Credit where it's due.
The Chiefs Special Airweight, first regular production S&W revolver
with a four-screw frame, first shipped on October 2, 1952.
Of course I grasp a four-screw J-frame is a different creature than
a four-screw of the bigger frames because the J-frames lost
their trigger guard screw first.
By early 1955 the Chiefs Special Airweight (JA38) became the
first S&W revolver with a three-screw frame. I've long believed
it was the pioneer of the concept of the tongue on the side plate
to replace the upper side plate "bug" screw--and on Airweights--
the retainer screw needed to hold the bug in place.
Dr. Jinks told me Engineering Change #168 on December 13,
1955, said “Add a tongue to the top of all I, IT [I-frame Target],
& J side plates, make the tongue the same as on the JA38 side
plate. This will eliminate the bug screw (upper side plate screw)
and counter bore and hole.”
The first known three-screw carbon steel Chiefs Special, serial
number 73759 shipped to Shapleigh Hardware Company in St.
Louis, Missouri, on April 24, 1956.
Thread needs photos. Here are Chiefs Special Airweights with
four- and three-screw frames. S/n 24295 shipped to Flora
Mitchell Van Orden on February 11, 1953 (Rick Nahas photo),
and s/n 60625, shipped April 1, 1955, a few months after the
earliest three-screw Chiefs Special Airweights (s/n 526xx).
