Can someone identify this 1875?

[McMahon]

I'm new here and to the 1875 and as such I have a couple questions about a firearm I was recently given.




This particular firearm was given to me by my grandfather. He said it was given to him by a friend and that the original owner was his friend's grandfather. It's an early 11*** sn and has no caliber markings on it. Of interest to my grandfather was the odd front sight and short barrel which is not typical as far as we could tell. Also of interest are 'kill' marks scratched into the bottom of the barrel web. According to a gunsmith my grandfather had examine it said this was common with 'gunslingers' (I have no idea if this is true). I also can't tell what finish, if any is on the pistol. It's all original and according to that same gunsmith could be shot today (my grandfather told me under no circumstances am I fire a round out of this pistol.....so I won't ).

Thanks in advance for any information you guys could provide.

Tom

[DavidFagan]

The first 14,000 were serial numbered after that they were batch numbers. If it's unmarked it's probably a 44 Remington CF, the 44-40's were marked just 44, and there were also 45's but they are scarce. The front sight is different because it's a gun smith special after the barrel was cut. I don't know much about 75's so that's about it from me, hopefully someone else won't tell me I'm all wet