Hello everyone! I'm new here and this is my first post. I just purchased this revolver and I'm trying to get some info about it. Is this the Chief's Special? What year was it manufactured? I've been reading other threads and came across the page that describes what info is needed for identification. So here it goes.
It does not have a model #
1. Type - hand ejector
2. Serial # - 771XX
3. CTG - .38 Spl
4. Barrel length - 1 7/8"
5. Sights - Fixed

Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Any numbers on it when you open the cylinder? Looks like a flat latch Chief's Special, or model 36 (or Pre-36) to me.

I'll guess a 1956 Chiefs Special. Very nice snubby. Well done.

Welcome to the forum.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

deyomatic...yeah ther is some numbers in there but no model number.

Targets Guy...thx for the complimemt

So is a pre 36 the same gun as a mod 36 and a Chief's Special?

Yes. First is was a Chiefs Special then in 1957 when S&W began their model numbers it became a Model 36.

So Chiefs Special, pre-Model 36 and Model 36 are the same revolver. I have a 1974 Chiefs Special, oops a Model 36.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Got it...thx!
That's a nice one!

Welcome! Your Chiefs Special was produced between 1953 and '55, with the upper sideplate screw that was eliminated after this time frame.

All revolvers of this type are called Chiefs Specials, but...some would argue only the guns made after 1955 and before model stamping started are "pre-model 36s", as they are the exact same guns as model 36s except for the stamping. Your gun has the extra sideplate screw, and the previous version (1950-'53) had a smaller grip frame, trigger guard (and barrel in the earliest variant).

If this is too nitpicky please feel free to ignore . Enjoy that revolver!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

To be clear, model numbers were assigned in 1957. Revolvers with model numbers stamped on them did not show up on dealer's shelves until sometime in 1958; sooner on some models than others.

When model numbers were assigned, they were added to the model names, they didn't replace the names. So, for examples, the Chiefs Special became the Model 36 Chiefs Special, the K-38 Masterpiece became the Model 14 K-38 Masterpiece.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Welcome to the forum.

That's a beauty.

It's built on the Model of 1953 NEW J frame. Most likely shipped in the 1st half of 1956.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thank you all so much for the info!
Hondo44...what is meant by "new" J frame? Was there an old J frame?

He just means the J-Frame was new at that time. It was simply the Improved I-Frame lengthened slightly to allow a cylinder long enough for the .38 Special.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Actually, that is not at all what he means. But Jim is the expert, I'm sure he will be back to explain.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

The first J frame was introduced in 1950 with a longer cyl/cyl window than the I frame for the 38 Spl. But it retained the small grip frame and trigger guard of the I frame.

It's later commonly referred to as the 'Baby Chiefs' or 'Baby J' because in 1953 the Model of 1953 NEW J frame was introduced with an 1/8" longer RB grip frame and a larger, egg shaped trigger guard. The Model of 1953 NEW I frame also had those same grip & trigger guard changes in size.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hondo44 thank you for the clarification. I appreciate everyone taking the time to educate those of us who need it. Lol!

SN 771xx almost certainly shipped sometime in 1956, therefore it is a pre-Model 36, or as S&W called it, a "Chiefs Special." The so-called "Baby Chief" with the smaller grip frame stopped around SN 46000.

Welcome aboard from Wyoming!

That's a fine little Chiefs Special you have there. I'm a big fan!

To put an image with all the comparisons you've gotten I offer a 1952 Baby Chiefs.

- This one's early enough to have a smooth ramp front sight (hard to tell in the photo) compared to your serrated ramp.

- Yours has the coarse checkered hammer, as opposed to the prewar fine-knurled style.

- When you compare your stocks to this one, you can see yours are about an ⅛" longer (look at the smooth wood below the checkering).

- The Baby's trigger guard is rounded and yours is more oval or egg-shaped.

- Barely visible in my photo -- a tiny bump on the frame above the front of the trigger guard -- is what's known as the 5th screw, which was eliminated when your model came out in 1953.

- The second series Babies also had the first flat latch cylinder release; yours has the third series flat latch. The earliest Babies had a prewar latch; S&W reintroduced a modified version of that latch in 1966.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy that Chiefs! It's a dandy.

Bob

ps: I owe everything I know to Hondo44!

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Good info and thx for the kind words Bob!

Just a bit of trivia. Although the early post war I frames had three different versions of the final thumb latch shape (not counting the three flat latches0, it's interesting that the first 117 Baby Chiefs actually used the final version starting with #1, exactly like the 1966 version. Go figure....

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Jim
S&WCA #819