I seem to remember that the switchover from brass to zinc was around #1600 000 - though I have seen later ones with brass top.
One interesting piece of trivia, The M4P and the M6 was in production at the same time (for about a year). Leica "pricing" of the M6 was initially based on what a M4P with a MR meter would cost + about $100 (around $16-1700) with the late M4P's and MR Meter coming in at about $1500.
There are some rarer version of the M4P - the very late chrome ones with a single flash connector (zinc top plate) and of course the usual "special" like the 70 year anniversary model - engraved 1913 -1973 (and a few that was done at the factory "by mistake" - engraved 1813 - 1973 - known as the Napoleonic M4P).
If you go with an M6 classic or an M4-P the shutter speed dial will be backward from your TTL. On the classic the shutter speed dial goes the opposit direction that the arrow in the viewfinder is pointing when your are searching for exposure. Also cost is a factor an M4-P is about half the price of an M6 for the same camera sans meter. I guess the collectors aren't interested in them. You can usually find an M4-P for less money than an M2.
My M4-P is just over 1606Xxx - has the brass top plate. I sold my first one, but really missed having a meter-less M6, so I bought another in beautiful condition. Fun camera.
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