85 Fisher competition question. Welded? Serial w/f

[eshew]

For sale locally is an 85ish Fisher. Seller said it was a competition, but I assumed all were brazed. This is welded. He stated it was owned by Bill Best and there are similarities between this frame and Joe Murray's. https://www.mountainbikeroots.com/events/norba1985.php

What are your thoughts?

 

[joglo]

upfront, this looks like a very nice bike, i was not aware that those famous Gary Fisher colors have been used so early.
With regards to the welding or type identification, have you seen the nice drawings on page 4 of the Fisher catalog for 1984 https://www.retrobike.co.uk/archive/1984-fisher-mountainbikes-catalogue.282/ ? Maybe that helps to some extent.

 

[doctor-bond]

ProCaliber? PCs were tig welded. 86 and 88 catalogues are in the archive, the seat stay arrangement looks pre 88.

 

[eshew]

Yeah that's what I was thinking as well. I know Competition models had a C in the serial. Any idea what the PC had? This frame appears to have an F in the serial