How many four screw Pre-Model 29s?

[JRB416]

I have seen approximate manufactured numbers of five screw Pre-Model 29s but cannot find estimates for Pre-Model 29 four screws. Does anyone here on the Forum have this info?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Retired W4]

We can start the count with this ONE. S170154.

 

[JRB416]

So with approximately 6500 five screws manufactured ( 3100 in 1956) and production time for the four screws potentially being shorter, were there fewer Pre-29 four screws manufactured?

 

[Retired W4]

The 4 screw era is interesting because it includes the non-model marked and model marked guns. Then there were all the other N frame guns in the same SN sequence, including the 357.

 

[Doc44]

S&W made approximately 11,800 44 Magnums in 1957 and 1958. Approximately 3400 of these had a 5-screw frame leaving 8400 with a 4-screw frame. 44 Magnums with a serial number in the S184000 range began shipping in late 1958. Taking these numbers and date into account, a reasonable guess at the number of 44 Magnums with a 4-screw frame and no model number would be 7500.

Bill

 

[JRB416]

Thank you Doc. Just the info I was looking for.

 

[Timb1]

S&W made approximately 11,800 44 Magnums in 1957 and 1958. Approximately 3400 of these had a 5-screw frame leaving 8400 with a 4-screw frame. 44 Magnums with a serial number in the S18400 range began shipping in late 1958. Taking these numbers and date into account, a reasonable guess at the number of 44 Magnums with a 4-screw frame and no model number would be 7500.

Bill

Doc thanks for clearing this up. For some reason I thought there were more 5 screw pre 29s than four screw revolvers but that just didn’t sound right.

 

[Retired W4]

Doc thanks for clearing this up. For some reason I thought there were more 5 screw pre 29s than four screw revolvers but that just didn’t sound right.

If I'm reading Dac44 correctly, his numbers were from 1957-1958 which did include a mix of 4 screw and 5 screw 44 Mags. That would exclude all the 5 screw guns from 1956, so the ratio could be a little different.

 

[Doc44]

I excluded 44 Magnums from 1956 and those from 1957 with a 5-screw frame (estimate).

Bill

 

[Hawg Rider]

I only have one 4-screw .44 Magnum, s/n S177963. It was almost certainly made in 1957 (non-model marked), but according to Doc44 it shipped in July 1958. I'm very glad to own it, and one of these days I'll get a proper presentation case for it. It's nice to know that it's 1 of only 7500. Enjoy!

BTW: I think that Doc44 meant that "S184000" began shipping in late 1958, not "S18400".

 

[Doc44]

True...I edited the post to S184000.

Bill