I'm not sure I follow you Austin. Are you saying a gun made prior to 1878 could have a patent date not yet arrived? I can see if they went back at a later time for repairs and the locks were replaced with newer ones.
To change subjects for a second; Was John Stokes American born, or did he emigrate from England? There was a John Stokes, Lockmaker, in Darleston, Staffs. I remember running across this when trying to find info on a grandfather clock I have that was made in the same town. The town doesn't exist now, being absorbed into Walsall, or one of the other Brum communities. I spent a lot of time there when I represented a foundry in Burton, just to the west.
|