The Really Old Chief's Special Thread

[Texas Star]

I have always disliked, and avoided the term pre model.

I'd take Tom Brady's ex girl friend Bridget Moynahan over Gisele Bundchen any day of the week

Hmmm. The actress vs. the retired model and fashion entrepreneur! Gisele is loyal, witty, a Brazilian national heroine asked to walk in the last Olympics as such, and a talented raconteur as a talk show guest.


All I really know of Bridget is her work on, Blue Bloods, where she reminds me of the mom she plays and maybe a school teacher or the asst. DA she plays. She actually looks a lot like my first college Journalism teacher, who was very good at her job.


I know that both Bridget and Giselle modeled, and once they had their first jobs, wouldn't be "pre-models", ha! So, is a "pre-model" a girl who aspires to model?


As for the guns, I think the men should keep what they have and shop elsewhere for types they want. Both have essentially defense guns, but one is a concealed specialty type. I'd psss on it and look for a Model 60-7 in that role.


Or, if this fellow new to revolvers just wants a good S&W, buy a nice used M-64, or opt for .357 power and get M-66.


The old Chiefs Special doesn't have the same primary defense/battle role of the Glock.

 

[Captain1959]

Hello,, I was hoping someone could tell me the age of this one?
It belonged to my dad,, it's a model 36 and has No dash- after the 36, from what I have learned, apparently no dash represents an earlier model?.. He had this for as long as I can remember,, I just never remembered the exact details? the sn is 44135xx
thanks a lot..

 

[Malysh]

All I care about is that I find Bridget Moynahan more attractive. That's it.

Hmmm. The actress vs. the retired model and fashion entrepreneur! Gisele is loyal, witty, a Brazilian national heroine asked to walk in the last Olympics as such, and a talented raconteur as a talk show guest.


All I really know of Bridget is her work on, Blue Bloods, where she reminds me of the mom she plays and maybe a school teacher or the asst. DA she plays. She actually looks a lot like my first college Journalism teacher, who was very good at her job.


I know that both Bridget and Giselle modeled, and once they had their first jobs, wouldn't be "pre-models", ha! So, is a "pre-model" a girl who aspires to model?


As for the guns, I think the men should keep what they have and shop elsewhere for types they want. Both have essentially defense guns, but one is a concealed specialty type. I'd psss on it and look for a Model 60-7 in that role.


Or, if this fellow new to revolvers just wants a good S&W, buy a nice used M-64, or opt for .357 power and get M-66.


The old Chiefs Special doesn't have the same primary defense/battle role of the Glock.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

the sn is 44135xx

Welcome aboard. Nice looking little chiefs special.

I'll make two guesses. The first is that you added one too many x's. If your dad's 36 is sn44135x then I'd guess it came from between 1966 and 1967.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[shamuscull]

Just picked up a early Chief 5 screw 4 digit serial 71xx. Found out year was 1950-52 but was wondering which flat latch it should have. Gun also has smooth ramped front sight. Currently has newer style latch.

 

[Hondo44]

The "newer style latch" as you describe it was actually used on the first approximately 100 Chiefs (the Baby Chiefs). It has also been observed as original on a few higher numbered guns like yours.

Some guns in the 7XXX serial range actually shipped earlier than lower numbered guns such as:

322X……shipped in December 1953.
46xx……shipped in Dec '54.

Obviously, there was little correlation between s/n and shipping dates.

My point is, your latch could be original. For one thing, to change the latch from a flat latch to a new style, the gun must be disassembled and the locking bolt that the latch attaches to must also be changed. The latches attach with different type screws.

So it's not a 5 minute job, but it could have been changed, there's just no way to know for sure unless the gun is owned by the original owner.

To answer your question, most Baby Chiefs 5 screw guns came with the 1st style flat latch until the 2nd style flat latch began to show up sporadically in the 25XXX serial Range:

1st style flat latch used only on the Baby J frame and K frame airweights:

Photo by jackvs1


2nd style flat latch began on the Improved I frames, Baby Js and K frame airweights just prior to the Models of 1953 New J frame shown here:

 

[shamuscull]

The "newer style latch" as you describe it was actually used on the first approximately 100 Chiefs (the Baby Chiefs). It has also been observed as original on a few higher numbered guns like yours.

Some guns in the 7XXX serial range actually shipped earlier than lower numbered guns such as:

322X……shipped in December 1953.
46xx……shipped in Dec '54.

Obviously, there was little correlation between s/n and shipping dates.

My point is, your latch could be original. For one thing, to change the latch from a flat latch to a new style, the gun must be disassembled and the locking bolt that the latch attaches to must also be changed. The latches attach with different type screws.

