Quote:
Originally Posted by gunsmoke101
... Model 36 (No Dash) with the standard latch which should date the frame to 1966, but the serial number has the floating J with 79J707....
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The contoured thumbpiece did reappear on Chiefs in February 1966.
That was also the year S&W introduced the Model 36-1 with a 3" Heavy Barrel. It was a new model number not as is usual with S&W a model number that replaced another model due to an engineering change.
The company concurrently produced Model 36 with 2" and 3" lightweight barrels and Model 36-1 with a 3" Heavy Barrel until 1976 when it discontinued the 3" lightweight barrel. Models 36 (2") and 36-1 (3" Heavy Barrel) continued till 1988.
The "roving J series" serial numbersran from 1970 through 1973. That series was a result of S&W's equipment not being able to stamp more than six characters on a round butt J-frame. In 1972 the company acquired new equipment capable of stamping seven character's on the J-frame. These details come courtesy of S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks.