Barrel data

[Redleg]

I just noticed from my collection and the WWII Duff book that the mid WWII barrel dates always begin with a number, 1 2 or 3.

1-S-A 2-43, 2-S-A-11-43, 3-S-A-5-43

Are these first 1,2,or 3, numbers, shift numbers?
As in 7am-3pm,3pm -11pm-11pm-7am work hour shifts? I don't remember reading any explanation about it before.

Information

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[Dave Waits]

IIRC, the numbers were applied after the barrel passed inspection. the first number 1 or 2 or 3 denotes how many times it was rejected and resubmitted for inspection. A 1 would mean it passed the first time, a 2 the second.

[KarlKW]

I just noticed from my collection and the WWII Duff book that the mid WWII barrel dates always begin with a number, 1 2 or 3.

1-S-A 2-43, 2-S-A-11-43, 3-S-A-5-43

Are these first 1,2,or 3, numbers, shift numbers?
As in 7am-3pm,3pm -11pm-11pm-7am work hour shifts? I don't remember reading any explanation about it before.

Redleg, I believe that you are correct, those single-digit numbers (1, 2, and 3) represent the work shift that produced the barrel, which would make sense if you were trying to identify why a batch of barrels was defective. I don't recall that SA marked how many times a barrel had to be re-worked until it was finally accepted. HTH, Karl

[Ramboueille]

I just noticed from my collection and the WWII Duff book that the mid WWII barrel dates always begin with a number, 1 2 or 3.

1-S-A 2-43, 2-S-A-11-43, 3-S-A-5-43

Are these first 1,2,or 3, numbers, shift numbers?
As in 7am-3pm,3pm -11pm-11pm-7am work hour shifts? I don't remember reading any explanation about it before.

Redleg,

Those designations carry into 1945 SA barrel production and the third working shift was discontinued as SA in mid 1944 so the numbers 1, 2 and 3 are not related to the shift they were produced on. The number designations and their significance are still unknown.