If you own a Smith & Wesson revolver with five screws visible on the frame, you have a classic example of the company’s pre-1957 engineering. The "5-screw" designation refers to the sideplate and cylinder stop screw configuration, and the serial number is key to identifying its production era.
| Model Family | Serial Range (approx.) | Years (approx.) | |--------------|------------------------|------------------| | K-frame .38 (M&P / Pre-Model 10) | C1 – C223,999 | 1948 – 1957 | | K-frame .22 (Pre-Model 17, K-22) | K101 – K300,000 | 1947 – 1957 | | N-frame .357 (Pre-Model 27) | S75,000 – S181,999 | 1950 – 1957 | | N-frame .44 Magnum (Pre-Model 29) | S130,000 – S179,000 | 1956 – 1957 | | .38/44 Heavy Duty (N-frame) | S62,000 – S127,000 | 1946 – 1950s |
