S&
- Thread starter RdrBill
- Start date
Just to show you how fuzzy the transition can be, I have .44 Magnum S172491 -- a four screw gun.
I suspect there must be a range of a two or three thousand serial numbers where you can find both five screw and four screw revolvers intermixed. And not just .44 Magnums, but other N-frames as well.
ADDENDUM: Actually that range may be wider than I thought. I found a reference to an early four-screw .44 Magnum with a serial number a few dozen under S169000. There are several five-screw guns with frames numbered (like yours) in the S174xxx range. There is at least one reported five-screw gun with a frame numbered above S185000, but that one feels like an outlier.
I suspect there must be a range of a two or three thousand serial numbers where you can find both five screw and four screw revolvers intermixed. And not just .44 Magnums, but other N-frames as well.
ADDENDUM: Actually that range may be wider than I thought. I found a reference to an early four-screw .44 Magnum with a serial number a few dozen under S169000. There are several five-screw guns with frames numbered (like yours) in the S174xxx range. There is at least one reported five-screw gun with a frame numbered above S185000, but that one feels like an outlier.
44 Magnums with a 4-screw frame first appeared in early 1957 at approximately serial number S167900. However, in mid-1957, S&W shipped some 44 Magnums with a 5-screw frame that have a serial number in the S171000 to S175000 range. Apparently, S&W found a number of 5-screw frames and used them to make 44 Magnums. Your 44 Magnum is one of these.
I had one in my collection for a number of years. It has serial number S174042 and was shipped on June 3, 1957.
Bill
I had one in my collection for a number of years. It has serial number S174042 and was shipped on June 3, 1957.
Bill
Last edited:
chud333
Member
Very interesting Bill.
Also very cool to have the 2 different frames that near together
serial number wise. Did you happen to buy these two at the same
time? What's the story on when and where they we're purchased
if you don't mind sharing.
Also, Thank You for your service.
Chuck
Also very cool to have the 2 different frames that near together
serial number wise. Did you happen to buy these two at the same
time? What's the story on when and where they we're purchased
if you don't mind sharing.
Also, Thank You for your service.
Chuck
29aholic
Member
Member Rad29 has a consecutive pair of 44 Magnums in which one is a 4 screw and one is a 5 screw and the 5 screw has the higher number.
I was just about to mention that. He had them at the "show and tell" at the Tulsa gun show Southwest Bunch dinner back in November.
Sebago Son
Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2002
- Messages
- 5,692
- Reaction score
- 8,309
- City & State/Province
- Sebago Lake, Maine, USA
Hey There Brother Bill!
Now those .44's are really something to CROW about...
Drew
Now those .44's are really something to CROW about...
Drew
OldDominion
Member
Howdy Bill, my 4 screw is S1727doink doink. Can't tell you the ship date, haven't lettered it yet. I sometimes wonder if the guys at the factory go..."Eeeny meeny mynny mo..." or just close their eyes and take the first frame they touch in the frame barrel. Put their drawers back on and post a picture of those ladies. OD
