The funny thing is with other firearms of that era is the 5 screw has a premium over a 4 screw because it is older. Like a pre model 29. The fact is, there is no record of a 4 screw in this pre mod 26. So I am going out on a limb here.
Would a letter provide any more info?
Yes, a letter would provide "more info".
That's why I lettered every single gun in my most recent collection. Collection #1 started in the late 1950's (S&W Target Guns---defined as "Anything with target sights"). It only took me about 30 years to decide that was pretty dumb. I also decided the collection told no story, and had no history---and started over---selling almost everything.
Now the good news is I'd made the acquaintance of Herbie Harris early on. H.H. Harris & Co. was a Chicago distributor with a fondness for weird guns---most particularity non cataloged barrel lengths, but pretty much anything unusual. I bought more than a few of them for collection #1, and made out like a fat rat in a cheese factory!!
Collection #2 was also S&W Target Guns, but refined a bit to mostly include guns likely to have been selected by serious competitors for use in serious competitions---an entirely different world---and entirely different guns---and from the very beginning to the very end---which I determined to be the end of the 5 screws (not counting what I deemed to be the important autoloaders). AND I LETTERED EVERY SINGLE GUN! I thought of letters as the frosting on the cake.
As to be expected, most of the letters told me the gun had been shipped to such and such distributor---and that the gun was what it was. A BUNCH of the pre-war guns turned out to have been shipped to individuals---always at least interesting, if not earth shaking.
One of them, just one, turned out to be a bit more interesting. It was shipped to Philip B. Sharpe---he who S&W credits with the development of the 357 Magnum cartridge. That letter went like this----exactly like this: "----was shipped from our factory on March 21, 1940 and delivered to Mr. Philip B. Sharpe, South Portland, ME. This revolver had a 6 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered walnut silver medallion grips with grip adapter attached. This revolver was shipped on an advertising account at no charge to Mr. Sharpe. This is a very important revolver. We trust that the information furnished will be helpful and of interest."
Yes, indeed! It was helpful and of interest!!!!
We see here, pretty much every day, folks wondering if they should letter this or that gun----and other folks responding---pro or con---mostly con. These folks clearly have access to crystal balls that tell them things not available to us mere mortals---God love 'em all!
I, on the other hand, will tell you NOBODY knows which gun to letter until AFTER they get the letter. It's at THAT POINT one can scowl or put on a happy face.
Here's for happy faces.
Ralph Tremaine
Oh!---another gun given to Mr. Sharpe was Registered Magnum #2. You reckon that gun might be worth lettering?
