Pre-18 info needed

[gobbler]

I've read that the 5-screw frame was discontinued in 1955. Is it know roughly when in 1955? Also, when did the "matt finish" change to "high luster" blue? I've seen 1953 dated guns with the matt finish and 1955 dated guns with the high luster blue. So the change evidently happened during that time span; but, can the date be narrowed? It continues to amaze me at the detailed knowledge some of you have acquired. I've got the Standard Catalog of S&W and other reference books, but this type of detailed has eluded me. Thanks.

 

[murphydog]

The 5- to 4-screw change started at different times with different frames and didn't occur suddenly, as the factory would use all available parts (and not in order). The I and J frames changed in 1953 (deleting the cylinder stop screw first), the K in 1955 and the N in 1956 (upper sideplate screw) - in theory.

Someone here probably has more specific information about the change from matte to high polished blue (the latter was available even with the matte guns), but I would have given you the same time frame you quoted. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Hondo44]

I agree with Alan. Most I frames lost the Upper sideplate screw (the 4th screw for I frames) in '56, but the I frame Regulation Police and J frame was in '55. But I don't have any exact change order dates.

5th screw on K, 1955 and N, 1956.

 

[jw mathews]

Gobbler--

I don't know exactly what you mean by "matt" blue. Imo, a "matt/matte" finish looks almost etched, like it was sandblasted with fine beads & having a slightly rough texture. Guns that are blued can have what I call a "dull" blue finish if they have not been polished to appear bright/shiny.

Factories & gunsmiths use varying levels of polish; the finer the polish, the brighter/shinier the blue appears. Same is true of stainless steel guns; a finer polish results in a brighter-looking gun; less time spent polishing results in a dull finish.

S&W catalogs from the 1950s offered an extra-cost "bright blue" option on various models, & I suppose one could have ordered bright blue as a "custom" feature on any gun, regardless of advertising. Some guns, such as the first 44 Magnums, were offered only with the bright blue or nickel finishes

I do not recommend bright blue on a gun to be frequently holstered, as the blue can wear off more easily than on a gun finished in the standard blue.

I hope the above helps answer yr question about finishes.

 

[Hondo44]

jw,

Keeping in the context of factory finishes only:

Gobbler is referring to the standard post war finish just called 'blue' by S&W. S&W referred to it as 'satin blue' when it was the only finish offered as on the 28 Highway Patrolman. Some call it a matte blue. Both terms meaning is as opposed to the pre war high polish blue and the post war optional blue S&W called 'bright blue', until the mid '50s.

Then a shiny blue was standard again but it was not as high polished as the premium models or the pre war blue. From then on S&W only used the term 'bright blue' when referring to the blue finish on the premium models like the 29, et.al.

 

[gobbler]

Hondo44, thanks for your clarification on the two finishes.

 

[Art Doc]

I have a pair of 1950 44 Target Models that shipped April and August of 1955. One is matt/satin/standard blue (I think the terms are synonymous) and the other is bright blue. I have heard (but don't go by me as I'm usually wrong) that the bright blue was a $20 option back in the 1950s. Both were lettered and nothing is said about level of finish. Both are described as simply "blue." Maybe Fred did a little better polishing job than did Sam. Who knows?

 

[Engine49guy]

Gobbler I suspect the 5 screw K22 CM ("Pre" Model 18) changed from the satin to bright blue between K205446 and K246497 in 1955 based on the following serials ,

Pre Model 15,"Satin"Blue,4"(5 screw ) Serial K195134
Pre Model 15 "Satin" Blue, 4" (5 screw) Serial K205445

Pre Model 18 "Bright" Blue, 4"(5 screw) Serial K246498
Pre Model 17, "Bright" Blue, 6" (5 screw) Serial K259018

 

[Hondo44]

I also have a pair of 1950 44 Targets of about the same vintage, one satin and one bright blue. I bought the bright blue one from the original owner and he threw in the 1956 47th edition of the Shooter's Bible catalog that he ordered it from. It does not show the bright blue option (nor the Model 29 yet) but I have seen it listed in S&W's catalog.

The satin finish was $84.20 in the SB. He asked if he could get the bright blue as shown on The 357 Magnum, $109.30. He was told he could and paid a little less than the 357, around $105 as he remembered. So that would be a 26% increase or $20.80. You are correct.

I don't know if the Bright Blue 44 he received was made up for his order or if they were already being bright blued by 1956 (I think they were) and it was just pulled from inventory.

CORRECTION: I FOUND MY NOTES, ORIGINAL OWNER RECALLED PAYING $95 SO THAT WOULD MAKE IT ONLY AN 11% PREMIUM.

 

[ralph7]

Gobbler I suspect the 5 screw K22 CM ("Pre" Model 18) changed from the satin to bright blue between K205446 and K246497 in 1955 based on the following serials ,

Pre Model 15,"Satin"Blue,4"(5 screw ) Serial K195134
Pre Model 15 "Satin" Blue, 4" (5 screw) Serial K205445

Pre Model 18 "Bright" Blue, 4"(5 screw) Serial K246498
Pre Model 17, "Bright" Blue, 6" (5 screw) Serial K259018

My satin pre 18 is 229772, so that works.

 

[Hondo44]

I just found this:
From S&W's price sheet (effective April 1, 1954):

1950 Target 44 in standard blue listed at $84.24, with a nickel or bright blue finish it listed at $92.43

Looks like it took only a little price hike in the intervening two years.

 

[gobbler]

Engineguy49, thanks for the serial numbers. I've seen and recorded the following:

Pre-model 18 "Satin" blue, s.n. K198XXX

Pre-model 18 "Bright" or high-polish blue, s.n. K247XXX