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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 03-08-2020, 07:25 PM
sealeblake sealeblake is offline
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Hello everybody, I recently purchased an old snubnose .38 spl pistol in a local shop for a few hundred dollars. I sprung on it because I had never seen one with the flat latch before. I was wondering if one of you fine gentlemen could tell me what exactly I have, and an approximate value.

Thanks,

Blake
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Old 03-08-2020, 07:34 PM
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worth every penny you paid...maybe half again as much as you paid.
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Old 03-08-2020, 07:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sealeblake View Post
Hello everybody, I recently purchased an old snubnose .38 spl pistol in a local shop for a few hundred dollars....
However much "a few hundred" exactly may be, for a well-used but not abused Baby Chief from the early 1950s that's always money well spent.
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Old 03-08-2020, 08:03 PM
Walter Rego Walter Rego is offline
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As other have mentioned, a classic "Baby Chief" Chiefs Special .38, probably dating from late 1951 to early 1952. The stocks (grips) are much later replacements, probably from the 1970's. If you paid under $450 for it you got a pretty good deal.
In case you are gonna ask I wouldn't fire +P loads in it. Not that it will turn into a grenade in your hand but it is a small and relatively light gun, won't be very pleasant to shoot with them and will hasten wear & tear. S&W didn't recommend +P's in their J & K framed guns until after around 1957 anyways.
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Old 03-08-2020, 08:16 PM
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How about a "welcome to the Forum"?

As noted, an early Chiefs Special with the smaller trigger guard and shorter grip frame made for about 3 years, known to collectors as the "Baby". The newer stocks will be about 1/8" long for the grip frame; original style stocks are available if you want them to be correct for the gun. Enjoy!
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Old 03-08-2020, 08:39 PM
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Sealeblake, first let me welcome you to the forum and the brotherhood of Baby Chiefs Special enthusiasts. It would seem that there are a lot of who find these early versions of the Chiefs quite attractive, I know I had one earlier than yours that I foolishly let get away from me then had to get another (just a little later DOB than yours) to take its place. There’s just something about a Baby that makes it special. Congrats on your find.

Froggie
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Old 03-08-2020, 08:54 PM
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Welcome to the forum!

Baby Chiefs are well loved here, mines a bit newer.

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Old 03-08-2020, 09:26 PM
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Baby Chiefs are sweet little firearms, and although not the rarest of the bunch, not all that common either. Mine is a smooth ramp, the rarest are the half-penny or round front site as I understand it. Yours appears to have a serrated front ramp, but hard to say for certain.

Congratulations and Welcome to the S&W Forum! Others with far more knowledge than I can offer will be along soon to give you more information. Two-Bit Cowboy is a fine source and many others I’m sure will help you out.

You might want to join the S&W Collectors Association, you will discover a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. Enjoy!
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Old 03-09-2020, 06:30 PM
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I have a flat latch but I don’t believe that it commands any significant premium over the regular latch. You definitely bought from a dealer who did not have a firm handle on the S&W revolver market!
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Old 03-09-2020, 08:26 PM
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You did very well with that purchase. As stated above, there are several of us on this forum that covet these little gems.
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Old 03-09-2020, 09:35 PM
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Here are three pics of my Centennial, pre model 40.
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Old 03-09-2020, 10:36 PM
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Welcome aboard from Texas and very nice find.
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Old 03-09-2020, 11:18 PM
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Here is a picture of all 3 types of baby's round sight, smooth ,serrated.

a challenge to find
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Old 03-11-2020, 07:56 AM
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Welcome to the Forum from Pennsylvania!
Very nice find!
I like it a lot, and it sounds like you "got a deal". as these little things seem to be getting expensive.

Here's one just a bit younger than yours, but not by much....

DSCF5369.jpg
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Old 03-11-2020, 09:08 AM
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That little gem will not disappoint you at all. I would have bought it in a skinny minute. I had one before and sold it like a dummy. Unfortunately, i wasn't as up to snuff on what i had as i am now. Nice find.
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