Been searching for this one for a long time. It's a near-new Chief's Special in box with all the stuff. Warranty car, Helpful Hints, ALL the waxed paper. Tools.(Grip-screw is slightly buggered, which is easy, but that's the only real drawback.) Box is super crisp, and the wax paper smells like a dream. Box and grips numbered to gun.

1955 with the production elimination of the upper side plate screw. I think I got an incredible deal on it... at least my FFL was floored. Life has been kicking my can lately and this was a little present to myself.

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Wow, that is a beauty. Well done!

Wow, you don't talk much, but when you do... well, I'm listening.

Would you be willing to share the sn for my database? I'm thinking 1956, but it could have been late '55.

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Very nice! I have a soft spot for the Chiefs Special.

Nice find. I have a question about the flat latch on some of the early Smith's. Was it only used on the J frame models?

That's a real cracker, well done.

I'm not the least bit envious ...
Cheerio,

Roy

Pretty cherry, that one! - did you luck upon it, or hunt it down and pounce? IOW, did you have feelers out, or just happen to walk into the right pawn shop or estate auction?

No, several varieties of flat latches were used on the I-frames, too, up through about 1966. The flat latches evolved from a very flat, more oval shape (only used on J-frames) to what some call a ski ramp with a higher front to give the thumb more purchase -- one of the early complaints about flat latches in general that finally caused the company to return to a standard thumbpiece similar to the one used prior to the flat latch's introduction.

The first flat latch with a ski ramp only had 10 ridges, which differentiates it from the later ones with 11 ridges. I'm not sure which of those was first used on the I-frame, but it was around 1953 to 54 when both were used on the J-frame.

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Nice find, but pictures too small to see the screws. The 1955 should be a version of the " Model of 1953 Early Chiefs Special". It is a 4 screw with elimination of the trigger guard screw. I own a 1955 "Model of 1953 Early Chiefs Special" with the 4 screws. But there must be another 4 screw variant that eliminates the upper sideplate screw. Maybe an expert on these could chime in and explain.

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John

I too have a Chief Model of 1953. It has the sideplate screw but not the trigger guard screw. It too is like new in the Starbust box numbered to the gun. Just the wax paper was in the box. Mine is # 58646. May letter it someday. Big Larry

According to Roy, S&W issued the order to eliminate the side plate screw on December 13, 1955.

ps: I'm NOT an expert!

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

HI, sorry took so long to get back. It's 80359. Let me know what you find out.

Correct. According to Supica book, after #75000, there was a delete of the upper side plate screw. Mine is a correct 3 screw.

Upper sideplate was removed at 75000. Mine is 82xxx.

Thanks, I've had feelers out for a long time on this one. Very happy.

Here is mine. SN 59693.

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John

Here's a better look at the box label.

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May sound silly, but one of my favorite things about this purchase is the wax paper. Smells frigging awesome.

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Thanks for that and for the extra photos you posted.

I already had it in my database because I'd been following it for several weeks. I'm not a box and goodies hoarder so wasn't motivated to jump, but it fits into a big gap in my collection (703xx is my last 4-screw, and 1131xx is my first 3-screw). Glad to know someone here (you) got that one. You bagged a beauty.

An added note about that era of serial numbers is the change to the large coarse hammer (according to Roy, S&W issued that change order on December 23, 1955). It and the elimination of the upper side plate screw began around 72xxx, according to ones in my database.

All the Chiefs I list that were about 5,000 numbers on either side of yours shipped in the summer of 1956.

Another rather convincing tidbit about yours having shipped in '56 is its finish. The bright blue finish began, again, in '56.

One of mine offers an interesting observation about S&W not shipping in serial number order and the wide disparities in "features" as relates to "change order dates" versus shipping dates. Serial number 55693 puts my 3" square butt in the era of satin blue finishes, 4-screws, and small knurled hammers. But, it shipped in May '56. It has the expected 4 screws and small knurled hammer, but the finish is bright blue. (I did a particularly lousy job of cleaning it on the day of its close-up so the cylinder appears to have blemishes. It doesn't.)

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__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Fantastic detective work. TY. I was wondering about the bright finish compared to my Centennial's more matte look. I didnt know when that change happened. In regards to your 3", I'm wondering if the late delivery was because the snubs sold more? Gorgeous gun you have there.

As far as mine shipping in '56, I couldn't be more happier. Reason: My dad went on the NYPD in early '57. He had a model 10and a Chief's issued to him. Unfortunately those were sold many years ago. (Dad was not a gun guy.) Just gives me comfort that this could be exactly what he had.

Thanks for your kind words.

My database doesn't have enough "data" to be able to make a scientific projection about why my square butt shipped so late compared to its closely serial numbered brethren, but I have a hypothesis. In studying the ship dates versus serial numbers of the Chiefs of that era (and others: '60s and '70s), it seems the square butts might have sat on the shelves longer, and there's a potential the snubs went out faster, too.

I have a 3" round butt with a satin finish, sn 59221 (photo below), that seemingly shipped right along with its snub brothers (April '55), so that's why I wonder if the square butts were a bit behind in appreciation. I have no other 3" Chiefs on my list between these two of mine, and the next 3" Chiefs are in the 64xxx and 65xxx serial range; they shipped in October '56, but I don't know if they were round or square butts. In all, I have very few 3" Chiefs on my list until model numbers came out in '58. That's why it's so difficult to suggest anything with substance.

Very cool happenstance about your Dad and your newly acquired Chiefs! Oh, if we could only know for sure about those kinds of details, eh?

In passing, it is Chiefs, not Chief's. Plural not possessive. See the label on your Chiefs box.

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__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob