Hi Guys,

Any chance of getting some input on this little guy? It's a mid to late 1960 Original Chief's Special model 36 no dash that has been hard chromed. It's a 2 inch Pinned Barrel Square Butt.

The information I have found said it should be a 2" round butt or a 3" square butt. I have found a little bit of information that there a small amount of 2" square butt blues sent to the Massachusetts State Police and had that inscribed on the back strap.

Since it's been hard chromed, I assume it's possible it was all sanded down, smoothed and then chromed over. Any other suggestions?

Here's a few pics and the serial number.

Many thanks for your expertise!
God bless,

Brett

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I'm satisfied with the best!

i had a mod.36 square but and it to was from the sixtys great gun to shoot and carry, it too was a 2in.

The model 36 was regularly offered with the square butt, in both 2 and 3" barrels. Unless you see the stampings for the MA State Police or have a factory letter stating it was shipped to this agency, I would presume it is a standard production gun.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Square butt snubbie S&W 36's are quite common. I had a nickel one for a few days last month.


If the box in your photo is original to the gun, the label should give you all the pertinent info, if it has not faded.

SCSW edition 3 lists 1962-1969 serial #'s 295000-786544

Thanks.

While you are turned to that section in the S&W book on the model 36's, it mentions 2" pinned barrels were on round butt frames and 3" pinned barrels were on square butt. Didn't mention any 2" pinned barrel square butts anywhere in all the details of the Chief Specials. Only under variations did it mention the small number made for the Mass. State Police.

I didn't have any other research on it that I could uncover. Just wondered if there was some particularly specific information available in print somewhere that would explain it.

To your point, the serial number does fall into the "Original Chief's Special" series.

Much appreciated...

God bless,
Brett

__________________
I'm satisfied with the best!

This is my son's, serial number 7861xx, so it is likely a mid to late 1969 production. The stocks are un-numbered.


After looking at this photo again, it does not appear to have a pinned barrel. This must be the gun he bought for his grandfather, who also owned the Walther behind it. This is a much later gun. I will look for the other photo.

Thanks.

It is an interesting thing to me. Yes, I agree, there are plenty of square butt 2 inch barrels out there. Not in a pinned barrel from what I understand.

The 2 inch was made in blue mid 80's to 91 and in nickel in a square butt in the mid 80's from 84 to 87. Both models were non-pinned barrels. Product code 101504 and 101508.

The search continues...

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I'm satisfied with the best!

The three above are pinned, my son"s is pinned (I bought it), the nickel one I had a month ago was pinned. I have owned 37's, SB and RB, that were pinned and nickel. The SCSW has some errors, I believe. I have a 31-2 and a 31-1 that are unpinned and a 31-1 that is pinned. I have yet to see a barrel unscrew itself on a S&W. I have seen a Charter Arms barrel unscrew before.

One thing I notice is that the gun's serial number is 775936. Then the right stock is numbered, but the number doesn't match the gun's number. The numbers I can read on the stock are 64934, and there may be another number after the 4 but I can't see it.

My bad,

I didn't think to call out how rare it was that the grip serial's didn't match the frame. This may be the only little Chief's Special ever made that left the factory with non-matching grips, huh?

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I'm satisfied with the best!

With that finish, your 36 would look great with a set of Grashorn stag stocks on it.

I don't know if you're being smart-alecky or not, nor do I know anything about how it left the factory.

You asked for input. I noticed the difference in numbers and mentioned it to you, that's all.

Just jabbing you in the ribs, Captain.

Wasn't trying to be ugly... I speak fluent Sarcasm and tap into without conscious effort at times. Sometimes people that don't know me think I'm being a jerk until they get to know me and know that I "AM" a jerk... ha,ha...

The grip serial is a 5 digit number putting them about 5 to 7 years older than the gun.

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I'm satisfied with the best!