I don't understand this - how does a restock "explain" the gold serial number?

Kevin, I was going to ask the same question, but thought that I would be "thought the fool". Those who have studied the stock and order books realize that this gun is original, regardless of book entries. I will bet that the buyer knows something about such things. I talked this morning with the second bidder, who wishes he knew more about the "books". If he did, he would own the gun.

I couldn't say whether or not it was real, but the case colors looked too new to me, to be original.

What I was referring to is the poor execution of the gold serial number. The description states “ stock has a vintage professional repair to stock; repaired crack at lower tang that circles the pistol grip to opposite side lower tang“
The identification books has this as a straight grip gun.
Looks to me like the tang was shortened when the pistol grip was added to the original stock.
IMHO.

I would want a letter before I jumped to too many conclusions. The Serialization Book is a good place to start but not always accurate. JMO

I have a whole notebook file of letters on guns I did not buy. Your turn.

Anyone with knowledge of the identity of 'WMD'?

Always looking for those WMDs.

Drew, I found three WMDs from the time the gun was made. However, not knowing where the gun came from, no firm answer. One shooter, William M. Dean, shows Oyster Bay as his residence, a likely location for the owner of an A1 Special. Of course, there are many WDs with no middle initial in the ATA records.

Exactly "and then some" - This is a good example of when you want the gun in hand to examine. The book(s) are occasionally wrong and, in some cases (a stunning XE Fox) it is patently obvious that the catalog description was written by someone who was looking at a different gun.