Today's pawn shop find LOOKS like a mod 36... but nowhere does it say 36 except on the sales receipt. What do we have here??

It's a pre mod 36 probally made in 52-53

Win:

Check out this great article on the history of the Chief's Special. I think the answer to your question is yes and no. It may have been made as a Chief's Special before the 36 model number was started.

http://www.snubnose.info/docs/Model_36.htm

Nice find Win - at a very nice price I might add. PEN

Nice deal.

If you're not happy with it I'll give you an even $300

MOONDAWG

looks like it might be built on the "I" frame. You swiped it at that price.

Nice Pre-Chief Special I,d take that in a New York second.No Problem very nice indeed like the serial almost all 7's cool.Yes it is an I Frame the J's didn't come out till the early 60's.

Wow! It looks like you found a very early Chief's Special often called a pre Mod 36. This gun features a smaller rounded trigger guard shaped like the K and N frame trigger guards rather than the elongated modern J frame trigger guard. It also has the smaller I frame and grips, first pattern flat cylinder release latch. Some even earlier ones have the half moon front sight instead of the ramp front sight as in your pictures. It has a 5 screw frame also. The experts can tell you more than I can.
If that receipt shows what you paid for it you got a great deal, congratulations!

Please let me know via email as found in my member profile if you decide you want to sell it at a good profit or make a trade.

Looks like a great deal to me. I paid more for that for mine. Would love to have a pre M36. Very nice!

If You Didn't have the receipt I'd say you stole it..
Nice Early Chiefs Special

I think I've seen some people refer to that as a 'baby chief'.

That is the first variety of the Chief's Special, with the second sight variety. The very first ones had half moons. The ramps were made in smooth and serrated varieties. Which is yours? It looks smooth.
Probably built around 51.

We call the "Baby Chief's" because of the short grips and small trigger guards. The myth persists that they are built on the I frame, which is impossible- the I frame cylinder is too SHORT for the 38 Special round. All Chief's Specials are built on J frames.
Way to go.

Yep. Baby Chief at a VERY good price.

1952 I believe,
I would buy 3 or 4 of them at that place!
Peter.

Trade ya for a brand new Taurus of your choice?