D grade lifters
Bill; I think D refers to Dollar Grade, in the era before s/n 6000, when price lists were changing rapidly and frequently. My 3215 ( pictured in both TPS and Serialization..) is pretty clearly a $200 or $250 (5 or6?) grade and my 3291 is pretty clearly a $135 (2) grade but both show as D for dollar. Both have Damascus barrels, but with little similarity. My twist barrel guns in this era show as T.
3215 has been well studied; the photo of it in TPS concludes that it is " the highest grade of the time". I can count 6 lamina in the damascus pattern; in my opinion that is the fore runner of grade 6.
Publication intervals, price lists, mailing speeds, shop operations and shipping dates are not well coordinated in this era; we will probably never determine the intended grade of many of these guns
Best, Austin
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