Here is one I need help on.

I have a Model 36 ANIB, with MADE IN USA on the backstrap and a lanyard ring which is 1 of the 112 overruns sold to the commercial market from a 1977 U.S. Army order for 2000 of these.

In the past 30 years I have only seen one other "overrun" beside this one. I have never seen a U.S. Army marked model.

While SCSW4 mentions it on page 243 there is no indication of what premium should be placed. The BBGV is void of any comment on this one.

Does anyone else have one or can anyone reference one (with website address) of one that has sold in the past year or two ?

All knowledgeable comments are welcomed. Thank you.

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P7060217.jpg (84.9 KB, 355 views)

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

I am not very knowledgeable on such things.....but I just wanted to add that I love a revolver with a lanyard loop! What a Beaut! My apologies for the short detour.

I see you are US Army. Did you have or see one of these in service ?

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Sal;

These were made for a USG contract and stamped U.S. on the backstrap. When sold into the commercial market the rest of the letters were over stamped onto the frame. I suspect none were issued into military service, but several Forum experts can tell you for certain.

I recall seeing one sell for about twice a standard model 36 of the same vintage (high three figures). Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Actually, the SCSW needs a slight correction on this matter. These were overruns from a Navy, not Army, contract. They aren't seen very often and prices are all over the map.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Kevin, I actually HAD it noted for that past 20 years as a US Navy overrun but just now changed it to Army because of SCSW4.

I know I paid a bit more than 4 figures for it 20+ years ago and was thrilled to pay that to get it. I purchased it from a fellow member at one of the Lakeland shows back in the day.

What is the correct story on these ?

As always, I appreciate your input.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Howdy Sal,

A S&W aficionado shared a facsimile of this story with me:

S&W made 112 more than the 1977 Navy contract in case the Navy rejected some of the 2,000 guns made to fulfill the contract. The Navy rejected none. The overruns sat around the vault for several years before somebody came up with the idea to over-stamp the "U.S." with "Made in A." and sell them commercially.

I can't authenticate the story, and I haven't lettered mine. Mine is the only one I've seen for sale (the one murphydog mentioned). I've become somewhat of a Chiefs geek so late last fall I sprang for the "BuyNow" price of $829 (box, papers, tools) to add it to my accumulation of oddball Chiefs. I didn't feel too wounded.

I "showed" it at a recent Wyoming Weapons Collectors show and a couple fellas said my $1,200 price tag seemed about right. I told them that was my "I don't want to sell it" price. I'll have it back on display at a show starting tomorrow, and I'm pretty sure I'll bring it home Sunday afternoon (I hope). You just never know.

Dad was a Navy man, and I'm a retired Air Force Chief. I don't want to sell any of my Chiefs Specials (including a birth year -- '52 -- smooth ramp Baby, a 1953 all aluminum, this "Made in U.S.A.," four flavor-of-the-month 1989 issues, and a sprinkling of others in between). I love to show them off and talk with folks about them. When I get a few spare minutes I plan to do a spread (thread) here titled the Chief's Chiefs.

Slàinte,

Bob

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	Made in U.S.A..jpg (35.2 KB, 143 views)
	Mod. 36 Navy overrun.jpg (110.5 KB, 163 views)

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

No I was never issued a Model 36. In the course of my career I was issued three different side arms......A Remington Rand 1911A1, a S&W 10-5 (listed on the TOE as "M-10" I believe), a Beretta 92 listed on the TOE as "M-9". The Model 10-5 I was issued did have a lanyard loop, although some of the others issued to other Aviators did not. Some were also issued the Ruger Service Six. Here is a pic of me with my trusty Model 10-5.

When I transitioned from the 1911 to the Model 10 I initially wasn't happy about that. But as time progressed I grew to love the Model 10. I was actually excited to transition to the Beretta M-9, until I actually got to the range. Later on my unit deployed to Central America and when we got there I found an old beat-up Model 10, along with several 1911's, sitting all alone in the gun locker at our base ops. I quickly ditched the M-9 and grabbed that grand old fellow and carried it the whole tour there. I always felt very well armed with a Model 10 strapped to my flight vest.

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El Sal 2.jpg (93.9 KB, 161 views)

Nice Model 36. I love these as I carry one as an EDC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Back about 35 years ago, the first model S&W I started to collect was the Chief Specials followed quickly by the Centennials. I chose the Chief's and .38 Special J frames because I liked them but also beause it was more affordable than the larger frame models.

A few years later I started to seek out Chief's of less common configuration, mostly Chief's Target models and early airweights. Then sought out all J frames with low production numbers, this U.S. Navy overrun being one I sought for several years before I found ANIB.

I have joked, all these years, that it is all Roy Jink's fault I started collecting because after reading his History of S&W in the late 1970s I caught the passion for S&W collecting while it seemed the rest of the world of collecting were Colt.

After all these years, I asked Roy to sign that very same, exact book for me in Charlotte a last month at the 2017 S&WCA Symposium. Roy was very obliging, signing it with a very nice personalized phrase to me in that exact first book I ever purchased on S&W.

Actually, I hesitated asking not to seem like a star struck kid but Roy was very eloquent about it. He is, after all, the main guy that brought S&W collecting into the main stream.

I read Roy's book back then ... several times. Next I bought a second copy to highlight and notate before I sought out other books on S&W which I consumed with a healthy appetite.

I have the Neal & Jinks double signed (thanks to a buddy Tom Quirk) who I purchased from last month. I have it in both the original and revised versions and in German, too ! I have a copy of the original edition signed by Roy to Ed Cornett back in the 1960s that I purchased with a members paper and book collection about 20 years ago. Back in about 1993 R&R reprinted the Neal & Jinks book (Revised edition) copy for notating and highlighting.

Some other book references were McHenry & Roper, Rywell, Parsons, two more Roper books (not speciacally about S&W but heavily influenced).

When Jim Supica and Richard Nahas published the first Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (1996) I ordered several cases to sell and spread the word of S&W collecting. I coined that book "the most comprehensive work on S&W under one set of covers".

It was, and still is surely, the standard "go to" book for S&W Collectors. Both Jim Supica and Richard Nahas were kind enough to personalize my "bookshelf" copy of SCSW4 at the Symposium, too. Yes, I have a 2nd copy to markup and highlight, dog ear the pages, etc.

However, if you have the hunger, get and read Roy Jinks, History of Smith & Wesson, original publish date is 1977, if I recall correctly. It is a stand alone "must have" in S&W collecting.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Hi Sal:

Here is an example of what the factory letter will say for these US overrun guns. All of the letters I have seen on these guns show them going to John Jovino in NYC. As Kevin pointed out these were indeed all USN contract guns, not Army.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

I saw an as-new US one at a show maybe 20 years ago, but neither the owner or I had any idea for who they were made.

If for ONI, why a lanyard ring? If for aircrew, why not use the M-36-1 with three-inch barrel?

The Army has issued M-36's, to CID agents and maybe MP investigators and others. So has the USAF. They just aren't part of this particular contract.

Thank you, Charlie

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

I wouldn't doubt that Charlie's right about many of them going to Jovino but I've also seen letters on shipments to AAA Police Supply in Dedham, MA and Richard Sherburne Co. in Greenfield, MA.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208