Hello. I have not posted in a long while and I have a question about my .38 CTG. I believe it is a 3" J-frame, but I'm not quite sure. The serial# is 45J7XX and the wood grips do not have the diamond in the middle. Can anyone date this firearm without a picture? It seem to be the same size as my 1968 Chief's Special, just a little longer in the grip area and a longer barrel. Thank you in advance.

These J frame numbers can be a little confusing (for me anyway) but I believe that one comes from 1971 - 72. In the floating J series.

If you've been here for a while but not posted, you should have seen numerous threads stating that CTG is an abbreviation for cartridge, not a model.
In other words, you don't have a .38 CTG, you have a revolver chambered for the .38 S&W Special Cartridge.

If you missed those, now you know & can discuss it more accurately with people.
Smith & Wesson turned out thousands of revolvers with the CTG stamping as part of the caliber on the barrel, in more than one size and more than one caliber.

Is your gun a 5-shot?
Can you find a model stamping in the frame just forward of the cylinder under the barrel with the cylinder open?
Is the "longer" grip area because of longer grips that cover the bottom of the grip frame, or is the bottom of that steel gripframe actually longer than the same area in your '68 Chief's Special?

Can you see a matching serial number hand written on either of the wood grip panels' inside surfaces?
Denis

On the frame just forward of the cylinder has the inscription mod .36, so I believe it is a 5-shot Model 36 J-frame. Does that seem to add up?

Yes.
Any dashes after the 36?
How about the grip questions?
Denis

No dashes, just MOD.36 on the frame. The left wooden grip panel has a "J" The right grip panel has a "J" in the center and the numbers 42 479 near the bottom.

Mark

Round butt or square butt?
Does the wood extend below the steel gripframe?
Denis

I am guessing you have a 3" square but Chiefs Special

Round butt, Denis and the grip does not extend below the grip frame.

If it has a 3" barrel from cylinder face to muzzle, it should be stamped MOD 36-1, but mis-stamped guns are fairly common. Agree with the 1971-'72 ship timeframe. How do you like it compared to the 2"?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Alan, it is 3" from cylinder face to muzzle but labeled MOD. 36. It could have been mis-stamped.

I also have a Chief's Special manufactured in 1968. Both revolvers are in almost pristine condition.

Mark

I have a 3" M 36 (no dash) from 1971 - it has a tapered barrel and round butt.

I think the -1 was for the heavy 3" barrel.

I agree with Darby. They also made one with a tapered barrel and square butt.

Correct, from 1957 to '67 there was a standard weight 3" barrel model 36; after '67 it would have been a heavy barrel and a 36-1, with exceptions as Backwoodsmanpilot knows.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The standard barrel M36 no-dash was made until 1975, at which time the heavy barrel became standard.

Hello, I am new to the form and would also like information on a 38 S&W Special CTG, 5 shot, 3'' barrel, the numbers under the cylender read _11 Mod .36 serial number is J288577
What can you tell me about this gun?

See the information above. It probably shipped in 1975. The _11 is a factory internal code that has no meaning outside the factory.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Big Question - how did someone pick up the name DARBY - ?? - last I checked I was DARBY and did not put up any replies!!!

Oooooops.....need more coffee.....forgot I put this up last spring......

How much information can any all give me on a newly received S@W 38 special ctg, model 36, 5 shot, serial # 45552. I recently inherited revolver and want to learn as much detail as possible. Thank you.

Welcome! If your new revolver is stamped MOD 36 under the barrel on the frame with the cylinder out the number you quote is too early, probably from 1953 (this gun was not model stamped until 1957). If you can give the letter(s) if any and the number from the bottom of the grip frame that will help.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thank you. It is stamped mod 36 and the numbers stamped on the bottom of handle are 145552.

Likely shipped in 1958 or '59. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I have a 3 inch round butt 36 I bought today. It has diamond grips and the serial number is 4195xx. Can you tell me roughly when it was made? Thanks!

I'm confused, but That's not surprising.

Barrel Stamp: .38 S.&W. Special CTG
Inside Cylinder: Mod 36
Grip Frame SN: 5J4385

Blue steel, 5-shot, 3" (cylinder to muzzle)

I assume it is a 'J' frame, based on the SN, but what is the year of manufacture? It has the original walnut/diamond grips, but they are small......I would like to replace them with larger rubber grips.....any recommendations?

Welcome to the Forum,
The serial# dates to about 1971. I have Pachmayr rubber stocks on a couple of revolvers that work very well.