Pre Model Number Snubby

[J2Nick]

Picked up a 38 special snubby yesterday that was advertised as a model 36. Got it for a deal at $250. Just wondering how old it is. Plan on shooting and enjoying it. So here are the specs:

Hand eject type
Think it's a J frame
No # model in the yoke
SN: 367XX (no letter)
Barrel is less then 2" maybe 1 3/4
Fixed sights
5 screws

Bluing is very nice. Just slight wear on end of barrel. Grips do not look original and the hammer, trigger and the latch (flat) look like the where gold plated at some point. Same have wear and flaking.

I will attempt pictures

Any help is great, I'm new here so forgive me for new guy mistakes.
Thank you
John

[J2Nick]

Here is an attempt at pictures

[MikeR90S]

Looks like a baby Chief. Lots of info here about them.

BTW, those grips should be hanging off the bottom of the grip frame. Here is a photo I took of baby Chief grips overlayed on model 36 grips. The bottom difference is key:

[J2Nick]

The grips do look like someone had re-shaped them to fit somewhat. I did take them off and the numbers do not match any number on the pistol.

[Jim NNN]

forgive me for new guy mistakes

You made no mistake. That gun is surely worth $250, IMO. The guy who gold plated that stuff and chopped up the grip, however...

But that's why you paid 250 instead of 450. I recently bought a pre-64 Winchester 94 that had been (nicely) reblued. The refinish meant I paid a good deal less than most of the other more original guns of that vintage, and that suits me fine. Have fun with your cool old gun.

[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

You made NO mistakes!

The baby Chiefs Specials shipped from the factory from 1950 to 1953; I'm betting yours went out in 1953. The highest serial number "baby" was just shy of 46000. Baby meant the grip frame was about ⅛" shorter than the one that followed in 1953, and yours has the first-style flat thumb latch. For comparison's sake, my sn 21249 shipped in October 1952.

The barrel is 1⅞", but the company identified it as a 2".

Congrats on a great buy. Enjoy

Slàinte,

Bob

[J2Nick]

I'm really liking this little gun even more. Thanks all for the information. Now I just have to find some period correct grips and get that gold plate off. Maybe just have the plated parts Cerakoted.

[jebstuart]

You can remove that plating with the reverse electroplating process (5 gal. pail & battery charger, check youtube). Then just light buff & cold blue the latch with some oxpho blue cream, and dab the hammer and trigger with some oxpho cream and a Q-tip to duplicate case color. It'll look original except for the bobbed hammer and that's not an abnormal treatment on that revolver. A good looking snub for under $20.

[DWalt]

367XX makes it a Baby Chief without question. Based on other SNs I have listed, it probably shipped ca. 8/1953. Correct grips shouldn't be overly difficult to find. $250 is not bad for yours, even with the "enhancements." I would have paid that, and I'm not even a fancier of small frame S&Ws.

[JayCeeNC]

Nice old snubby!
My Baby Chief serial# 33618 was shipped in June 1953; yours was probably somewhere close, as that gun was a pretty hot seller in those days.

[carpenter3]

You really did a good thing.riaue.dhswz.com