Reliability (or not) of TPS Tables

[Larry the Gun Guy]

Originally Posted by edgar spencer

You are wise beyond your years. I go to the 'book' and come down to where the SN OUGHT to be, and there are three missing numbers, then a couple, then more than 30 missing numbers. I go on the home page to see if factory records exist, and there are existing records for every one of those missing numbers EXCEPT my gun. Therefore I must conclude, in my advancing years, I have only imagined this gun, and am the proud owner of that which doesn't exist. Got to go and feed my unicorns now.....

Who says there's nothing to do during the Covid. We can all read the daily adventures (misadventures) of Edgar, with highlights from Romig & Dudley.

[edgarspencer]

In trying to understand why certain lists of serial numbers have gaps, yet links state records for a research letter are available, I had a great conversation with The Birthday Boy ( Our Research Chairman) yesterday.

The root of the issue is that certain STOCK books are missing, so that when data was being collected, guns below a certain grade (3, or D), were omitted for expedience. That didn't mean the info was missing, in only meant that SN was not listed.

My dilemma was trying to understand why the information on a serial number I was specifically interested in, was the only one of dozens in the immediate proximity, not available, yet nearly all of the other missing numbers, were actually in the original records of the ORDER book.

The answer was found by Chuck, through diligently cross checking several entries. The SN immediately before the one I was trying to document, not on lists, had the exact same attributes, equally rare, as the gun I was researching. That entry also stated it was part of an order for Two guns. So, the next number, which isn't necessarily in chronological order "Appeared" to be unrelated, but in fact, the last digit was partially obstructed, and was in fact the number for the gun is question. To verify it, the assumed number was checked and was unrelated. The previous gun (XXX86)had a red line through the top of last digit, a "6", and the next gun also had the red line through the top of it's digit making it look like a "1", when, In fact, IT WAS A SEVEN. BINGO!!!!!

I know this all still sounds confusing, but it's so simple in reality, and only the way I'm describing it makes it confusing.

[Larry the Gun Guy]

Edgar; it all makes perfect sense as a person reads through it. It's obvious that the people that put TPS together only had so much time to dedicate to it and as a results there are some flaws. But, I think everyone would agree that it is light years ahead of anything else that's available out there. The humor and amusement comes in some of the descriptions and responses provided. All good stuff, no apology or explanation necessary.