Model 1917 with odd attributes

[bigmtnman]

This is the third 1917 I have owned. It appears to have had a standard aresenal refinish as the "brush mark" patterns are the same as other's I have seen. There are two odd things to me about this one. The "park" is black, and the mechanical condition seems to be brand new. This gun is in perfect time , NO play, and locks up tighter than my Python !. The bore looks factory fresh. The cylinder ratchets show little wear. The barrel, frame, and cylinder are all numbered "3692". The frame and crane also have "241200" above the "3692" and appear to be an older number style stamping. The butt has "89869" as the military serial number. If this gun had an original perfect finish, the mechanical condition would say it's mint. It does have all the original military markings one would expect to see, although a little "refinished" worn. The story I have in mind for this piece is that it was not issued, or never used first time out. Then it just got included with a batch of others to go for the arsenal rehab. Bureaucracy being what it is, they just went ahead and refinished an essentially new gun. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

[smkummer]

Just my thoughts on the 2 1917s I own and what I have learned from Pates book. I have one that has one rebuilt set of numbers ( such as your 3692 number). It is in mint condition with its original blued brush finish and smooth wood stocks. My second 1917 has 2 sets of rebuilt numbers on both the underside of the barrel and the frame. It also has the AA stamp on the outside of the frame. It has the bakelite stocks such as yours. In my readings, if the firearm had a good enough original finish that would not "shine" it was not refinished with either blueing or later parkerization. It appeared that when the original wood stocks needed replacing, the must have used the bakelite stocks when they were developed. I was just shooting my original blued gun yesterday and it shoots perfectly to the sights.