Local pawn shop has a S&W Mod 36-1 with a 4inch barrel. Square
butt, blue finish, fixed sights and Jay Scott faux MOP grips. Serial
number is 118XXX. We pulled grips and saw no sign of
factory work. Any explanations or other sightings of this
configuration? Serial number seems too early for dash 1 and it
is definitely a 4 inch and not a 3 inch heavy barrel. I know that
with S&W anything is possible, but this is a strange duck. I
asked dealer to set it aside for me so I could get some feedback
from you guys. Checked my 4th ed. SCSW and didn't see
anything relevant to this piece. TIA

Well depends on what he wants and the condition of the gun.
Might be just worth grabbing no matter who built it or why!

__________________
14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I've not seen nor heard of a 4" Model 36-1. The earliest 36-1 that I'm aware of is s/n 456XXX. Perhaps there's a "J" s/n prefix.

I would be very interested in seeing pictures.

Russ

The serial number is stamped right at the edge of grip frame.
I guess it's possible that a "J" prefix could have been part of the
number, but did not get stamped. The barrel pin is still proud
and not flattened as though a new barrel had been installed. I
apologize for not being able to post pics. Will try to get back to
shop tomorrow to have a 2nd look and see if I missed anything or
other clues on this one. Thanks for the replies so far.

Are you certain it is a .38 Special? It may be a 4" model 30-1 in .32 Long, but that would have had a higher SN or an H prefix.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

If it's as described, my guess would be a Frankengun. Lord knows we've all seen some of those . . .

__________________
Now go make God proud...

.38 Regulation Police, Model 33, Model 33-1 all could be had with a 4 inch barrel but they are .38 S&W chambered, not .38 Special.

I thought of that and wonder if someone put one of those barrels on a M-36-1 frame, after deciding that the bore size, esp. if on the tight side for .38 S&W, might work okay with .38 Special.


The British .38-200's have varying bore sizes beyond what they should have, and some shoot quite well with .357-.358 bullets. A new member from South Africa pulled some bullets from a box made there for military use and the jacketed bullets measured just .355! But that ammo shoots well in his Victory Model .38-200. Interestingly, it hits at POA at 10 yards. But he had one squib load that stuck in the barrel, despite being undersize for a .38 S&W bored barrel. And these bullets weigh only 146 grains, not the expected 178 grains! This is not WWII ammo; it was made about 1980.


I'd sure check out this angle. The barrel may have been re-marked as .38 Special.


Photos are a MUST here.


I love the M-36-1 with normal three-inch heavy barrel. The limited runs of it in stainless, under Model 60, are even better.


I'm really interested to see photos and get an idea of what you have here.


Sounds as if someone wanted a S&W equivalent to Colt's Police Positive Special with four-inch barrel. The gun would probably fit holsters for the four-inch .22 Kit Gun.


But can a M-36-1 frame, made for the heavy barrel, take a Regulation Police barrel? The barrel throat/forcing cone, would probably need trimming, as the .38 Special is longer? Or, were late Terriers and Reg. Police cylinders .38 Special length, but just chambered shorter? I think they were built on J-frames for some time before being discontinued.


I used to hate finding a Terrier in a gun store, because that meant that S&W could have made it as a Model 36, which was in short supply then, and a better gun.

So far, a lot of good points and questions have been raised. I
will pay a visit tomorrow to look at the piece in question and to
take pics with my phone. Getting the pics from my phone to
this site are not a given. Will double check chambering and
model no. on yoke. Thanks for all the input. Hope this research
doesn't convince the shop owner to jack the price up.

Please, let us know what you find out. I have wanted a 4 inch model 36 for a long time. I have lotsa 2s and all the 3s. I have a 4 inch .32 mag and it "looks" right. .38 Special would be even better.

Is it tomorrow yet? i gots to know!

Pending more information and pictures . . . a model 33-1 is the most logical explanation.

After 1961 the model 33-1 was made on a J-frame with serial numbers a continuation of the .38 Regulation Police (not the same range as the model 36 & 36-1).

And a 33-1 with serial number 118XXX would fall about 1968 . . . which is before letter prefixes were added to the s/n in 1969.

If the gun were mis-read or mis-stamped as a 36-1 . . . and the caliber marking on the barrel is .38 S&W CTG . . . we would have a good explanation for the 4" barrel.

Russ

Sorry guys. I got to the shop as he was closing for the day. Old
small town practice of closing at noon on Wed. so employees
could go to nearby city to hit the malls. Will try again tomorrow
morning. Stay tuned.

Well, got to the shop this morning and found the most probable
answer to my question. This is a 38S&W ctg revolver. Since
it was marked Mod. 36 1, I assumed that it was 38spec. on
Monday when I first looked at it. I would now consider it to be
a mis-marked Model 33 with 4in bbl in 38S&W cartridge. SN
would probably put it about 1968 or so. I apologize for going
off half-cocked on this one. Hope no one lost any sleep over it.
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Have a good weekend

Thank you for the update on the mystery - it was a fun thread!

__________________
Now go make God proud...

Hope springs eternal. Maybe one day.

Sounds more like it. My 36-1 is a 3in .38spl and 30-1 is a 4in .32 S&W Long.