Saw a worn but functional Baby Chief at a gun show this past weekend. 60% original bluing, the rest brown/grey. There was some pitting on the cylinder but no active rust. Bore was good. Rounded trigger guard, ramp front sight, obviously smaller grip. 5 screw. Stocks were in good shape with clean checking. Don't remember the serial number. Think it was low 5 digits.

Didn't have enough cash on hand to make an offer. Had a pre model 18 with well worn finish that I considered offering for a trade but decided to pass.

Seller was asking $399. Was that a good price?

I usually don't post asking for valuations but this particular gun is an exception. The only other Baby Chief I've seen was an early three digit gun in very nice condition that sold for $900+ at auction about 5 years ago.

John

I think the price was 2X the value... but as I have said before, I try to be realistic but there are some that will shoot for the moon on prices but would never really pay their appraisal amounts...

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Two philosophies about this, one being it’s an OK price for what it is, or save up/look for a nicer example. Only you can make that decision but personally I like guns with honest wear.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

carry weapons get worn on the outside. as long as your proficient with it and it works your set. 399.99 might seem high but to that NYC Business man getting beaten and robbed its worth 100,000.00$.

Five years ago I jumped at the opportunity to get a Baby Chief’s Special that sounds virtually identical to your description at a gun show in Salem, VA. I paid $350 for it in what I considered to be a “friends and family” deal with a vendor I had worked with before. I wouldn’t dream of selling that one today for $399... but then again after I sold my first one it took me a long time to find this replacement, and I promised myself “never again.”

Even if I had a spare, I’d look favorably on a Baby in good mechanical shape for that price. They haven’t made any more for a long time!

Froggie

Those aren't seen too often. I personally wouldn't have offered the Model 18 straight across for trade, but if I had say $350 I would have offered that.

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Randy

Easy. Buy it. You should have bought the 3 digit 5 yrs ago.

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Charlie

I found this one in a LGS about three years ago. They called it a Model 36. I got it for $350 OTD. I have since found period correct magna stocks for it. The serial number is about 70 digits from my nickel baby chief.

I think I got a good deal on it, despite the cheap grips and gaudy gold wash on the "parts."

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Bill

Well, lets just say I had a hand in driving up the price. Came in second. The winner exceeded me by one bid.
If I see the other one again maybe I'll make an offer.

John

I think you did okay to pass that one by. Not sure I would have, but then, I love the little dickens.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

The Baby Chiefs seem to have taken a spiral upward in prices recently. That price for a finish-challenged one is about what can be expected. A decent condition one with round front sight will fetch $1K or thereabouts these days on a big auction site.

Was it in about this condition? Note the cylinder blue wear.

I just saw a Glock style air soft pistol for close to $200. To me a real live S&W that could possibly save my life is still worth $400. JMHO

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James Redfield
LM #497

Here are three charactered Baby Chiefs I picked up in the last few years. Prices paid were, in order of photos, $250, $238, and $315. The last photo shows the 3" model after a 30-day acetone & auto trans fluid bath, plus a little elbow grease and a bronze wool pad.

I knew an old Air Force Chief Master Sergeant who often said, "Just because the baby's ugly doesn't mean we don't love the baby."

Attached Images

	May '52 Chiefs Special.jpg (115.2 KB, 53 views)
	Baby Chiefs, July '53, as I got it.jpg (79.5 KB, 55 views)
	January '54 Chiefs Special.jpg (89.6 KB, 58 views)
	1953 Baby Chiefs 3-inch.jpg (115.9 KB, 54 views)

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Not as much blue, and small area of pitting on the cylinder. It had a nice worn patina look on the metal.
Was more in line with Bobs third picture.
I don't mind a well worn gun if it works well. Just don't like paying too much for them. If I see it again at the shows I may offer $275. Don't need it but it would make a great little carry piece. One with lots of character.

John

I think location can affect the price. Here in central South Carolina a snubby in 85+ condition usually goes for $450 or so. Of course, condition is everything. One at 95+ condition could be as high as $800-1500. Maybe us rebels like them more than other areas of the country!

I've had a few. I can get my finger in the trigger guard just fine, but it takes two hands to get it out.

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Charlie

I would have happily paid $400 for it. Low where I'm from. Remember, this is not just a snub nose Smith...of which there are millions. It's Baby Chief....of which there are maybe thousands, and no way of telling how many of those are still extant.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Don't think I've shown this one before, all numbers match, 1951 I think. Didn't pay much for it but that was ten years ago. Don't see them for sale often.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Attached Images

Baby Chief.jpg (50.8 KB, 39 views)

Any good jeweler should be able to "de-plate" the gold from your parts, should you be so inclined.

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Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer