I'm trying to identify a S&W Chief's Special that has fallen into my hands. The best I can figure it was made prior to 1954. Unfortunately, I have yet to master the ability to post photos on this forum...So, that being said, I'll do my best to describe the gun. The Serial number is 32409 and that number can be found on the bottom of the barrel, the bottom of the grip and on the cylinder. There is a screw in the front of the trigger guard. There is no model number in the yoke area. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum!

Your gun is a Chiefs Special (no apostrophe in Chiefs as it is not possessive). You have an early version that is referred to by collectors as a "Baby Chief". It is called that because the grip length is 1/8" shorter than the grip on the Chiefs Special Model of 1953. It also has a more rounded trigger guard, where the newer ones are a bit more oval shaped.

Your serial number is about 350 lower than mine, which was shipped on June 10, 1953. Yours could have shipped in that same general time frame. This version of the Chiefs Special is quite desirable and, depending on condition, can be worth a nice premium over the newer versions.

There is no model marked on your gun because S&W did not give them model numbers until around 1957/1958. At that time, the Chiefs Special was given the "Model 36" designation.

Please keep trying to post some pictures. We all love pictures! Your Chiefs Special should look like this one...

Attached Images

	DSC07564.JPG (55.3 KB, 58 views)
	DSC07565.JPG (56.1 KB, 54 views)

__________________
SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Very likely to be a 1953 shipment. The Baby Chiefs stopped around SN 45962.

Trying to identify a Chiefs Special? Seems like you have already identified it.

__________________
No life story has happy end.