36-1 3"

[David R]

I was in a local gun shop today looking around. Saw a 36-1 with a 3" barrel. Not in great shape, but good. I really liked it. I think it was priced at $439. Not sure, I looked at a lot of guns.
You folks are bad for me.
Is the price close? Looks like original grips and there was a nice holster with it.

Whaddyathink?

I have a Beretta 21a I would like to trade. I can't trust a semi auto that has no extractor.

David

[JP@AK]

Hi David
The Model 36-1, by definition, will have a 3" heavy barrel and a square grip frame.
Since I don't know how you define "good" shape and "not great" it is difficult to answer your question. However, if we are talking the high end of shooter grade, I'd say the price is fair, especially if the holster is one that you would use. If you wouldn't use it, it adds nothing to the value, if you see what I mean.
I hope this helps at least a little bit.
Jack

[Engine49guy]

Unless its a first year (1967) 36-1 with diamond Magna grips pricing should be consistent with regular 36's,

So forget that its a 3" wide rib would you pay that much for a round butt snub 36 in same condition ?

I recall having a round butt 36-1 some time ago so pretty sure they made them ,
I prefer a square butt with the heavy barrel and the one I have now is wearing S&W J target grips ,
makes it look and and it feel unlike a Model 36 , would have been great with target sites .

[galena]

Just checked my M-36-1, it is a heavy barrel round butt.....they made them.

[David R]

Thanks for the help, I read a bunch about the 36-1 and barrels here. I am going to go back and see just what it is. Fondle it and well....

It just looks like such a sweet gun to carry when in the woods.

I am also finding old eyes can see short barrel sights better.

David

[papajohn428]

The 36-1 is generally encountered with the square butt shape, but some odd number of round-butted guns were also turned out, I've never heard the actual quantities. Anyone know?

This is one of my few pinned-barrel guns......I only bought it because I have a weakness for three-inchers.

[Cal44]

This one cost me $450 a couple months ago.

[David R]

Beautiful!

Its not in that good of shape.

Problem is I Want It. I will go by there today and look closer.

David

[papajohn428]

Excellent. The hook is in his mouth.

[iwanna]

It should be in 95% condition for that price. 36-1's start at around 250.00 for worn ones at shows around here. Mine cost 199.00, but it does have a Century Import stamp on it. Sharp looking otherwise, but slightly out of time. Nice guns. You might want to compare completed auctions on GunBroker. Unless something has changed recently, the 36-1 just isn't a big-money gun.

[Erich]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Hi David
The Model 36-1, by definition, will have a 3" heavy barrel and a square grip frame.
Jack

Wrong.



David R, I couldn't say whether $439 was a good price these days. I will say that my 36-1 (somewhat customized now) may be my favorite handgun (though it's not often carried these days).

[Engine49guy]

Originally Posted by David R

I am also finding old eyes can see short barrel sights better.
David

David just a heads up,
While I also like the 3" barrel IMO the 36-1 sites are bit more difficult to aquire than the tapered barrel 36 .

The tapered barrel 3" Mod 36 barrel rib and FS are taller and a tad thinner allowing the FS to stick out more,
On the Mod 36-1 HB the frame and barrel rib are slightly thicker and the FS blade slightly shorter with less contrast,

The 36-1 looks cooler like a miniature Model 10 HB though.

Here is a side by side of the tapered 36 and 37 with a 36-1 HB

[TAROMAN]

Never saw a true 3" HB before.
Mine's definitely the tapered variant, however:

[Engine49guy]

Originally Posted by TAROMAN

Never saw a true 3" HB before. Mine's definitely the tapered variant,

Taroman, is your 36-1 barrel rib as wide as the frame at the top like the one on the far left middle pic above?

Is kinda hard to tell without a top or muzzle view ,

The 36-1 by definition is the "Heavy Barrel" version but anything is possible with S&W.

[David R]

You guys are mean. I am going to talk Turkey tonight. If I cant trade for a reasonable price, I will walk away. You are right. The hook is set.

[TAROMAN]

Originally Posted by Engine49guy

Taroman, is your 36-1 barrel rib as wide as the frame at the top like the one on the far left middle pic above?

Is kinda hard to tell without a top or muzzle view ,

The 36-1 by definition is the "Heavy Barrel" version but anything is possible with S&W.

Just imaged it:

Barrel shank measures .670", muzzle is .640".

[Erich]

Mine's definitely the tapered variant

Um, that's a HB, not a tapered barrel.



You might want to take a gander at this old thread, particularly linde's well-illustrated post:

3" barrel J Frames

[TAROMAN]

Learn something every day.
Nice little gun anyhow.
Got it cheap ($200) as it had a problem with the hand dragging in the window.
S&W fixed it for free, nice people.

[Engine49guy]

Yep its a HB but your right its slightly tapered ha ha..
Taroman those are the same grips I have on my SB, Is your gun actually a RB under those J targets ?

BTW there was also a SS version of the 3" HB made in small numbers IIRC.

Thanks for that link Erich,
I like this muzzle shot best

[TAROMAN]

Mine is a square butt under those stocks.

[David R]

I only get by there now and then, I had to take a part to a machine shop. Tonight I picked up the part. Gun shop was closed. I had my Beretta with me. I'm going to do a little searching and educate my self anyhow. I need to know what the Beretta is worth. A little cruising on GB.

Pricing at the gunshop was a little high. Primers $49.99. The other 2 local gun shops $39.99. Only time will tell.

I see from the pics about the front sight on the heavy barrel. Tapered barrel will be fine with me. Its not a match gun, but could shoot some frogs or other game. Right now i use a Colt Challenger 22 for frogs or occasionally a TC Contender 32-20 with a scope.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[flagman1776]

My S&W Model 36-1 Round Butt SN# J6418XX has the Heavy Barrel as illustrated above. Bought new 1/1980 It's a fine shooter & delight to carry in a proper holster. The 3" barrel is carried vertically in most holsters so no impediment to concealment even with the factory "banana targets". It was my go to when I pulled a shift on the dispatch desk.

[David R]

I went to look at it last night. The price was $469.00. It has some holster wear and some spots on the cylinder that were not pits, but marks in the bluing from the holster or sitting in a case for a long time. It was a heavy barrel that was not canted. The hand looked like some one took a ******* file to it. The end was shiny and almost checkered. It was just a little out of time on some cylinders and more on others. End shake was almost none. I looked into the bore and the barrel was dirty. You can't see a bulge if its not shiny. Grips were beat. It was a round butt. I asked him if he would take my beretta 21a in trade. He said no. I left in a trot for the door.

The gunshop owner used to be a snap on dealer. Nothing more to say.

I could buy a new 442, no pits, good timing, and a lifetime warranty for the same money.

Thanks for the help.
David

[Erich]

Sad to hear, but the right move, amigo.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[pharmer]

I got both these guns about a year ago (from a dealer at a gunshow) for $700. I shot the 36 about 100 rds various JHP, +P etc. Nice, handy controllable. Sold it for $400 shortly thereafter as I don't have a "spot" for it. Nothing wrong with it, but in a 5 shot .38 I like a 640,642,60. Keep looking, about every 6-8 gunshows something nice shows up and at the right price. Joe

[GerSan69]

Originally Posted by Engine49guy

BTW there was also a SS version of the 3" HB made in small numbers IIRC.

Yep, I've got one, a 60-3. Looks like the NY-1 version, but not a NY: "vapor-hone" finish and factory DAO. Here it is with its pants down next to my older 60.

[Aemsl69]

I have a 36-3 made in approximately 1991. HB round butt. Case hardened trigger and hammer.