Updated Info - My LGS has a NIB S&W Model 36. Pinned barrel. Box, Paper work including receipt. Tool kit. Serial #J320xxx. I believe 75-76 As far as I can tell it has never been fired. No cylinder line visible. $650 OTD. I'm thinking this is a fair deal. Opinions?

If the Chiefs Special at your lgs truly has only two digits after the "J" in the serial number it's likely from the summer of '69, the first year of the "J" serials, and there were only up to five digits through mid-'70.

Based on the condition you described, I would have left the lgs with that in my hand. Naturally, I would have tried to whittle a few bucks off the asking price, but if he wouldn't budge, I would have pulled out my billfold.

Hope this helps.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Agree with above.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Dang. I remember scanning the gun cases at a large LGS back in the mid to late ‘70’s, full of new m36 for under a hundred each. Should’ve bought a dozen.


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Tony

That’s a great deal.

Here is a picture of the model 36 I am going to purchase. $650 OTD.

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In the FWIW Department, I have a 1968 in equally fine condition (no box), and it would take a good bit more than $650 to get it away from me.

Is it just my eyes or the angle...is that hammer bent down a little? Hard to tell from that view, but look at mine.

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Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672

Congratulations

That is a Very Good deal, it looks like it is in GREAT condition

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"Acta non verba"

I heartily agree with Danny.

That hammer's bent. Caution!

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I will check out the hammer when I go back tomorrow (closed today) but pretty sure it's fine.

Again, for what it’s worth, I came upon a 30-1 last year with a very ‘challenged’ finish and a hammer bent so severely it wouldn’t cock, was hitting the frame. Pretty obvious it had been dropped, but for about $300 OTD, why not?

I put a small diameter piece of pipe on the hammer and carefully bent it back into position. It was bent so badly I figured I would end up replacing it anyway, so what the heck. Didn’t break, looks like it was never bent, and functions perfectly now, sometimes you get lucky. 😁

Mention it to the seller...might give you a nice discount???

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Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672

Only in the Arkansas; gal called me up and asked what I'd give for an airweight chief special. Learn from this: I told her $200. She brought the poor old thing in - Bubba had ground off the hammer spur and used the same grinder to narrow the trigger guard quite a bit, and while he was happily grinding it down he got up into the side of the receiver with the grinder, and also threw away the stock grips and had a set of K frame plastic stag grips on it to really perty it up. It is the model airweight with the aluminum cylinder, BTW. Picture after I replaced the hammer and grips, but kind of hard to replace the trigger guard.

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I bought one in similar condition, only nickeled, and of the same vintage a year or so ago for $600. At the time I thought I overpaid a little. I've seen a few in the last few months hammer north of $1000. One way north.

Went to the LGS today. Hammer is bent. It still can be cocked without a problem. I started another thread discussing this. Thanks for the heads up. I definitely would have missed this in the store before purchase. I may still make an offer but at least I know what I'm looking at.