revolver date codes

[rickpa]

A friend of mine just bought a 58 NMA from a small local shop, last one they had. The frame has 20 in a box, no other date code. Did the Italian makers go to dates instead of letters for dating. Also on the bottom of the grip is IT 2020 next to the serial number. My old 58 has XX8 corresponding to 1972 for its date code. I'm thinking the newer guns use the actual date of manufacturer. Anybody have a newer one to confirm this?

 

[jdesro]

Yes, it looks like in 2020 they started using the actual date instead of the lettered date code.

 

[Dashing Leper]

Brand new Uberti Leech & Rigdon. It has the year 2020 laser-etched with the serial on the bottom of the frame beneath the brass of the trigger guard, and then the proof mark on the side is a 20 in the rectangle. So, Yes: they switched to the Arabic numerals for the year code.

You can actually see that code on the L&R sitting to the left in this picture.

 

[Steel Hayes]

that should help.

 

[Dashing Leper]

My new Uberti Dragoon that I got today has the date code [21] moved to the bottom of the frame instead of the side, so I guess that's going to be a new thing they do.