1893 Model B MFG DATE?

[GrandpaBear]

I am helping a friend's widow decide to sell an 1893 Model B in .32-40 WCF. It is in beautiful condition but we would like to verify its date of manufacture. The problem is that Blue Book of Gun Values shows the dates the gun was made as 1893-1936, but the serial number is 2610xxxx, which indicates 1974 on all the Marlin date materials I can find.
Some help for the lady, please.

USN Retired
NRA

[Regnier (gunrunner)]

Grandpabear;

You have one too many digits in your serial number, there should only be six digits for a "B" Grade Model 1893. The "B" Grade guns came out about 1905, and if the first three digits of the serial number are 261,then it should have been shipped from the factory in about 1902, so recheck your serial number.
It may be possible the gun was returned to the factory later and had a "B" Grade barrel installed after 1905.