Well I missed out on a nickel baby chief last year, so despite terrible pictures and a hazy description I decided I would take a chance. Lo' and behold, I was rather giddy opening up the box at my FFL.

I checked under the ejector star, N stamp! I checked the barrel flat, N stamp! I checked under the grips, N stamp! I have the real McCoy, 'soon' to be verified by factory letter. Much to my dismay, it does indeed have a second style flat latch (grin)

Baby Chief SN 36XXX:




As an aside, I've noticed the majority of nickel baby chiefs are in the 36,000-37,000 range. Obviously there are exceptions, but 90% of what I've seen on the forum and elsewhere fall within this approximate range.

Nice find,,,,,enjoy!

Nice looking gun sir.

Great find! Now you have to get yourself a Pinto, assuming you don't have one already.

That's a honey for sure!

Very nice baby chief. I like the nickel.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

We aught to put it together with my nickel Model 30 and see what kind of kids they have.

That is sweet.

Congratulatons!


Please tell me why you thought it might have a first pattern flat latch?
That second pattern latch on your gun is the most appropriate pattern for an example in your serial number range.
Mine is SN 38953,it has the second pattern latch. So have all the rest I've seen in from early '53 and up.

Enjoy your new Baby Chief

It's not to say I thought the latch was of the first variety, I knew what it was. I just don't prefer the second style, visually speaking, for whatever reason.

I don't like you"

George, Nice find and congratulations on your new "Baby" Chief." She sure is a beauty. How do you find all of these? Do all nickel Baby Chiefs have the N stamped as you indicated?

NICE ONE!!!

Nay, the N stamps themselves have an incredible amount of variation. Another forum member bought the nickel smooth ramp baby chief I mentioned earlier last year. I passed on it as there were no N stamps, yet it lettered as factory nickel. Some nickel guns have no stamps, most generally speaking have a stamp on the left grip frame. The barrel flat and underneath the ejector star are other areas where N stamps are found.

As my grandfather tells me, 'An Iron will and determination' (grin) Honestly, I search about every day or every other day on a litany of websites and gun shops. You never know what you might find!


I wish I could find a half-moon sighted baby chief.

Wow...very nice. Keep that boy close. Very nice.

Nice find George. As there are not very many Nickel Baby Chiefs I would have it lettered. N stamps or not. The letter will make your conscience clear and your wallet fatter if you ever sell it and it letters as Nickel from factory.
Mike

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Your Nickel s/n observations are correct for mine. 374xx. Does anyone have a nickel Baby Chief data base?

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Very nice, congrats!

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John
S&WCA Life Member

Baby Chiefs are cool and by normal S&W standards, blue guns out number nicklel ones by a margin of 9 to 1, so that is a great find. Now you need to find a nickel with half round, a nickel with square butt, a nickel 3" barrel and so forth. Isn't this addiction fun!!!

PS: That is actually the third style latch IIRC.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Well I saw, handled, and tried to buy a nickel 3" baby chief in the matching red box; twas not meant to be. Somebody else beat me to the punch unfortunately. I suppose that's half the fun.

I'll take a few pictures with it's twin 17XXX.

PS
I dug around in the pile of boxes and widgets and found a red chiefs special box that was less than 300 numbers off. Life's good

George ! You've got to stop this acquisition of great gun finds ! MY friends are beginning to comment on my GREEN WITH ENVY complexion.....Grrrrr.
(enjoy it)

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'I know nothing'.. Sgt. Shultz

You just spend all your money, and then repeat the process. It's just that easy!

I've been rather fortunate with acquisitions this year, and hopefully the trend will continue. (grin)

Goerge,

An outstanding catch!

I don't have a nickel Chiefs database per se, but the highest I show fits the trend: 37744 ….shipped Oct '53, FACTORY nickel.


I agree with Malysh on the 2nd type latch being most appropriate for the nickel serial range. The highest 1st flat latch in my database is 33903 with Ramped sight. AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THERE AREN'T ANY AFTER THE 2ND STYLE MADE IT'S APPEARANCE.

I too, am sure yours is the 2nd type flat latch, not 3rd which is taller in front as shown here:

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thats a nice little heater.

Im not enlightened on the flat latch variations. Could a member please describe the three variations. Mike 2796