Seller has this real nice 1903 .32 with S/N 2519xx. The style of the numbers on the underside don't reflect the angle or printing that I'm used to seeing. It seems as if another person wrote these numbers. I'm having a hard time with the validity. It may be correct or maybe someone else from Colt did the numbering. All the numbers match on the gun. Pay no attention to the .380 to the right. Thanks for everyone's time....
Colt 1903 .32 correct numbers on box?????
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Box and style of numbering for a gun in this serial number range look right to me.
http://coltautos.com/cagotm200610.htm
Sam
http://coltautos.com/cagotm200610.htm
Sam
Thanks Sam. It seems as if there were other people at Colt that numbered the bottom of the boxes. After reviewing the style that you posted, I'm assuming that the box is correct for this Colt 1903 .32. Thanks, Mitch.
Here is a pic of the bottom of a 1908 .380 box from 1934. This is the style that I was used to seeing. Notice the angle and type of writing. That's why I questioned the other numbers on the bottom of the 1903 .32 which is on the right. Especially the 2 and the 5. Thanks again for everyone's help.
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It has never been my understanding that only one person numbered the boxes. Even if there were the case, that person would probably miss a day now and then, or have a vacation.
I see different styles of handwritten numbers on contemporaneous boxes I have.
Again I ask, is the number grease pencil or lead pencil? If it is grease pencil, it probably is not altered.
I see different styles of handwritten numbers on contemporaneous boxes I have.
Again I ask, is the number grease pencil or lead pencil? If it is grease pencil, it probably is not altered.
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So...Numerals written on the Box, are always done at Colts before the Gun was Shipped?
I had thought such Numerals on the Bottom of a Box, were done by Retailers, so a Gun on Display in the Showcase, or a Gun being looked at by Customers, could be associated with the Factory Box it would be re-united with, when it was sold to a customer.
The two sets of Numerals, on the two respective Boxes, were not done by the same Hand.
I had thought such Numerals on the Bottom of a Box, were done by Retailers, so a Gun on Display in the Showcase, or a Gun being looked at by Customers, could be associated with the Factory Box it would be re-united with, when it was sold to a customer.
The two sets of Numerals, on the two respective Boxes, were not done by the same Hand.
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Yes. It's how Colts managed the inventory when shipping guns. Look in a copy of A Century of Achievement and you will see the Colts in boxes on the shelves awaiting shipment. All these guns have serial numbers written on the bottom of the boxes.
The serial numbers on the bottom of the 32 and 380 boxes above were written by different hands. But the OP was questioning the originality of the writing on the 32 box. It is original and correct.
The serial numbers on the bottom of the 32 and 380 boxes above were written by different hands. But the OP was questioning the originality of the writing on the 32 box. It is original and correct.
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If it is lead pencil, then there is always the possibility that the original number has been erased and a number matching the gun applied in its place. Erasures can often be detected under magnification, depending on how "deep" the original writing was. (The original numbers usually will leave a "rut" where the lettering was.)
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