Can I safely assume that my 5 screw Smiths are all long action? I know the short action appeared after WW2.

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S&W Accumulator

Mike,

The short action appeared around 1948. The 5th screw didn't go away until about 1955-56. So, no that is not a safe assumption.
Short actions with 5-screw frames were made for nearly 10 years.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Depends on exactly which guns you have. On N frames, the change to short action came with the 'Models of 1950'. All post-war K frame Masterpiece (target) models (K-22, K32 & K-38) had short actions. Post-war M&P's retained the long action until around 1948 - presumably until most of the older parts were used up.

The very first short action was on the pre-war K-22 Masterpiece and was introduced in 1940.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721