E-prefix Underwood serial number

[wtmr]

E is for extra expensive carbines, I am thinking they were just handed out to the rank and file employees who made or assembled them for X plus years, maybe were awards for Underwood getting the E-pennant. What sticks out to me is lack of printing on barrels , lack of P proofs and hardness punch marks. It tells me were made after contract was canceled. We tend to forget 20,000 or so leftover receivers were practically given to winchester. So why would they not have take a bunch of left over parts, not finished parts, and made bunch of guns for whomever wanted before firing them???? I think maybe the E meant simply employee handout to those who wanted??? No idea just speculation on my part. I do not own a E gun yet and figure sometime I will buy one for 2000 or less. I have turned down a couple 5-6 yrs ago for 1500, one was nice, one wasn't. Just was not willing to spend that much back then without some reasoning to pay more then a nice orig war gun. A lot of these presentation guns seem to float from auction house to auction house. Kinda like antique cars and farm equipment. Baiting the crowd with higher and higher prices, then bang you own in. I have found with the auction houses when you bid low enough often enough you end up owning some bargains. Now with that said do not dare bid on auction guns with out seeing. The stuff at auction houses today is loaded with repro parts and fake cartouches. Go to the nicest NPM on the next weekend Rock Island Auction and study the cartouche closely-98% mint so they say, no idea on gun but after studying the cartouche closely decided is fine gun to let someone else own. Look at the depth of the M and the flame of the cannons and the shape of the main barrel of the cannons. When stuff seems to good to be true it usually is. Its nothing today to see rebuilds go for 1000-1300 and some higher today. Yes a lot of stuff sets around and never seems to sell but everything has its reasons. Bid often and bid high!! LOL, is easy to say and do, you will get some heartache and you will get some dreams. Its what its about, the hunt and the adventure. The education can be expensive. I want a real documented story with my e-gun or one that is mint all the way around with no hickeys

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