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Post by neverguided on Oct 22, 2015 20:45:00 GMT -5
Hi all, I have a Model M with a B-prefix serial number. I haven't seen alphanumeric serial numbers in Standards, and was wondering if anyone 1) has seen this, and 2) might have an explanation for it? I assume that it has something to do with production runs, and might perhaps indicate if this is an actual Standard-built rifle or a later Numrich-assembled gun. Thanks for your time!
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Post by fire15vp on Oct 23, 2015 8:16:23 GMT -5
According to the notes I have from the production records. A lot of guns were returned to the factory for repair, I actually have records of how many of what type and caliber but I have never tabulated them. But anyway my therapy is that when returned they used alpha letters to designate the repairs RB for rebuilt, B for re-blued and R for changing model H to G. I have only seen one R. The records show that most of the H's were changed to G's, so an H model is a rare bird.
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Post by neverguided on Oct 24, 2015 9:33:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply.
So a "B" in front of the serial number may indicate a reblue? This (and "RB" & "R") is something you have seen before? Is there documentation available that show what these codes mean, or is this your best educated guess? From your records, is there a way to look up individual serial numbers?
Finally, if Standard had such a short production history, was someone else doing the repair/rebuild/reblue (e.g. Numrich)?
Thanks again!
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Post by fire15vp on Oct 26, 2015 8:55:41 GMT -5
The factory records show a lot of time was expended on repair of guns. The three most common repairs were "Re-built" "Blued" and modified model H to G. They spent a tremendous amout of time at one point they had two employees dedicated to repairs. I have numbers of each classification but no serial numbers. The production records do not show serial numbers. For years I thought they were some collectors initial until I came across these records. The closest thing I have to a serial number list is the one I have been keeping. Numrich arms went into business in the 50's the last of the Standard arms stock was sold around 1914. In the 50's there was a company out of Texas that had a large amount of parts. I have a letter from them circs 1970, stating that they had parts for three Camp guns. Company records show that they made 25 Camp guns. I have serial numbers recorded for 11 of them. Ten of them are all in the low 2000's. and I personally have one that is numbered 25. I believe this gun was actually assembled in Texas. Which mean there could be possibly 28 of them out there. Standard jumped all over the place in serial numbers NO 3000 to 4700 numbers at all. I believe that the Camp gun is the proof. They were all manufactured after their first bankruptcy. Most of their equipment was sold off in a bankruptcy sale, they were down to just a few machines. The camp guns were the last to be built by Standard and the serial numbers are in the low 2000's. I have recorded 258 exsisting serial numbers by caliber and model. I have loked and looked at these numbers and to date I do not see any kind of pattern. Most of the model "H's" that were sent back to the factory were converted to a "G". I have yet to record a true model "H". At this point I believe they are rarer than the Camp gun. Ed
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Post by neverguided on Oct 26, 2015 21:45:29 GMT -5
Thanks Ed, this is great information that I'm sure everyone will appreciate. Would you by any chance be able to scan and post any of these documents for some nostalgic insight into these codes? Thanks again.
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Post by fire15vp on Oct 27, 2015 8:20:59 GMT -5
Hopefully this winter I will be able to finish writing and publish an article if not a small reference work Thanks Ed
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Post by neverguided on Oct 27, 2015 8:53:37 GMT -5
That would be fantastic, especially given how little information is out there regarding these rifles.
Ed, do you believe that there are any indicators when looking at a Standard rifle to distinguish between a factory-produced rifle and a later parts-assembled rifle?
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Post by fire15vp on Oct 27, 2015 15:05:39 GMT -5
Other than mismatched or very weird serial numbers I would have to say no. Ed
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