For those asking about letters at the end of the receiver S/N

[running-man]

Ran into these two while updating the non /26\ S/N thread.

S/N 2-1805355(G):


S/N 2-1805357(G):


Unfortunately, that's as far as I can go with these two.  I see a very, very blurry import stamp on the second one and don't have any idea on the first as that is the only photo I have.  The G's are clearly the same font though and in the same general location (after the /?5\ mark).  Doesn't prove anything really, but the fact that these S/N's are only 2 apart is an interesting sign.  It may mean:

• The guns were stamped with the G immediately after manufacture.  I think this is unlikely as other 2-1805xxx guns exist that do *not* sport this single G after the ?/5\, but we can't discount it completely.
• The guns were stamped with the G in the depot at issuance by the Chinese.  Would be akin to rack numbers added to a stock, though why they would do this, I have no idea.  Still it's a possibility.
• The guns were stamped with the G immediately prior to export.  Possible, if the guns were both part of the same export batch and had been kept together throughout issuance.  I still think this most likely, but I would need clear import stamp evidence to know for certain.
• The guns were stamped with the G immediately after import during the 15 day grace period to record all information according to ATF regs.  I'm not 100% certain of the legal technicalities of this one.  I think the ATF rule against altering and obliterating a S/N applies after the 15 day grace period from release of US customs custody is up, they are officially recorded in a bound book, and any updated ATF form 6A changes are made.  I think less likely than the export stamp hypothesis, but we could discount this one 100% if we found two guns with the same prefix/suffix with unaffiliated import stamps. (for example, a CAI gun and an IO gun, they have no relations with each other and use completely separate marking methods and import logistics.)

I think with more data we might be able to put this one to bed soon...

[montigre]

The "G" fonts look different to me.  The 2nd example seems more squared at the corners and slightly more elongated than the 1st.  I cannot tell if the arsenal stamps are the same.  Curiouser and couriouser.....

[Power Surge]

I can tell you that the majority of the 0406b guns were poly usa imports, if that helps at all. And most of them have a suffix letter.

[running-man]

The "G" fonts look different to me.  The 2nd example seems more squared at the corners and slightly more elongated than the 1st.  I cannot tell if the arsenal stamps are the same.  Curiouser and couriouser.....

I can tell you that the arsenal stamps are both the same. /?5\'s are unique out of all Chinese Type 56's in this S/N format.

As for the G's, when I posted these on my desktop they looked identical. On my phone with max zoom, I can see a slight difference in the length of the tail at the upper right. This could be the same stamp at different strike angles or they could be different stamps altogether.

[Loose}{Cannon]

I can tell you that the majority of the 0406b guns were poly usa imports, if that helps at all. And most of them have a suffix letter.

What the heck is an '0406bee' thingy?