Chiefs Special vs Chief Special

[JSR III]

Does anyone know when the Chiefs Special revolver became the Chief Special revolver. I added the word revolver so as not to bring the newer semi autos by the same name into the discussion.

I was just reading a thread and noticed a blue box bearing the name minus the "S".

[murphydog]

The factory website is silent on this issue, but you know the big guy in the history department calls them a "Chiefs Special", plural. Guess he wasn't there in the mid-1950s to correct the label writer .

[DWalt]

I've often thought it should have been Chief's Special, or maybe Chiefs' Special, but box labels say Chiefs Special, at least those I have seen.

[Leatherhead23]

What a beauty you have there...mine isn't to far of from your SN. 126513 is mine

Maybe they're all a 'Chief Special' until they get purchased....

Then they become the 'Chief's Special'....you know, the apostrophe shows possession!

[linde]

Originally Posted by JSR III

Does anyone know when the Chiefs Special revolver became the Chief Special revolver ? . . .

I have a "Sunburst" box similar to one in the thread you referenced. The paste-on label reads "38 Chief Special Airweight". The bottom of the box is serial numbered 142343 which is in the same era.

Originally Posted by murphydog

. . . you know the big guy in the history department calls them a "Chiefs Special", plural. Guess he wasn't there in the mid-1950s to correct the label writer .

I guess the "big guy in the history department" knows what of he speaks because the 1952 S&W Centennial catalog introduces them as "Chiefs Special" and tells the story how they got that name. The "label guy" apparently took some liberties but not for very long . . . every catalog, box &/or label I've seen since is properly labeled Chiefs Special.

Russ

[Bosco7]

Veddy inderesding?
This one was bought new in 1977. Now what???

[chief38]

AFAIK they have always been called the Chief's Special. Whoever printed the labels might have inadvertently left out the 's on the word Chief's. It is a natural mistake which I made myself back when I joined this Forum 10 years ago (see my screen name). I never corrected it (even though I knew better - even then) just because .........

[DWalt]

While I fully agree that the possessive form of Chief's Special seems more correct, it seems as though they were always advertised without the apostrophe and also on box labels.

In Jink's "History of S&W" it is hedged a bit. He states "...the most commonly suggested and appropriate name was the .38 Chief's Special. The name was officially adopted." However, that is the only instance in which the apostrophe was used by Jinks. Every other reference made by him in the book drops the apostrophe.

[Hondo44]

The two box markings are interesting!

Apparently, box labeler positions did not rate a very high pay scale.

If it was meant to be possessive, it would be plural possessive: Chiefs' Special.

[hoss@fol43]

In have two sunburst boxes for my two chief specials. The box for the airweight is labeled "chiefs special" and the steel frame box is labeled "chief special". The "chief special" box also has red metal corner reinforcements while the airweight has grey ones...the Sn's are only 816 numbers apart with the Airweight having the lower serial number...

[linde]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

. . . If it was meant to be possessive, it would be plural possessive: Chiefs' Special.

While (presumably) non of us were in the meeting with the Chiefs of Police (plural), I suspect whoever was taking the minutes didn't know how to spell the plural possessive form and just wrote down Chiefs . . . that's how it got its name

Besides, when you say Chiefs' Special, it sounds the same as Chiefs Special . . . because the apostrophe is silent

Sorry about that but I just couldn't resist,

Russ

[wheelgun610]

How do ya spell O.C.D.? You guys have way too much time on your hands.

[JSR III]

It depends, sometimes I spell it O.C.D. while other times if in a hurry I spell it OCD. If however, my O.C.D. is in full swing, I spell it C.D.O. because the letters have to be in alphabetical order.

What a beauty you have there...mine isn't to far of from your SN. 126513

That is not my gun, merely a photo that I saw with the end label stating CHIEF SPECIAL. Since another thread had a box photo with it spelled CHIEFS SPECIAL, it prompted my question. I only raised the question in an effort to help those trying to match a box with their gun. Obviously, the gentleman that made up the labels for the box pictured didn't get the memo.

But then again, there are many S&W terms that have not stood the test of time. Things like stocks are called grips, yokes are called cranes and checking is called checkering. Due to my OCD, I have to use the correct terms.

[Jack Flash]

Don't forget that an apostrophe can also indicate a contraction. Thus "Chief's Special" may be misunderstood as "Chief is Special" which is probably not universally true.

No doubt the label maker pondered all this and to avoid confusion, dumped the apostrophe altogether.

[JSR III]

The name was suggested at a gathering of Police Chiefs as in several and was specially designed for LEO's wearing a suit coat as in Chiefs and Detectives. Since Colt had come out with the Detective Special in the late 20's, I am sure that any name using the word DETECTIVE would have been disregarded.

Since it was a gathering of Police Chiefs, the name Chiefs Special seemed like a logical choice.

Does anyone know the state that is credited with this name?

[DWalt]

Maybe Colt should have named their revolver the "Detective's Special." Or maybe "Detectives Special."
Read my posting #8 regarding what the Chiefs/Chief's/Chiefs' Special was originally called.

[Black_Sheep]

I had to go look at my boxes...



The pre model Airweight and a later square butt 36 both say Chiefs Special on the box and paperwork.