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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 11-30-2020, 04:24 PM
BC_13 BC_13 is offline
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Hello - I'm new to this forum. I inherited a .38 CTG, 3 screw, snub nose. The number on the butt is 120444. The only other numbers I can find on it is 47096 with L&M underneath. Does anybody have the S&W catalog that could help me out trying to date it and get any other details? Pics attached and thank you in advance.

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Old 11-30-2020, 04:37 PM
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Welcome to the forum!

The serial number is on the butt. Is there a J in front of the digits?
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Old 11-30-2020, 04:40 PM
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I think you have a Chiefs Special.

SCSW4 has:
1957: 117770 - 125000

So I'd interpolate a late 1957 manufacture date.

I see Chad's post. If there is a J prefix, it would be a few years later.

Last edited by NovaJoe; 11-30-2020 at 04:42 PM.
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Old 11-30-2020, 04:40 PM
Jim Watson Jim Watson is offline
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Chief's Special 1956 0r 1957 just before they started calling it a Model 36.
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Old 11-30-2020, 04:40 PM
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Thank you! And no sir, no letters on the butt only the numbers 120444.
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Old 11-30-2020, 04:43 PM
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I think 1957.
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Old 11-30-2020, 04:44 PM
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Are you sure the 1 at the beginning of the serial number isn’t a J?

A 1957 gun would have a flat latch thumb piece (cylinder release latch) and yours does not.

Other than the very earliest examples of the Chiefs Special, the flat latches were used from 1950 to 1966.
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Last edited by s&wchad; 11-30-2020 at 04:47 PM.
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Old 11-30-2020, 04:47 PM
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s&wchad - let me go grab it. my eyes ain't what they used to be so possible lol.

Last edited by BC_13; 11-30-2020 at 04:54 PM.
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Old 11-30-2020, 05:14 PM
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Let me help you out.

Because of the cylinder release latch, your gun is no earlier than 1966. Assuming the serial number you gave us is otherwise correct, the “1” at the beginning must be a “J”.
J20444 (6 characters total) dates to 1969.

If it’s J120444 (7 characters), it dates to 1974.
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Old 11-30-2020, 05:18 PM
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Default No J

Does not look like a J.
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Old 11-30-2020, 05:23 PM
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Something doesn't add up here...
What exactly does it say on the right side of the barrel?

Also, swing the cylinder open and tell us what's stamped on the frame in the cutout.

Edit to add: That must be a Model 32-1, chambered in .38 S&W (not .38 S&W Special). That makes it a Terrier, not a Chiefs Special. In that case, it probably dates to around 1969.
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Last edited by s&wchad; 11-30-2020 at 05:33 PM.
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Old 11-30-2020, 05:43 PM
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Right side of barrel has '38 S&W CTG'. Says manufactured in Springfield, MA. The cutout has MOD 32, 47096 M. Could it be a 32-1DA? I just found a pic of one online that is identical.
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Old 11-30-2020, 05:55 PM
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Yes, you have a Model 32-1 aka The Terrier. It's chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, which is not interchangeable with the .38 Special cartridge.

We all assumed you had a Chiefs Special, because they were produced in far greater numbers at that time. The .38 S&W cartridge was pretty much obsolete by then, but S&W continued to produce them until about 1974.

Here's my 32-1 Terrier. Mine was produced after 1969 and has an R serial number prefix (unique serial numbers were mandated by the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 - GCA68).

You can click on the thumbnail photos to enlarge them.
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File Type: jpg 000_4528.jpg (150.3 KB, 289 views)
File Type: jpg 000_4532.jpg (106.1 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg 000_4536.jpg (72.2 KB, 290 views)
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Last edited by s&wchad; 11-30-2020 at 06:00 PM.
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Old 11-30-2020, 05:58 PM
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Ah, very similar and this makes more sense. Thank you so much for the help in narrowing down what it is. Yours is very nice and in great shape!

Last edited by BC_13; 11-30-2020 at 06:00 PM.
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Old 11-30-2020, 06:01 PM
Jim Watson Jim Watson is offline
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You had to provide ALL the information.
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Old 11-30-2020, 06:18 PM
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We got there - Chad was nice & helpful...
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