Hi, New poster here. Found my deceased father-in-law's model 36, .38 special over the weekend. It's been locked away for approx. 20 years. Looks to be in pretty good shape. I'm guessing it's early to mid-sixties vintage.

Trying to find out age and anything else I can about it. There is a number clearly embossed (399420) on the bottom of the handle. When I called S&W, they told me the serial number should have a letter with it, but there is no letter. Removed the handles and the number under the handle is different (36876). Also no letter, but there is an "A" up near the top of the frame under the handle, as well as an "O" or zero down towards the bottom of the frame, near, but not adjacent to the 36876. Can anyone provide me any info on this gun?

Much appreciated.

Welcome to the forum.

399420 stamped on the butt is the serial #.

S&W ph clerks have minimal training in these matters; in your case they didn't look far enough back to find the serial #s w/o a letter.

You estimated it's age correctly, it's from late 1964 - early 1965. It has a flat thumb latch to open the cyl and a diamond around the screw in the grips.

36876 is a factory assembly # and not important for identification. The misc. other individual stamped characters on the grip frame are inspector I.D. codes.

Depending on the condition it's worth in the range of $400-600.

Shoot and enjoy it!

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

If your Chiefs Special has a round butt and is blue with a 2" barrel (measures 1 7/8" from the face of the cylinder to the muzzle), then I'd guess the factory shipped it between the last quarter of '65 and the first quarter of '66.

If it has a nickel finish or a square butt or a 3" barrel, then the shipping date could be a year or more off.

Attached photos show a blue 2" with a round butt and a nickel 2" with a square butt.

Attached Images

	36 416571, shipped December '65.jpg (158.9 KB, 20 views)
	36 271969, shipped December '62.jpg (115.1 KB, 17 views)

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Thx Hondo44 and two-bit cowboy.
Greatly appreciate the info and the quick replies!

Planning to take it to the range soon to check it out.

Attached Images

SWmodel36.jpg (59.1 KB, 31 views)