bug Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 I encountered a late Colt (14.5K) at a show today and it had no JHB mark on the right side. The gun looked OK otherwise but it may have been carefully refinished. I understand (Gordon H/T Hill) that it does occur. Is the lack of the JHB mark common ? TIA Bob D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Common? Maybe 15% (?) of the 15,000 Colt TSMG's skipped out of the factory without the JHB stamp. It does appear that the higher serial number ranges are usually the ones that missed the Barrett stamp. He might have been sick or otherwise engaged on those last months/days. Barrett was hired by John Thompson, not Colt. GH erroneously attributes Colt as JHB's employer in his serial # periodical. Major Barrett is not even listed in Colt firearms book under inspectors. He used to work at the Springfield Armory under Thompson. It is worth noting that there was not another AOC or Colt inspector assigned to the TSMG in Barrett's absence. It seems his tenure was rather short. Just as unusual marks add something, missing marks are just as alluring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper Sniper Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Arthur, Your post was well said, I also have a late 21a in the 11000 serial range missing the JHB markings. I have never thought to much about it, but your post sheds light on why it may have been missing thanks for the insight. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21 smoker Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Mine is also missing the JHB marking,6K serial range... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/huh.gif ....maybe it was deleted during a refinishing years ago.. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/dry.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 21 Smoker, Any refinishing that would remove the substantial "JHB" stamp would also eradicate the "U.S. Navy" mark ( on overstamp Models), the "Model 1921," serial number and diminish the sharpness of all the other Colt and AOC stampings. A Colt TSMG that was refinished to the point of obliterating the "JHB" would certainly show more prominent overall signs of that level of refinishing. More likely, it was never there to begin with. Roger Cox made note of the factory issued Colt TSMG's with the missing"JHB" stamp. He saw enough examples of TSMG's to know the difference between factory finish and a refinish. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b56/Polythemus/JHBstamp.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper Sniper Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 I second that! there is no refinishing on my gun that is for sure, it was never there to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21 smoker Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Arthur, I forgot about Roger Cox`s note on this...and sometimes on military refinished guns the inspector marks are hard to see,but you`re right..not on a Colt... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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