|
|
03-08-2020, 07:25 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times in 1 Post
|
|
Snubby
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
Last edited by sealeblake; 03-08-2020 at 07:26 PM.
|
The Following 22 Users Like Post:
|
22/32 JDF, Absalom, browningcollector, CaperK38, colrhino, daddio202, Hunter Keith, JH1951, Jimmyjones, jringo8769, krsmith58, les.b, loknload, MetalMan, Model1567, murdock23, ohioan55, RKmesa, robertrwalsh, Russell Cottle, snubbyfan, white cloud |
03-08-2020, 07:34 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Northeast FL
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 7,411
Liked 15,075 Times in 3,596 Posts
|
|
worth every penny you paid...maybe half again as much as you paid.
__________________
Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-08-2020, 07:51 PM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,834
Likes: 10,103
Liked 27,995 Times in 8,452 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sealeblake
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.
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-08-2020, 08:03 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Occupied California
Posts: 2,777
Likes: 1,512
Liked 5,559 Times in 1,602 Posts
|
|
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.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-08-2020, 08:16 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,785
Likes: 938
Liked 18,879 Times in 9,241 Posts
|
|
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!
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-08-2020, 08:39 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 8,598
Likes: 1,551
Liked 9,322 Times in 4,182 Posts
|
|
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
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-08-2020, 08:54 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Boulder,CO
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 8,564
Liked 3,159 Times in 855 Posts
|
|
Welcome to the forum!
Baby Chiefs are well loved here, mines a bit newer.
__________________
SWCA #2817
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
03-08-2020, 09:26 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Carrollton GA
Posts: 769
Likes: 1,862
Liked 2,067 Times in 435 Posts
|
|
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!
__________________
Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-09-2020, 06:30 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tampa
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 19
Liked 659 Times in 615 Posts
|
|
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!
__________________
NRA Bene Life, SWCA 2372
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
03-09-2020, 08:26 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Northern California
Posts: 965
Likes: 1,019
Liked 1,281 Times in 407 Posts
|
|
You did very well with that purchase. As stated above, there are several of us on this forum that covet these little gems.
__________________
Ken
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-09-2020, 09:35 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 99
Likes: 181
Liked 192 Times in 46 Posts
|
|
Here are three pics of my Centennial, pre model 40.
|
03-09-2020, 10:36 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: texas
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 7,949
Liked 4,806 Times in 1,042 Posts
|
|
Welcome aboard from Texas and very nice find.
|
03-09-2020, 11:18 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hammond in U.S.A.
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 1,305
Liked 3,863 Times in 927 Posts
|
|
Here is a picture of all 3 types of baby's round sight, smooth ,serrated.
a challenge to find
__________________
age is just a number
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-11-2020, 07:56 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: South-Central PA
Posts: 3,901
Likes: 19,082
Liked 6,473 Times in 2,027 Posts
|
|
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
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
03-11-2020, 09:08 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 202
Likes: 810
Liked 1,583 Times in 126 Posts
|
|
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.
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|