hi GT,

I agree with your comments and your theory could very well be correct as to the sequence of thing, but we still have to have guide lines. When you start making assumptions that this is possible, and that is possible, you leave yourself wide open to accept just about anything. For instance, the magazines on the 1936 S/42 switched from nickle to blue in the N block. Would you accept blue magazines earlier that this? You could make the assumption that it is possible to have blue magazines in the L block, but would they be correct? How about nickle magazines in the O block? You have to use this serial number data as the guide to what is correct and what isn't. The transition from nickle to blue took place in the N block, so any blue magazines before this would be very suspect. A transition period took place and in the O block you could still have nickle magazines. See what I'm getting at here? There are guidelines that are not set in stone, but are fairly close, that guide us as to what is right and what is incorrect. In the case of the S block byf, the magazines were serial numbered to the gun and were fxo's. We know this because of the serial number data before and after the S block. The same with the grips. On large data sheets, the black plastic grips did not start showing up with any consistancy until the U block, with a very few in the T block. There is one now and then before this, but with no consistancy, so what does this tell us........that they are probably a field replacement or have been changed later. Any nice byf is great and should not be passed on, but if you want to be correct on the configurations and magazines and proofs, you have to know your field and use these guidelines. The only reason for an assumption is in the transition periods.