Barrel data

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.