Mis-engraved Trigger Guard
 

A VHE 20-gauge showed up on GI today with the serial number 235197 stamped on the watertable and forearm iron --

Attachment 128722

Attachment 128723

but the trigger guard tang is engraved 234197 --

Attachment 128724

The seller states "the book" shows the 234197 listing matches the gun. Seller didn't picture the serial number on the barrel lug.

Dad has a 16ga VH with an misengraved trigger guard. The number stamped on the under side is correct and matches the rest of the gun. Perhaps the same type of situation here.

They were made by Humans.

And probably done on Friday afternoon!

The guard will also have the full serial number stamped on the underside of the tang. This will tell you if the guard is in fact mis-engraved, or if the guard got put on the wrong gun.

I am guilty of looking at the guard # first, but I have learned from experience that this is a part that is commonly replaced. I would bet on a replaced guard normally, but the fact it is exactly 1000 off makes me lean toward a mis-marked part. Pull it off and look at the underside and the guard inletting recess.

I own 173441, it is stamped with that serial number on the barrels, frame, forend and in the wood under the trigger guard. The trigger guard is stamped on the underside and engraved on the tang 172441.
Human error and I guess no one caught it before it was shipped.