The Really Old Chief's Special Thread

[bmcgilvray]

I'm not currently able to check references and have a dreadful memory but yes that is a pretty early Chief's. You might be able to make a rough determination of its age just by checking back through this thread and reviewing other examples.

It appears to be as sound as a dollar in the photo but if you aren't comfortable in determining its suitability for use then just have a gunsmith check it out. Age alone has no bearing on its soundness. An Airweight could develop a frame crack but this seems to show up more in much later revolvers than yours.

That is not gospel but only a hunch I have, based on reading Forum threads discussing damaged Airweights and over-torqued barrels which seem to have occurred long after the 50s era Airweights were turned out.

 

[lucidbassist]

Sorry to bring up an older thread but I was hoping someone could help me out. An older neighbor of mine was trying to find some information on a revolver that was left to him sometime ago.

From the looks it does appear to be the "baby" chief model described in this thread. Its chrome in color with matching serial numbers and original wood grips. The serial number is 7###, and matches in all the original spots.

Ill try to get some pics of it when he is back home later.

Thanks!

Aaron

 

[murphydog]

Sorry to bring up an older thread but I was hoping someone could help me out. An older neighbor of mine was trying to find some information on a revolver that was left to him sometime ago.

From the looks it does appear to be the "baby" chief model described in this thread. Its chrome in color with matching serial numbers and original wood grips. The serial number is 7###, and matches in all the original spots.

Ill try to get some pics of it when he is back home later.

Thanks!

Aaron

Aaron;

Welcome to the Forum. Photos and a listing of all stampings (particularly the caliber on the right side of the barrel) would be helpful for the ID. Nickel early Chiefs Specials are fairly scarce.

 

[lucidbassist]

Aaron;

Welcome to the Forum. Photos and a listing of all stampings (particularly the caliber on the right side of the barrel) would be helpful for the ID. Nickel early Chiefs Specials are fairly scarce.

Thanks, tried to get the best most in-focus pics I could. Apologize for not being the sharpest. The light out here right now is overcast and not the best.

 

[murphydog]

You have the ID correct, and it appears to be an original nickel gun. It has the slightly later barrel style with the ramp front sight. You can see the matching SN on the bottom of the grip frame and barrel. The stocks seem not to fit 100%; if they are original to the gun you'll see the SN stamped on the inside of the right panel.

The photos of nickel guns are actually best in indirect sunlight, so good choice there . Hope this is helpful.

 

[lucidbassist]

You have the ID correct, and it appears to be an original nickel gun. It has the slightly later barrel style with the ramp front sight. You can see the matching SN on the bottom of the grip frame and barrel. The stocks seem not to fit 100%; if they are original to the gun you'll see the SN stamped on the inside of the right panel.

The photos of nickel guns are actually best in indirect sunlight, so good choice there . Hope this is helpful.

Appreciate it, Im going to try and contact S&W to see if I can get an age on it for him. It was given to him from an old friend who was, at the time of retirement, a detective here in St. Louis.

He hasnt fired it in a long time, and I offered to clean it for him and take him to a local range. Want to see if I can find some under-powered loads first to make sure everything is good to go. I couldnt see any issues in the frame or cylinder, and the barrel looks in good shape but figured play it safe with low power loads over full power.

Aaron

 

[murphydog]

The standard S & W reference has SN 7369 in 1952, so call it as being shipped that year. 148 gr wadcutters should be fine as a low-powered target load.

 

[lucidbassist]

The standard S & W reference has SN 7369 in 1952, so call it as being shipped that year. 148 gr wadcutters should be fine as a low-powered target load.

Great, I'll pass all that along to him! Appreciate the time on your part to assist in getting information.

Aaron

 

[Hondo44]

Love these early Baby 'J's. Supposedly the square butt was introduced c. 1952. I don't imagine there were any made on the Baby J frame. I'm thinking square butt introduction had to have been introduced simultaneously with the standard J frame with the larger, egg shaped trigger guard.

Anyone have insight on this?

 

[Elroy]

Date the Chief

Looked around to find a Chief and found this thread.
Serial #484xx would date to what ?? '54 ??

A 4 screw Chief Special. Serrated ramp with the long guard.

The stocks are very nice and number match

There are few cosmetic issue but over all not bad.

What would be your 58 year old price point or do we have the date wrong??

 

[Hondo44]

That's a beauty! Model of 1953, first to have a real J frame size grip. '54 is about as good an estimate as I anyone can make.

 

[handejector]

Love these early Baby 'J's. Supposedly the square butt was introduced c. 1952. I don't imagine there were any made on the Baby J frame. I'm thinking square butt introduction had to have been introduced simultaneously with the standard J frame with the larger, egg shaped trigger guard.

Anyone have insight on this?

There was at least one!
See Posts #10 and #16 here-
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/222583-scarce-lil-baby.html#post136250332

 

[mooshoo]

love those chiefs, the perfect friend and like a good friend there always there when you need them!

 

[Hondo44]

There was at least one!
See Posts #10 and #16 here-
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/222583-scarce-lil-baby.html#post136250332

Lee,
Ask, and you shall receive. Thanks! It's great to pin that down! Rare, rare, rare.
Neat story. I've always said, a "good show" is not always relative to its size but more to what you find. Do you think the seller had any idea what he had?

 

[Goony]

Got to keep a thread such as this alive. Here's my three digit serial number Chiefs Special.

Also, a couple folks along the way asked qustions and so far as I can see never got responses.

First, from #148 in this thread:

I got this from my grandfather who was a sherriff's deputy. It says airweight on the barrel and the ser# is 452xx. Im suspecting it's pretty old. Is it safe to shoot?

From the photo, your revolver appears to be an early Airweight with its original alloy cylinder. You will typically see a caution with regards to these that they are unsafe to shoot, although I cannot verify any instance in which one has actually "blown up." At the very least, now that you are informed of the potential risk involved, if you do nevertheless choose to shoot it, be sure you are using a mild load - absolutely no +P or anything like that in this gun!

Posting #97 also I don't think ever received any answer:

Here is one I dug out, this has me stumped - I cannot date it as the SCS&W book does not tell of one in the gray box, and the s/n 98J839 is not there either. This one is unfired, 36 no dash, I am guessing mid 60's. Anyone have a clue ? What is value of one like this nowadays ?
Thanks, Rick

That actually is datable from the SCSW - it's one of the infamous "floating J" serial numbered guns, and was most likely shipped in late 1971. I'll leave it to one of our resident experts on S&W packaging to comment on just how unusual the gray box may be and if it enhances the value much above the more common blue box.

 

[handejector]

I got this from my grandfather who was a sherriff's deputy. It says airweight on the barrel and the ser# is 452xx. Im suspecting it's pretty old. Is it safe to shoot?

From the photo, your revolver appears to be an early Airweight with its original alloy cylinder. You will typically see a caution with regards to these that they are unsafe to shoot, although I cannot verify any instance in which one has actually "blown up." At the very least, now that you are informed of the potential risk involved, if you do nevertheless choose to shoot it, be sure you are using a mild load - absolutely no +P or anything like that in this gun!

To me, majake's gun appears to have a steel cylinder. That would be a very late gun for the aluminum cyl.

 

[Oyeboteb]

I can finally join this Thread!

I can not post an image presently but will offer a short describe -

S&W 5 Screw, Snubby, Half-Round Front Sight, .38 Special, 5 Shot Cylinder, Flat Latch, Serial Number on Butt, underside of Barrel, and, Cylinder Face, is 979.

I can not access my big S&W Book at this time...can anyone tell me roughly when this one was made?


Thanks!

 

[ButchG17]

Yup, this is a great thread!

Here's my offering....my 1960 vintage Model 38. I bought it well used in 1980, and it been in my pocket near every day since then. I recently added a laser grip though, the sights seem to be shrinking.

 

[Goony]

To me, majake's gun appears to have a steel cylinder. That would be a very late gun for the aluminum cyl.

Lee, I agree that at 452XX it would certainly have to be one of the very last ones, but there were some made up into the 40K serial number range, and it still looks to me as if that could be an alloy cylinder....

I'd like to have been able to see the other side to determine if there was a "bug" screw.

Maybe even after all this time, majake will weigh back in to settle the matter.

Even if it is a steel cylinder, I'd still maintain that putting +P ammo through it wouldn't be advisable.

Additional Edits: I downloaded that photo and manipulated and enhanced it by various means, and will now concede that it is in fact a steel cylinder. Just didn't look that way to me at first. One of the perils in living in a high definition world with older, low definition eyes....

With regard to James' post following this one, when I (too casually) looked at that photo, the gun didn't appear to be nickeled, but the label in the other photo is marked "N" for finish, and of course you are absolutely correct.

Maybe I should just stop responding to questions, as I don't lately seem to be getting any of the answers right.

 

[JSR III]

That actually is datable from the SCSW - it's one of the infamous "floating J" serial numbered guns, and was most likely shipped in late 1971. I'll leave it to one of our resident experts on S&W packaging to comment on just how unusual the gray box may be and if it enhances the value much above the more common blue box.

The box is gray/grey because the gun is nickel.