hello again; can anyone tell me when s/w discontinued the 5 screw in the m-36 2in. s/n 42xxx ?
cam2

There are at least two questions in there . In 1955 the factory changed the J frame to the oval trigger guard and deleted the forward trigger guard screw, so if you have 42xxx and it is a 5-screw it is probably from 1954. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

AS ALWAYS ALLEN, VERY INFORMATIVE!!! THANK YOU.
CAM2

I have 39xxx and it was shipped in January 1954. If you don't know many collectors call these Baby Chiefs. Lots of good threads on these.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

The Model ".38 Chiefs Special" went from 5 to four screws with the order for the change from the 'Baby J or Baby Chief' to the "Model of 1953 New J frame .38 Chiefs Special". That was 3 years before it was designated the Model 36 in June 1957. (I'm sure Alan meant 1953 and 55 was a typo.)

Your serial # was shipped in the 2nd quarter of 1954.

More detail here if interested: (Note: the word Chiefs is plural but not possessive.)

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I believe from previous posts the highest know 5 screw small trigger guard baby J frame is 45xxx. Hondo 44 has a thread about these transitions in a notable thread index I believe..

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor