Model 36-6 target sights

[Rodfac]

I bought this M36-6, thirty years ago for my wife when she was travelling a good bit for her job. The gun showed up in a Louisville KY gun shop in 1992 IIRC, new, and the dealer offered me a 'former military' discount...$300 as I recall. It's a .38 Special with target sights as you can see and came with a pair of S&W combat grips IIRC. Edit: I bought the S&W combats and replaced the rubber...R

We've both carried it quite a bit over the years, and for a lot of that time it was my trout fishing companion along the remote streams of the Smokies. For the most part I've loaded home cast Lyman wadcutters with ~3.0+ grains of bullseye. On a good day for my eyes, it'll still print 5 shots into two inches or a bit more at 25 yds.

The current stocks shown, are Pachmyr's Compac model and do good work handling recoil. And I carry it in an OWB of my own making at the 4:00 position.

I did a quick search of Wikipedia this afternoon showed it to be somewhat rare. Does anyone have add'l info on this model?

Best regards, Rod

 

[Aussie Collector]

I have a 36-1 target. A rare gun or so I believe.
From the standard Catalog of S&W "Model 36-6 Target Variation: Approximately 615 were manufactured with a 3-inch Full lug barrel with adjustable sights with a blue glass bead finish".

 

[colt_saa]

The production numbers vary on how many were made, but it was not a lot of them

The full lug barrel gave the Model 36 Chiefs Special Target (CST) a unique look. Kind of like a baby 586

Most of us that own them, keep them. They really shoot great. Having real sights on a gun, even a J-Frame, helps your shooting

I got my 3" Model 36 CST in 1994 when a Federal Probation Officer was forced to change over to a 357 Magnum

I have always liked the CSTs and have several in 2" and 3" both blue steel and stainless. I started carrying my first stainless one in 1985 as my BUG

 

[H Richard]

There is mention in the SCSW4 of 615 mfg. In a conversation with Roy he told me the total was 2000. Since I know way too many people that have one of these, and knowing the source of information, I would think 2000 is the correct number.

 

[jcelect]

36-6

They were the last of the Chief's Special Targets in blue that were made. They were produced in 1989 and all I have documented have a BEA serial prefix. They originally came with the Houge rubber grips as pictured by H Richard.
jcelect

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Everyone has shown the left side. Here's a view of the right, along with my Christmas present -- an original intro flyer -- thanks Santa.

 

[RubEric]

My CST, Model 60 w/KB grips:

 

[WCCPHD]

My CST, Model 60 w/KB grips:

The gun is nice. The stocks are incredible.

 

[Rodfac]

They were the last of the Chief's Special Targets in blue that were made. They were produced in 1989 and all I have documented have a BEA serial prefix. They originally came with the Houge rubber grips as pictured by H Richard.
jcelect

Yep, mine's a BEA 2xxx serial number and after seeing the above pics, pretty sure it originally had the Hogue grips. The box is long gone, and the grips now reside on another J frame that I have. Rod