JW
The square-butt k-frames from 58000 to 62450 all are 4-screw frames. The following picture is a special drawer in my gun cabinets, and it contains only 4-screw 1902 and 1905 revolvers.
Starting from the left, the first four are pre-58000, and the last five are 58000 to 62450. The one with the pearl grips is a 5" 1902 target, about s/n 58700 or so. The next four are square butts: one is a 4" M&P, and the other three are targets.
They are all four-screw frames, meaning they have the two flat springs visible under the grips.
" The 1905 models, introduced n the spring of that year, added the screw in front
of the triggerguard retaining a spring & plunger for the cylinder stop."
If the above statement (of yours) is suggesting that the introductory 1905's ( 58000 to 62450) were 5-screw frame, you are wrong. Everything from 58000 to 62450 is a 4-screw frame. More clearly put, everything from s/n 1 to s/n 62450 is a 4-screw frame. This, of course, includes the 1899's, 1902's, and 1905's . This is because these three models are all intermingled in the same serial number series.
While there is a rational for the historians statements about these guns, the simple fact is that (1) the model of 1905 was introduced at 58000, and (2) everything from 1 to 62450 is a four-screw gun, and (3) a 1905 has a square butt and a 1902 has a round butt. You can't argue about this. It is what it is.
As to model vs engineering changes, the factory never confuses the two. They do, from time to time, change the name of a model, but they never talk about engineering changes in any of their advertising literature; only models. Engineering changes are internal matters. Until, of course, after the assignment of model numbers.
The historian, somewhat like you, finds themselves between a rock and a hard place, when it comes to reconciling Neal and Jinks with the messy situation of multiple models in one serial number series. The 1905 (as a new model) is introduced at the point which N&J call a 1902 1st change. AT 58000, this new model is simply a 1905, but is also identical in all engineering respects to a 1902 (which N&J wants to call a 1902 1st change.
What is N&J to do ?
N&J delays the recognition of the new 1905, until 62450. This is why, sometimes but not always, a gun like Lee's will letter as a 1902 1st change. On other occasions, like my guns, they letter as an early 1905. N&J goes further, making a tacit assumption that the model of 1902 no longer exists after this point. This is why most, but not all, subsequent round-butts letter as 1905's . Other similar guns are known to letter as late 1902's - which, of course, they are not (late).
According to the historian, N&J's notions of engineering changes (note engineering changes) comes from some early work of Walter Roper, when he was in charge of the service department. The department needed a list, by serial number ranges, of where to find spare parts for guns as they came in. In this context, and because there is only one serial number series to worry about, N&J makes perfect sense. In the service department world, the model names are not relevant; only the serial number. Calling everything after 62450 a 1905 works perfectly well. They didn't have to write any letters with model descriptions. Just get the serial number, and go to the right parts bin.
I'm of the view that collectors want to know what gun thy have - particularly those who are new to S&W collecting. Its never going to be easy to reconcile a gun like Lee's with N&J. 58000 was the introduction of the model of 1905 -- not the 1905 1st change. Its first engineering change comes at 62450, which just happens to be the 2nd engineering change to the model of 1902. It just is. And yet the guns are always, engineering-wise, identical. How can that be explained to anyone ?!
Another way of thinking about all of this is -- If N&J waits until 62450 to recognize the model of 1905, then of course its going to have problems correctly naming a square butt with a serial number earlier than 62450. Likewise, if N&J does away with the 1902 designation after 62450, then of course its gong to have problems correctly naming a round butt with a serial number after 62450.
Regards, Mike Priwer
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