I would say yes. Maybe they forgot to use the S when stamping it.

I would say no. that "s" looks like it is to far over.
gottlieb was pretty good with numbering. with your sn 2006 not having an "s" I can not see why a later number having one

His cabinet looks painted over. Is it confirmed it is the original Cowpoke cabinet?

samples were normally made 6 months or more prior to production. not sure how the serial numbers could of been random. gottlieb was very good a keeping records

The earlier sample games sometimes had the 'S' stamped pretty far to the right of the main serial number (like the one shown).

I'd check the cab on the 02006 one to look for an 'S' far to the right as well.

Before Gottlieb started using the 0100x S numbering for sample games in the 70's, there wasn't much consistency in the sample game numbering. Woodrail sample games seem to have used numbers out of whatever game was currently in production (but then with the 'S' tacked on). Not sure what they did in the 60's, but it's possible the 02041 S is from the range of a previous title.

I looked at these games made in the same year as yours (1965) and there's not a lot of serial numbers documented in the IPSND. I did find a few games with samples listed but they all fell in the 01001 S - 01099 S range.

Buckaroo - no samples listed
Kings & Queens - no samples listed
Sky-Line - no samples listed
Dodge City - no samples listed
Thoro-Bred - no samples listed
Flipper Pool - no samples listed
Pleasure Isle - no samples listed

Cow Poke: 02041 S (your buddy's)
Hi Dolly: 01067 S
Paradise: 01081 S
Ice Revue: 01006 S ; 01013 S ; 01015 S

I had a '65 Sky-line sample game, (1008 S), that I traded to a local guy, Joe Iozzia who has since pictured the game on IPDB. Could it be AAB's got a "2" prefex ?

There's a Dimension that's listed as 03013 S

I might be wrong but the serial number was stamped after the paint, so left over cabinet with serial number wouldn't explain the high number
that dimension has no picture and with one that is 3 prior with a picture and no S, call me skeptical.

Ok, I agree with that.

Let's go with Pop a Card - 01012 S (pic of a brown painted cabinet)

I'm trying to find a game with more than one submission

I am not an authority on this by any means. I am just stating what I have seen in the years I have been in the hobby. not being a wood rail guy but have had quite a few, even a few samples. they were a bit different from the later metal rail machines.
most of the sample numbers that I have seen start 01001 ( never seen a 01000) I saw a drop a card sample as high as 01091. never saw a sample number 02000 or higher.
just because I never saw one doesn't mean they were not made, I wrong a lot and could be on this topic also. But !
it is an interesting topic

Ok,I have a sample Roto Pool which I got off of a good friend of mine and he posted this pick of the pf on the data base.also the Ser number on the cab is 18023 S.

http://www.ipdb.org/images/2022/image-42.jpg

those woodies had different serial number method.
I had a daisy may sample with #006613S

Does your "Roto Pool" have the variant backglass with the "O"s represented with pool balls?

Different font suggests a different production run. So maybe not.

My sample Jet Spin has an "S" to the right...and I know it's a sample because it came with the biggest schematic on the planet that says Sample(complete with a rat chew hole)...Still looking for a Super Spin though

JS 001.JPGJS 002.JPGJS 003.JPG

Seems like Gottlieb switched to the sample numbering that starts at 01001 at some point in the 60's then (I don't think they started at 01000, but can't prove it). Woodrails are definitely different, and don't follow that scheme.

I'd guess they made the change when then stopped putting a letter prefix on the serial number (which was a short period from late 50's until about Flying Circus/Flipper Parade). So maybe around Big Casino the new numbering started?

Anyway, I'd now have to lean towards that Cow Poke not being a sample game, and the S was added for some other reason (maybe even just a simple error at the factory).