So it's not a 5 minute job, but it could have been changed, there's just no way to know for sure unless the gun is owned by the original owner.

To answer your question, most Baby Chiefs 5 screw guns came with the 1st style flat latch until the 2nd style flat latch began to show up sporadically in the 25XXX serial Range:

1st style flat latch used only on the Baby J frame and K frame airweights:

Photo by jackvs1


2nd style flat latch began on the Improved I frames, Baby Js and K frame airweights just prior to the Models of 1953 New J frame shown here:

Thank you. I think it is an old NYPD gun so I would not be surprised if is was changed at their range for some reason

 

[Hondo44]

It's certainly possible, many considered the 1st flat latch less ergonomic to the later style.

 

[les.b]

Jim:

Just for information, my smooth ramp Baby Chief has a serial of 10,6xx, and shipped in May of 1952, before the two much lower serial number examples you cite above! It has, I believe, the first style thumb latch. I have a bunch of photos available, taken by the forum member who sold it to me, who is a much better photographer than I. I just have not uploaded them to photobucket yet.

Best Regards, Les

 

[two-bit cowboy]

so I'm jumping in late to this and haven't read everything, but a local dealer told me he has a very nice 36 no dash for $600. Is that worth a 30 minute drive to look at?

Come on. Really? Maybe you should have "read everything." A Model 36 doesn't really fit here -- far too new. I really don't intend to be sarcastic, but... you have too many posts to....

Bob

 

[raljr1]

Come on. Really? Maybe you should have "read everything." A Model 36 doesn't really fit here -- far too new. I really don't intend to be sarcastic, but... you have too many posts to....

Bob

Chastisement taken, post deleted

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I apologize for my ingracious post

Chastisement taken, post deleted

Wow, I have thought about this all day. I screwed up.

I am very sorry for posting my criticism of raljr!'s post.

I offer no justifications or rationalizations for my words, but I was wrong.

No lives were threatened.

I'll make every attempt in the future to behave. I've sent my most heartfelt apologies to raljr1, and I'll make every attempt in the future to avoid the need for such apologies.

With all due respect,

Bob

 

[HeyJoe]

we all have our moments.....very stand up of you to apologize

 

[raljr1]

Bob and I are fine...no offense was taken and I intended my reply to be somewhat tongue in cheek. My first post was in fact off topic.

 

[Lngstrt]

Early Red Box Chief - lots-o-pics

My Dad had this Smith for as long as I can remember. He always thought it was "something odd" but never really figured out why. He seemed to think it was a Chief on an 'I' frame.
....And the front sight is different than I see on the pics on-line. Any help would .... help!

 

[model3sw]

My Dad had this Smith for as long as I can remember. He always thought it was "something odd" but never really figured out why. He seemed to think it was a Chief on an 'I' frame.
....And the front sight is different than I see on the pics on-line. Any help would .... help!

That's a sweet one. I think it is worth a letter from Roy Jinks. It's probably about 1952 (or near there) manufacture.

This is what became known as the "baby chief" that if I remember correctly is an "improved I-frame" or very early " J " frame and not yet quite a " J " frame as we know it now.

The manner that the front sight is trimmed seems to be what used to be called a USRA type front sight pattern, odd as it is on a non target sighted gun is a very nice touch. It would be nice to know if the front sight was done at the factory or not. A wonderful keepsake.

 

[bettis1]

Longstreet,

Very interesting gun (front sight) that does deserve a letter.

Excellent photography!

Bob

 

[Lngstrt]

It would be nice to know if the front sight was done at the factory or not. A wonderful keepsake.

Thanks for the info. I am sorry but ... Roy Jinks is ...?

I remember Dad having this as far back as ... 1970 (?) before we moved from Philly to Tulsa.
I do not remember him ever firing it in my presence.

Dad passed last year and I'm suddenly a S&W and Ruger collector

10 Smiths and 23 Rugers!! And a few other things .... Might have to thin some of the herd.

 

[Lngstrt]

Longstreet,

Very interesting gun (front sight) that does deserve a letter.

Excellent photography!

Bob

Thank you.

Can't quite tell if it's factory .... looks like it is 'blued' a little differently.

 

[Hondo44]

You have what's known by collectors as a "Baby J frame". It was introduced in 1950 with a 1/2 round front sight. They have the smaller grip frame size of the I frame of the time, but it's longer cyl window for the 38 Spl makes it a J frame.

Yours is the 2nd variation with barrel rib and ramp front sight. The ramp has been reshaped. That's the only difference from a standard Baby J frame. Based on its serial #6795 it's from the last half of 1952. It's in beautiful condition although the modified sight hurts the value but as an heirloom from your dad, it's priceless anyway!

You can read much more detail about early Chiefs in my commentary here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/blog.php?b=104