Pre-Model 26 Questions

[DARE]

We have had a very interesting thread on what may or may not be a 4-screw pre-model 26.
The thread was pretty long, so decided to start a new thread for these questions.
First question. Is there such a thing as a 4-screw pre-model 26?
SCSW 5th Edition does not mention one.
S&W serial number records say the gun is a Model 28 that shipped to the Georgia State Patrol in July 1958.
Doc44 says if the gun is a pre-model 26 it should have a 5 stamped on the lower left-hand corner of the grip frame. This gun does not.
Second question. Is it possible that this a pre-model 26, but S&W did not stamp it with a 5?
SCSW 4th Edition says in 1959 serial number in yoke cut began to be phased in. This gun has that. Simultaneously the frame assembly number was moved to the left side of the grip frame. This gun has 8847 stamped on the left side of the grip frame.
Question three. Is this an assembly number?
Question four. Was this gun manufactured in 1959 or later?

 

[22hipower]

Anything is possible but the gun, that SN anyway, is going to letter as a Model 28 and I think that is pretty much the end of the story.

I have a modified 28 and a couple others that are so well done I believe it is factory work but there is no corroborating documentation. Without that, they, and the OP's gun, are just examples of what a skilled gunsmith can produce.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[toroflow1]

Agree with Jeff, while appearing like factory work, the "3" on the left-side of grip frame really convinces me that it started life as a .357 mod 28. So, still no 4-screw pre-26 from factory THAT CAN BE verified, as a letter would say it's a model 28. We do however have found a 3-screw model marked 26-2, shipped in 1966, Serial #S239743, verified by Bill (Doc44):

The revolver is correct as a Model 26-2 and verified in S&W's records as being shipped in 1966. Interesting that S&W would make a 26-2 five years after the model had been discontinued. Just goes to show you never say never with S&W. Per my earlier post, you need to letter this revolver.

Bill

 

[DARE]

Ken, there was not a 3 on the grip frame. I posted a photo of the grip frame of my .357 Combat Magnum that had a 3 on it.
Agree that it would letter as a model 28 because of S&W serial number information.
With the serial number in the yoke perhaps the gun was built 1959 or later?
That would mean that S&W serial number records are incorrect. Got the date wrong and maybe also the model. If the gun was built in 1959 or later it did not ship in July 1958.

 

[Doc44]

David...the serial number was stamped in the yoke cut beginning in 1957 along with the introduction of the 4-screw frame and discontinuing the Soft Fitting operation. At some point, possibly early 1958, the assembly number was transferred from the yoke cut to the left side of the grip frame.

Bill

 

[Gun Relics]

The one thing that bothers me about the Smith records is that I think 177,688 should be a pre model 28. I have higher number N frames that are pre.

So if it is a Model 28, what happened to the Model 28 stamp in the yoke? Was it ground off? It just sounds like someone went though a lot of trouble to disguise this revolver.

 

[Doc44]

The revolver would be a Pre-28 as model numbers weren't stamped until about S184000. I called it a Model 28 because that is what the invoice listed it as. Invoices started using Model numbers before the guns were stamped with the number.

Bill

 

[Gun Relics]

The revolver would be a Pre-28 as model numbers weren't stamped until about S184000. I called it a Model 28 because that is what the invoice listed it as. Invoices started using Model numbers before the guns were stamped with the number.

Bill

Great to know, thanks Bill.

 

[AC Man]

We have had a very interesting thread on what may or may not be a 4-screw pre-model 26.
The thread was pretty long, so decided to start a new thread for these questions.
First question. Is there such a thing as a 4-screw pre-model 26?
SCSW 5th Edition does not mention one.
S&W serial number records say the gun is a Model 28 that shipped to the Georgia State Patrol in July 1958.
Doc44 says if the gun is a pre-model 26 it should have a 5 stamped on the lower left-hand corner of the grip frame. This gun does not.
Second question. Is it possible that this a pre-model 26, but S&W did not stamp it with a 5?
SCSW 4th Edition says in 1959 serial number in yoke cut began to be phased in. This gun has that. Simultaneously the frame assembly number was moved to the left side of the grip frame. This gun has 8847 stamped on the left side of the grip frame.
Question three. Is this an assembly number?
Question four. Was this gun manufactured in 1959 or later?

S & W catalog 4th addition page 195 says top 5th screw dropped in 1956 as did pretty much most N frames. Barrel stamped model of 1950 45 cal. All numbers match to a pre model 26 including all the features. Chambered in 45 acp

When I contacted the seller on gunbbroker they said the reason it was advertised as the only 4 screw frame that they had seen is that they were not that popular to begin with and the heavy barrel came out and they didn't sell the pre model or the model 26 which continued till 1961.

I am no expert my LGS is. Maybe in person along with Doc's ifo and others we can figure it out.

I am signing up as a Smith member and getting some letters.

Thanks!

 

[AC Man]

I took the firearm to my old school dealer and he said the gun is original pre model 26. He said there could be other pre 26 with a 4 screw frame but it would have taken place within a few months. He said they didn't sell many if any in 1956 when it would have taken place.



He also said it appears unfired and not a model 28 as Doc's invoice states.

I have a 22 Smith revolver in the box. 2 numbers on the firearm and on the box were transposed it happens when you are writing down 100 serial numbers on a invoice. I guess I'll get a letter.

I

 

[AC Man]

I can't thank Doc enough. We opened up a whole can of worms with his serial number access.

 

[DARE]

AC Man. If you get a letter it will show the gun to be Model 28 or Pre-Model 28 because that is what S&W has for your serial number. Even if your dealer is right about it being a Pre-Model 26 it will not letter as such.
Does your dealer have an explanation for not having a 5 on the grip frame? If he is right about the gun being from 1956 I don't think it would have the serial number in the yoke or an assembly number on the grip frame. Pretty sure that was not done in 1956.

 

[22hipower]

QUOTE: AC Man: "I took the firearm to my old school dealer and he said the gun is original pre model 26. He said there could be other pre 26 with a 4 screw frame but it would have taken place within a few months. He said they didn't sell many if any in 1956 when it would have taken place.

He also said it appears unfired and not a model 28 as Doc's invoice states.

I have a 22 Smith revolver in the box. 2 numbers on the firearm and on the box were transposed it happens when you are writing down 100 serial numbers on an invoice. I guess I'll get a letter." QUOTE



Join the SWCA, bring the gun to the Symposium in Concord in June. We'd all like to see it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Truckman]

Join the SWCA

A good idea for all, Jeff...It opens up a whole new world of information sources......Ben

 

[AC Man]

Everything about this gun is odd.
It is definitely a model of 1950 45 acp the serial number, it's Smith and Wesson says it's a model 28 LOL plus the serial number would have been a model 26, not a pre model 26. It's all crazy. I want to contact Smith and Wesson, just to see if I can figure out what's going on over and out. I'll post my findings. Thanks for all the info for everyone.

 

[Muley Gil]

Everything about this gun is odd.
It is definitely a model of 1950 45 acp the serial number, it's Smith and Wesson says it's a model 28 LOL plus the serial number would have been a model 26, not a pre model 26. It's all crazy. I want to contact Smith and Wesson, just to see if I can figure out what's going on over and out. I'll post my findings. Thanks for all the info for everyone.

I doubt the company will be able to help you. There is more knowledge about older S&Ws among the members of this forum than anywhere else in the world.