Pre Model 36

[bill skebeck]

I purchased a pre 36 eighteen months ago, with a 3 inch barrel, square butt, flat latch, blued, serial number 86605, manufacturing date per Supica 1956. My question is: after searching S/W forum, Auction Arms, Gun Broker, Guns International, I have not found one of these for sale so is this considered to be a semi-rare or rare pistol?
Thanks,
Bill

[RussellD]

Saw a few fitting that description at the last gun show. You have nice j frame that is less common than the 2" variant.

[Hondo44]

Bill, with 3" & sq butt, you have a scarce Model of 1953 (pre Mod 36). Not rare like the pre Mod 1953 but very unusual in a 4 screw. Much more common in Model 36s.

FIRST FULL SIZE J frame Chiefs:

1953 - Introduce the Model of 1953 Chiefs Special (pre model 36) lowest known # 48452 (with old hammer): J frame size grip, larger trigger guard, trigger guard screw eliminated (the 5th screw), dropped 4th screw, upper sideplate by at least #1577XX, and bright blue finishes began.

[hotrod150]

Besides the SB & 3" barrel both being uncommon, more so on a pre-36 than a 36, it is a good combination. I like a RB on a 2" Chief, but after owning (and selling off) two different RB 3-inchers I think I would prefer a SQ on those.

[tlay]

Some pictures would be great!

[bill skebeck]

Sorry, I don,t own a camera. Thanks Bill

[SDH]

My 3" Chief RB #65986 shipped October 1955 should give you a relative notion of the vintage of yours. I like 3" barrels almost as much as I like 5" barrels. I also like 4 screw sideplates; difficult to see in this photo.
3" Chiefs may be slightly scarce, but maybe not as desirable??

[hotrod150]

To me, a 2" Chief is more desirable than a 3". I've had two 3" Chiefs & sold off both of them. The 3" is less handy & harder to conceal, and handiness & concealability is what the Chief Special is all about- for me anyways. But some people prefer the 3 inchers, so in between that & the fact that they are less common than the 2-inchers they are worth just as much if not more.

[SDH]

I like em all.
Centennial and Bodyguard with short barrels, but I really like the 3" with the hammer...(I sold the square butt 2" to a friend whose birthday coincided with the ship date)

[endzone]

I too recently picked up a 3", pre 36, ser # 55246, sq butt. blue, flat latch. I don't know how rare it is, but finding them has been few and far between. For what it's worth, I paid $550 for mine in February. I have no idea if that was a good buy or not. I felt like I probably paid retail but it's a nice gun in great condition. Plus I love old Smiths and wanted the gun. I figured I can't lose on it.

[hotrod150]

I just saw a pre-37 Airweight Chief at the LGS yesterday, priced at about $325. I've been wanting one of those so my first thought was to snap it up, but after a close look I passed (at least for now). Cylinder lockup wasn't very good, even with the hammer back & the trigger pulled, and the cylinder was hard to break open.The gun was "in the white" with all the finish worn off -- the whole gun, not just the frame. The hammer had the old fine checkering but it was so worn that it was too smooth to get a good thumb-hold on. I might go back in a few days & see if he'll take a lowball offer, but I might not too.