help identifying a 3 screw?

gunrunner1

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
22
Reaction score
4
Location
North East Ohio
can someone help me identify a 3 screw compared to a 4 or a 5 screw? I have an oppurtunity to purchase a model 29 and he says its old.
 
Register to hide this ad
A "3-screw" will have three screws in the side-plate on the right side of the frame - two at the bottom and one at the rear top under the right grip panel.

A "4-screw" will have those same 3 screws in the side-plate plus one under the front of the trigger guard.
4th screw.jpg

A "5-screw" is a "4-screw" with an additional screw in the top front of the side-plate.
5 screw.JPG

The 5th screw was discontinued in the 1955-1957 time period, and the 4th screw was discontinued 1962 with the Model 29-2.
 
Welcome to the forum.

A five screw .44 Mag will have a large sideplate screw just below the rear sight on the right side of the frame. A four screw will lack the large sideplate screw, but will still have the screw on the front of the triggerguard where it meets the frame. A three screw will have none of the above.

There's a lot more to evaluating a .44 Magnum than counting the screws. The accessories, the finish, the barrel length, the revision level, the overall condition and the grips can have a tremendous effect on value.

Good luck. If you get it, we want pictures!
 
Thank you for the info. I will be visiting the gun on Wednesday and will use the resources provided to evaluate it. If all goes well I will have open up a bragging thread. Wish me luck.
 
Well , here's a 3-screw vs a 5-screw.

The 'fifth' screw is at the top of the side plate , just below the rear sight on the lower revolver. This was the first screw eliminated , resulting in a so-called 4-screw.

P3200001.jpg


The 'fourth' screw is in the front of the trigger guard , rev on right. This was eliminated resulting in a 3-screw. The third screw on both is hidden by the grip.

P3200002.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top