Chiefs Special Variations, Year?

[NJRosenut]

Just received this Chiefs Special as a gift. My friends father was a former Police Officer and had this in his collection. When he passed she wanted me to have it......I'm thrilled, but not sure the year. It has the smaller trigger guard, but ramped sight without serrations. Is this still considered
the 'baby chief'? First variation after the half moon? I'm guessing late 51' early 52'. Thanks for any input.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum and a very nice gun for your 1st post! Yes it's a Baby Chiefs and the smooth ramp sight would be the 2nd variation sight introduced 1952.

EARLY "Model .38 Chiefs Special" (collector nickname Baby J frame):

1950, Oct 27, 1st shipped #6 - Introduction of the J frame Chiefs Special 5 screw, longer frame window than 'I' frames, 'I' frame size grip and trigger guard, with half moon front sight, satin blue finish and left hand extractor rod thread. Pre Magna Service stocks and standard latch for the 1st 90 or so only, followed by the 1st style flat latch and Magna stocks. 1st 3" slim barrel Dec 1950. Latest reported round sight #116XX, shipped 4/52.

1952 - Introduce ribbed barrel with smooth ramp front sight, otherwise same as above; earliest observed #2945 and latest currently known #12340, (12041 earliest observed with new coarse checkered hammer, #45963 highest known with fine knurled hammer); then came the serrated ramp sight, lowest known #6541, and the square butt option on the 'Baby J' c. #21342 in 1952 with Magna Stocks on both rd and sq butts. Will still have 1st style flat latch up to at least the 26,000 range, then changed to 2nd style flat latch. Steel Babys reported as high as the #33,000 to #36,600 range and shipping in 1953. Highest Baby known #45963 but last thought to be in the high 40,000 range. The SCSW shows a Baby J Airweight thought to be one of only a handful of non-production R&D guns.

 

[delmaxfield]

Jim,
I have a CS #49463, serrated ramp sight, magna grips, Flat latch. I calculate c. Late 54 or early '53.
Don 't know about it Baby Chief classification. Could be. I can send pictures if anyone would like?!

 

[delmaxfield]

Sorry, last post,
Del Maxfield
SWCA #2635

 

[delmaxfield]

Actually that should have been early '55.
Del

 

[Hondo44]

Jim,
I have a CS #49463, serrated ramp sight, magna grips, Flat latch. I calculate c. Late 54 or early '53.
Don 't know about it Baby Chief classification. Could be. I can send pictures if anyone would like?!

Hi Del,

Wow, your serial number is right on the 'cusp' of change between Baby Chiefs (latest #s in the late 4X,XXX) and full size Chiefs (earliest # 48,452).

FULL SIZE J frame Chiefs including Airweight:

1953 - Introduce the Model of 1953 Chiefs Special (pre model 36) now known as low as # 48452 (Elroy's below) with old hammer, and the Airweight Model (pre model 37): J frame size grip, larger trigger guard, eliminate trigger guard screw (the 5th screw), dropped 4th screw, upper sideplate by at least #1577XX, and bright blue finishes. Earliest Airweights in the #24-27,000 range with aluminum cylinders (about 3777 made) up to about serial #44577. US Air Force batch #AF1795- AF2399. Changed c.1954 to steel cylinders due to weakness, steel cyl reported as low as #438XX with old hammer, shipped 1956!

Is your trigger guard the same size NJRosenut's in the first post?

Or is it the size of dacoontz's full size trigger guard shown below(ignore the sq butt grip)?

 

[ar15ed]

welcome to the forum njrosenut! that is absolutely beautiful! i love it! i still do not have a smooth ramp variation, and am looking hard for one. it warms my heart to see such a nice one come out of the woodwork!

definitely post some pics del!
the characteristics that "make" it a baby are the "small, round" triggerguard (as opposed to the later larger, "oval" shaped triggerguard), and the shorter grip frame (same size as the i-frame guns. a little harder to determine from a quick look). there was a huge overlap/transitional period (as far as serial numbers go), but yours could definitely be a baby.

 

[NJRosenut]

Thanks all. Just what I need a new "gun passion". My wife will be thrilled.

 

[mbliss57]

Welcome to the forum. That is a beautiful Baby Chief.

 

[NJRosenut]

She told me that he made his own holsters for all his guns. Worked wonders with leather. Some pics of the holster he made for the Baby Chief.......and yes, I thanked her profusely. This gun will be cherished.

 

[delmaxfield]

All,
The trigger guard is the larger oval, serrated trigger and fine cut on the hammer. Here's some pictures. My first tie with pictures so I hope there good enough to make sense.
Well it didn't work. I have the pictures, but don't know how to answer the HTTP//. question ?!



Del
SWCA #2635

 

[delmaxfield]

 

[delmaxfield]

I"m sorry friends. I must be the dumbest person online because I just cannot figure out how to get my pictures on here to share them with you.

Del
SWCA#2635

 

[bmcgilvray]

Good lookin' Chiefs Special, NJRosenut!

That's ok, delmaxfield. I used to know, even figured it out again when the forum format changed, but have since forgotten and "can't get it back."

 

[Hondo44]

Del,
No worries, more than half of us have the same problem.

You definitely have a very early full size, Model of 1953 Chiefs Special, known as a Pre Mod 36 by collectors, 4 screw variation (on the sideplate with one hidden under the right stock panel). And with the early post war hammer.

 

[delmaxfield]

Big thanks to Murphydog here is my first photo. I'll send more now that I figured out how to do it and make files smaller.

Del


Attached photo Serial #49463

 

[Green Frog]

Yep Del, that's a good example of an early "full sized" Chief Special. That picture, along with the similar angled one by NJRosenut's make a perfect comparison of the differences when cut and pasted side-by-side. I'm not sure whether the little bit of size difference between them is that significant or is a matter of collectors' snobbery, but there it is! Welcome to both of you and enjoy your respective Chiefs.

Froggie

PS Hey Hondo44, I never paid attention to it before, but this and other threads made me aware of the fact that my Baby (SN 422xx) has all the features expected but the finely checkered hammer... is that "out of place?"

 

[ar15ed]

man, that holster is a work of art! i like it also!!!
ed

 

[Elroy]

Wow, your serial number is right on the 'cusp' of change between Baby Chiefs (latest #s in the late 4X,XXX) and full size Chiefs (earliest # 48,8XX)!

FULL SIZE J frame Chiefs including Airweight:

1953 - Introduce the Model of 1953 Chiefs Special (pre model 36) as low as #484XX range (old hammer)

Is this considered the early hammer??

As this example is #48452 with these features

Long Trigger guard
4 screw frame
serrated ramp sight
second series flat latch

Are you saying this example is an early issue of "modern" chief, just outside the "Baby" window? How close to the "cusp" of change over are we??

 

[Hondo44]

PS Hey Hondo44, I never paid attention to it before, but this and other threads made me aware of the fact that my Baby (SN 422xx) has all the features expected but the finely checkered hammer... is that "out of place?"

No, not out of place. See post #2; 12041 is earliest observed with new coarse checkered hammer (and ramped sight w/rib). That's whi I've recorded it under 1952. I assume yours has the ramped sight with rib with such a high number.