Should I Have Passed On This Inland?

[USGI]

The numbers in the stock channel look like 126 3 to me..... Maybe 126th day of 1943 ? Or May 6 1943 ?

I thought it could be 126 3 and Jon saw a 5 instead of a 2. Either way, that date would be about right with my 4-43 barrel, I think. I have other pictures to add, but need to head for town right away, so will attach them later. That's a good question on the parts transfers! In the back of my safe, I found another Inland I bought 6 years ago and it has an SI sight! Will attach a picture later this evening!

EDIT STARTS HERE

I tried taking more pics of the stock's date code outdoors for Jon D, but couldn't come up with anything better than I had - it's just too faint! The 1st picture below was taken outdoors and the last number does look like a 3. The second picture is from a 426K Inland auction on GB (2016) with a 6-43 barrel. That would figure out to mid May 1943 - also seems about right.



If I'd taken the time to look closer at that 755K Inland (from the back of the safe) when I brought it home, I would've already had my answer regarding the missing I on 408K's sight. It's clear that the 755K has the I to the left of the ridge and the marking is "upside down" - viewed with the barrel up. The date on the barrel is 7-43, so this one appears out of the s/n range according to the CCC data on the use of the SI sights. The second picture shows (2) NI sights with the marking along the side of the blade - seems like the SI's could have been stamped there if they had wanted to - a tighter space for the stamp, though. - Bob