Now here's a Singer thats a real work of Art,

[RayP.]

Wonder what Art's last name is,
http://www.jamesdjulia.com/auctions/div_catalog_264.asp?pageREQ=1 scroll down to Lot#1113,click on pic to bring up some large close ups,look at the legend on the slide,it was done with a pantograph,as many top end guns as this auction house goes thru every year,you would think they should know better.

RayP.

[kenhwind]

The Blue Books "beware of fakes"
Ken

[Hawkmoon]

How can you tell the slide was done with a pantograph?

[bgiven]

Pretty easy to see those letters were not roll marked. There are lots of pantographed examples out there.... and this is certainly another. I don't know what Art's last name is, but it's safe to say his middle name is Bubba....!!!!

[RayP.]

Sharp face,such as on the end of a chisel,bottom of letter will have sharp bottom like a V.---Flat face,the stamp will make an impression where there is a flat bottom in the letter.----Round face,the stamp will make a letter with a round bottom like the bottom of a U.----Then there is a Pantograph,works like key duplicating machine,a guide will follow a sample and a cutter(like a router bit) will duplicate the shape,and in these new fangled days we also hace computer program driven milling machines,enter what you want and a program instructs the machine to cut it. 45's were always done by pressure method,roll marked or stamped. I haven't seen every Singer made but all the ones I have seen,including pics,have the same traits,M in MFG,the right leg of the M is thinner than the left,CO.,the C has a semi flat top,ELIZABETH,the cross bar in the H slants slightly to the right.--Letter J,left upword poining leg of the J tapers towards it's tip some what.--And then there are the periods,they are done with a square flat bottom stamp roll die or what ever,but they leave a square flat bottom mark. There are finish machining indicators on the frame that will either prove or raise ?'s as to heritage,you have to look at every letter,stamp,mark,machined line,surface and what have you,there are people out there getting better at faking these things,compare these pistols against one another and the diff. gets easier to identify.

RayP.

[kenhwind]

Many years ago my father had a M1911, that I had purchased. This firearm was refinished, and was a very nice gun. I always suspected that the markings on the pistol had been re-done. They seemed to be a little deeper and even.
This firearm was stolen from my parents' apartment otherwise I would still have it.
Ken

[A.B.]

The weathering is cute, "Art" obviously met someone who had read something written a chemist. Perhaps when he was "on vacation," from a "roommate," shall we say. :rolleyes:

Bob and Ray (Bob and Ray, hey, that's kind of catchy, guys) are right, the periods really jump out at me.