USFA-Two line patent date

[sixguns]

Most USFA's I have seen have the three line patent date, but I have one in the 25XXX range with two lines.  Just a regular CC/DB 4-3/4" .45 Colt.  Did USFA use the two line date often?

[yahoody]

USFA #23086

[sixguns]

That is the common 3-line, but I mean like this...

[yahoody]

Very cool.  I had wondered if that wasn't the roll mark you were talking about. I checked a few guns I have around and either side of your serial number range you gave and everything is the standard USFA 3 line.  Good question for Gary on this one.  But I wonder if it is a gun that was built to copy an original Colt?   V sights and a Prewar, Armory blue finish per chance?

real Colt two line:
1873 version

US older version



Colt, 1900 version


more modern Colt, with a horse of course...the rampant pony


Uberti versions:

[sixguns]

Nope, regular square notch sight.  The box label is different--smaller label and calls it out as nickel, but the word nickel has a purple stamp over it.  Serial number is correct on the label.  At first the bluing looked almost like charcoal bluing, but it compares closer to my other revolver in Dome Blue than it does my Turnbull.

[yahoody]

Te original owner and Gary are the only ones that likely know the answer tothat one.

I like your roll mark a lot.  More than the traditional USFA 3 line.   I have enough guns here that are close to your serial number to call that one "rare"

Captain or Philip?  Have you seen the 2 line?  Or do you guys have anything similar in that serial number range?

[Pangaea]

Does a Storekeeper model Ser # skd046 count?  It has a two line date.

[yahoody]

Does a Storekeeper model Ser # skd046 count?  It has a two line date.

It does indeed.  Love to hear the story from Gary how that happened and for how long/ how often.

[GaryG]

I'm sure there 's exceptions.
2 Line/2 dates:   Uberti guns and Ainsworth
3 Line/3 dates:  US BP guns
2 Line/3 dates:  Cross pin frame and Bisley

[Rodeo Romeo]

Interestingly, of my modest collection of only eight, two have two line patent dates. Both matte finish, one a 4 3/4, polished hammer, 100% american made, serial# K432. The other 3 1/2 shopkeeper, same,same, serial# SK050. So much like Yahoody's third example photo, that it could have been executed with same tooling.

[yahoody]

I got to see a 2 patent line gun this morning.  After a detail strip and inspection it turned out to be an very interesting all USA gun.