S&W 3913 LadySmith "NRA 1 of 100"

[stevemis]

My wife and I came across a NIB, unfired, LadySmith 3913 at a gun show over the weekend. The price was a little high, but it was an unusual find.

What caught my eye was "NRA 1 of 100" engraved on the slide just below the ejector. The pistol came with a beautiful Smith & Wesson gun "purse".

We got home and looked around for more information on this 100 series pistol and found another "NRA 1 of 100"... with a different serial number. Interestingly, it's more than 100 away from our "NRA 1 of 100":

http://www.proxybid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=330&aid=17982&lid=4995182#topoflot

One would generally believe "1 of 100" would mean #1 out of 100 ... because it's quite obvious you're looking at "1" pistol.

This does not appear to be the case.

Does anyone have any insight into this series? (pics of our 3913 attached)

Thanks,

Steve

 

[rcmodel]

No, that is hardly ever the case with commemorative guns.

It simply means 100 guns were engraved in that NRA series, and yours is one of them.

Consider the "1 of 1,000" Winchester 73's made in the 19th. century.

Every rifle had 1 of 1,000 engraved on them, but it simply meant the rifle was picked over the other 999 as being more accurate.

There was no way they all could have had serial #1, or even could have had 1,000 consecutive serial numbers. Because there were 720,000 Winchester 73's made.

rc

 

[stevemis]

Thanks, rcmodel. Your insight and help is always appreciated!