My new 1936 S/42...anybody seen this one before?

[guns3545]

Nice gun and beautiful photographs.

Although, I have never seen this particular piece before, it has some interesting features.

As you probably know, the year 1936 was one of several transitions and was the last year whose entire annual production was rust blued.

Another transition was that of the S/42 code on the toggle. Early in the 1936 production, the toggle fonts were changed from large S and closed 4 to smaller S and open 4. This earlier style font and format was used on late K-dates and all G-dates. It is surprising to see an h-block gun with this early toggle as the transition occurred early in 1936 production. There are some who believe that very few 1936 guns have this early toggle marking. Neat!!

I would really like to have a better look at your magazine. My guess is that it was made and shipped with a 1938 gun as bodies of magazines were not blued until the m-block of 1936. Thus early 1936 production were shipped with plated magazine bodies and Droop Eagle 63 acceptance marks similar to those seen on the right side of your receiver. Additionally, there was no h-block in 1937 but there was an h-block in 1938. Hence my guess.

This raises the question of your comment that the acceptance proof on the magazine might be 83. If it were a 1938 magazine as I suspect, many were accepted with a Stick Eagle 83 acceptance proof.

Sorry to be so verbose but you have an interesting piece and one of which to be proud.

John

[Zamo]

Spot on re: the mag - It is a stick eagle, so I think your guestimate would be correct, and it is likely an "8" Here is a pic:



Thanks for the nice comments guys. And I hadn't even noticed the font difference on the S/42, but now that you point it out it is eye catching!