I have been looking at this Baby Chief for a year. I went to a local gun show and owner lowered the price to an acceptable price so I bought it. Grips are not numbered to the gun.


NOTE TO SELF : READ BARREL MARKINGS CLOSER !!!

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Nice! This one would be very early, based on the style of cylinder release.

And yes, those stocks are at least 15 years younger than the gun.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Short cylinder and flutes...I think it is a .38/32 Terrier . But it's a nice one .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Alan: You are more perceptive than me it is a Terrier 38/32 Terrier serial number 57210

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Postwar serial numbers start at 54474, and my 66487 dates to April of 1952, so it would be somewhere in between.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I list Terrier SN 573xx as shipping in 11/1950. Personally, I'd much rather have a .38 S&W Terrier than a Baby Chief.

Very fun guns. I love the Terriers! Here is my only post war one in about the same era (SN 56044).








It was shipped in September 1950.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

You have a fairly scarce .38/32 Terrier, and one in extremely nice condition. Many of these were carried "to death" and show it.

Notice it's a 6 screw (only appropriate terminology for the post war I frames)! It's the very first post war version known as a .38/32 Transitional I frame Model with leaf mainspring. The only difference between it and a pre war is that it has the sliding bar hammer block.

The newer stocks on it had to be trimmed 1/8" on the butt to fit your gun. It should have round top service, diamond stocks like this:


Photo by Dan M

Or more likely these. Same as earliest style Chiefs:

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks Hondo
The search is on !!

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Roy Jinks advised 57210 shipped October 1950

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

You did well, Toyman. The I-frame Terriers are a LOT harder to find (and more rare) than the Baby Chiefs. I had to look long and hard to find one and finally had to "settle" for a pre-War example, but would have much preferred to have the version you have to make a companion to my 1949 vintage 32 HE snubbie. Others may have differing opinions, but I can make a good argument that the post-War transitional (6 screw) I-frames are the pinnacle of small frame S&W production.

Congratulations,
Froggie

#56073 very near yours shipped October 1950.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hey, sometimes mis-reading the barrel leads to interesting purchases, not all bad. Recently at a local dealer picking up a gun I had purchased, and he showed me what I thought was a Terrier. In a hurry, I took a quick glace, and said yeah, hold it for me I'll be back tomorrow. When I picked it up a day or so later it turned out to be a factory modified Regulation Police in 32 S&W Long. Neat piece no matter.
20161108_134557.jpg

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Robert,

Looks like a factory replaced barrel of 2" length.

That's cool. It's got to be one of very few 2" RPs before the war!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I've posted it in its own thread before, I think the rework date is post war. I'd have to go back thru my pictures...it definitely looks factory. Shoots well too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I picked up a pre model 32 terrier(at least I gather from everything I've read) I'm new to the forum, so forgive me if this isn't a good place to get help, but there seems to be very knowledgeable people on terriers in this thread.

There are no model numbers, just matching serial numbers on the barrel, cylinder and grip 71816. 38 S&W CTG. The cylinder latch is not flat, it has 4 screws, and a ramped front sight. Any help identifying it, the manufacture date and if this was a good find would be appreciated!
Thanks!

Attached Images

Attach5527_20170124_112809.jpg (55.0 KB, 60 views)

Welcome to the forum.

That's a beauty and a great find especially in such good condition!

You actually have an Improved I frame Terrier, it's a 5 Screw, 4 on the side plate (one under the right stock).

It's earlier than a pre Model which is the Model of 1953.
The explicit "Pre-Model" collector term used in the context of S&W collecting should not be confused with the generic meaning of pre model which is a common misuse of the term.

“A Pre-Model is any ‘named’ model that immediately precedes when the company began the model ‘number’ stamping system, and incorporates all of the same design changes of their model numbered counterparts.”


Your #71816 most likely shipped in Dec of 1953 or Jan of 1954.

For lots more detail, check out its evolution here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/blog.php?b=103

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Jim
S&WCA #819

So if I understand this correctly, the terrier is a .38 on the I frame and the Chief is a .38 on the J frame?

Is the terrier .38 S&W and the Chief .38 special?

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James Redfield
LM #497

That's correct.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Of course you could also call the J-frame Model 32-1 a Terrier, since it is a 38 S&W. My personal opinion, and apparently one shared by many buyers of the time, is that any advantage of having the less powerful, harder to find 38 S&W clambering in the same size gun as a 38 Spl is lost with that larger size. JMHO, YMMV.

Froggie

Thanks for the prompt and very informative response! I would have never been able to find that information on my own. My next question approximate value? I'd say the condition is around 95% with slight holster wear, and a small ding on the front sight. Just want to make sure I didn't get ripped off Otherwise, such a cool little gun!

Terriers are wonderful little guns, and yours looks like it is in great shape, but whether you got ripped off would depend on how much you paid for it.

Best Regards, and welcome to the forum!!! Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Thanks, Les! I paid around 500, but I didn't want to say right away to avoid the embarrassment if it was too much ��

Remember you never pay "too much" for a gun you just pay that price a little too early. At least that's what I keep telling the wife.....

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James Redfield
LM #497

You did just fine on that one. Prices vary all over the country, but $500 is the low end for one that shape with original stocks, up to $6-650.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Richard, mine shipped Sept 1950 SN 55661.

Attached Images

IMG_3082 (Copy).JPG (68.9 KB, 27 views)

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Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524

I'd buy every one I found a that price, and I'd be happy to have a kennel full.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Letter arrived show shipped to ZORK HARDWARE CO. ALBUQUERQUE,NM OCTOBER 9,1950 10 of same in shipment.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

That little doggie didn't travel all that far after it got shipped the first time. Maybe that's why I'm having such a hard time finding one here in the mountains of VA, they appear to prefer Western climes!

That should be a super gun for every day concealed carry... you won't even know it's there. With the proper loadings, the 38 S&W has plenty of "bite" even in a little dog like that! Congratulations again.

Froggie