5-screw Smith & Wessons

[Andouille]

Time marches on. In additional to the traditional response to "Thank you" changing from "You're welcome" to "No problem, man" it appears the time honored description of what constitutes a 5-screw Smith has been changed; perhaps the rest of you old-timers would appreciate being brought up to speed:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=259054942

In response to polite inquiry, seller asserts this is in fact a 5-screw. I was not rude enough to challenge his position.

[Nick Riviezzo]

I guess one of the screws is the one you're going to get if you"win" this thing,but where is the 5th? Nick

[gwp]

5 screw: four fastened the sideplate and one (through the trigger guard) retained the cylinder stop plunger. The top screw on the sideplate was eliminated and the S&W became a 4-screw. Later the frame was changed and the cylinder stop plunger screw was eliminated and the S&W became a 3-screw.

Some of the early airweight revolvers had a stop screw on the top sideplate screw, so that would be a six screw.

[Johnny P]

Some of the early airweight revolvers had a stop screw on the top sideplate screw, so that would be a six screw.

Many years ago I had what I believe was called a Model 12 Airweight that had the aluminum cylinder, and it had the lock screw on the side plate screw.

[joem]

Doesn't look like a five screw to me. I'll have to get mine out of the safe to compare.

[Art]

Many years ago I had what I believe was called a Model 12 Airweight that had the aluminum cylinder, and it had the lock screw on the side plate screw.

Sorry to hear you no longer have it. Any aluminum cylinder Model 12 is among the most collectable and valuable of all S&W revolvers.

[da gimp]

years ago we passed up 2 AirCrewman that were pretty & 3 Russian contract 1911's at an auction in Sweet Springs, Mo. One can be too dern frugal...... have never seen either for sale again.

On the original post, is the guy who's selling that well used Model 10, counting the grip screw>?

[Nick Riviezzo]

It's a bunch of B.S. I can count without taking my shoes off.gwp thanks for the the update . Do you see more than three screws in the side plate? Somehow there is no pic of a cylinder stop screw. So, the best I can come up with is 4, if you count the grip screw....nnnot nnno.BTW,a recent post on the S&W forums addresses the lock screw on the top side plate screw. Nick

[Andouille]

Perhaps he is also counting the bolt in the cylinder release thumbpiece. Perhaps he has posted the wrong photo and is just bone-headed enough to have not noticed and not gone back and checked. I am going to give this gentleman the benefit of the doubt and not say that perhaps the missing screw is rattling around somewhere, loose in his head. Perhaps.