36-0 date

[Jcon72]

I was fortunate to bring home this beauty today and for a very decent price. The serial number is 3813xx which--according to the SCSW--should place it in the early 60's. I'm thinking 62, possibly early 63? It's older than me yet definitely a lot better looking, that's for sure!

 

[Grimjaws]

Nice

I just scored a similar 36 with the flat latch from Cabelas of all places for $350 but it is not as nice as your revolver - mine has some holster wear and scratches.

They have a real nice heft and balance to them that I did not expect. Should be a dandy range gun.

Your grips are in nicer shape too.

Now to find a holster to fit a 3' j frame for the belt.

 

[Jcon72]

Sounds like you got a good deal, Grimjaws. I managed to snag mine in an online auction for $500, which is a really good deal compared to what typically shows up in the LGS around here. It is in even better condition than I expected it to be, which is always a pleasant surprise.

 

[BC38]

The square-butt 3-inchers are great shooters.
Nice balance, and the square-butt gives a good hand-filling grip on them.
Mine's a little newer than yours.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

That's a handsome 3" square butt Chiefs Special -- my favorite -- and you picked it up for a great price.

You might be surprised to learn that other 3" Chiefs near your serial number in the database shipped in the spring of '65.

 

[Jcon72]

That's a handsome 3" square butt Chiefs Special -- my favorite -- and you picked it up for a great price.

You might be surprised to learn that other 3" Chiefs near your serial number in the database shipped in the spring of '65.

Thank you, cowboy, that is indeed a bit surprising to hear. Gotta love Smith and their serial-number/ship-date antics.

 

[JP@AK]

other 3" Chiefs near your serial number in the database shipped in the spring of '65.

that is indeed a bit surprising to hear. Gotta love Smith and their serial-number/ship-date antics.

I don't think it is surprising at all. The 2" Model 36 that was my EDC for years is serialized at 353801 and it shipped in September, 1964. That 3813xx shipped the following year seems like a normal progression, not an "antic."

 

[Grimjaws]

Jealous

Sounds like you got a good deal, Grimjaws. I managed to snag mine in an online auction for $500, which is a really good deal compared to what typically shows up in the LGS around here. It is in even better condition than I expected it to be, which is always a pleasant surprise.

Damn you got a great deal! I’d gladly pay that for one in your condition. I’m pretty sure mine was carried in a pocket with loose change as I am finding a ton of scratches now that it is in my hands. Took my grips off and a wood chip fell off the grip.

I’m looking for Herretts anyway but at least I won’t worry about getting it dirtied up at the range.

Are you planning to carry yours? If so any ideas on a holster?

 

[Jcon72]

I don't think it is surprising at all. The 2" Model 36 that was my EDC for years is serialized at 353801 and it shipped in September, 1964. That 3813xx shipped the following year seems like a normal progression, not an "antic."

The reason I said "antics" is simply because of the somewhat seemingly random way S&W pulls guns out of the warehouse and ships them with little or no regard to numerical sequence. From what I understand a gun with a lower serial number can sometimes be shipped to a dealer months--or even years--later than other higher-numbered guns.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

... the somewhat seemingly random way S&W pulls guns out of the warehouse and ships them with... no regard to numerical sequence.

The way I paraphrased your words is exactly what the company did.

Thanks to S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks we now know S&W not only didn't ship revolvers in serial number order, the company didn't even complete assembly of revolvers in serial number order.

As a batch of revolvers was completed it went into the vault. When someone went to the vault to fill an order they pulled the first XX number of revolvers needed to fill the order, and they paid no attention to the serial numbers.

I am fortunate to have an invoice for 100 Chiefs in an order for the NYPD Equipment Bureau. The order shipped on March 27, 1962. The 100 Chiefs span serial numbers 234517 through 250023, more than 15,000 numbers.

The handwritten serial number lists that accompanied the invoice seem to have been scribed as the boxes were pulled from the vault because they are not in numerical order.

As I typed the serial numbers into the database I learned, surprisingly, there are eight consecutive pairs and two consecutive trios of serial numbers.

"Random" is the key word you used in the phrase I quoted.

 

[Jcon72]

Damn you got a great deal! I’d gladly pay that for one in your condition. I’m pretty sure mine was carried in a pocket with loose change as I am finding a ton of scratches now that it is in my hands. Took my grips off and a wood chip fell off the grip.

I’m looking for Herretts anyway but at least I won’t worry about getting it dirtied up at the range.

Are you planning to carry yours? If so any ideas on a holster?

Yes, I'm quite happy with this deal. No, it's too nice for me to make it a carry gun; I have other options for that. That's not to say it won't get used in the back yard from time to time, but for the most part it'll be babied.
Even with your gun being in the condition as you described, you certainly didn't get hurt for the price you invested, IMO, and most of us here would likely have bought it if given the chance. Throw some eBay grips on it and use it for what it was built to do. If it gets a few more scratches it's not like you ruined a pristine piece.

 

[Dogmann]

I have two 3 inch model 36’s. If I put the serial numbers out here would someone be able to tell me the mfg date ?

 

[Grimjaws]

Sur

I have two 3 inch model 36’s. If I put the serial numbers out here would someone be able to tell me the mfg date ?

This forum is full of nice and knowledgeable folks

If you give us the first three and any letters that should help narrow it down

 

[Dogmann]

Serial # 8J899*
Serial # J53212*

 

[Grimjaws]

One of them

Serial # 8J899*
Serial # J53212*

I don’t have the book yet but on another post listing early serial numbers J532XXX should be 1969-1970

Hopefully someone with the book can verify and give you the other date

 

[Jcon72]

Serial # 8J899*
Serial # J53212*

J53212 is 1976-1977. 8J899 will likely be 1969-1970.

 

[Grimjaws]

My info is off

Sorry I miscounted the number of digits of the serial numbers you provided and mislabeled the date on one of them
JCon72 is correct

I blame the slip up on my old old age and bifocals

Quick reference I was looking at this info - a post way back in 2012 from member MasterGuns

For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50 and pre model number versions.

1950 = start at 1
1952 = 7369 - 21342
1953 = 28916
1955 = 55050 - 75000
1957 = 117770 - 125000
1962 = starts at 295000
1969 = ends at 786544

J serial Prefix serial numbers.
For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50.

1969-1970 = J1 - J99999
1971-1972 = 1J1 - 999J99
1973-1974 = J100000 - J250000
1975-1976 = J250001 - J370000
1976-1977 = J370001 - J610000
1977-1978 = J610001 - J670000
1979-1980 = J670001 - J760000
1981 = J760001 - J915400
1982 = J915401 - 1J18600
1983 = 1J18601 - 1JXXXX

1955 - 4 screw side plate ends
1957 - stamping of model number at 125000
1966 - flat latch ends
1968 - diamond grips end
1975 - heavy barrel standard
1982 - end pinned barrel

 

[Dogmann]

Awesome! Thanks

 

[Dogmann]

Had to ask as this thread has the dating of serial numbers.

So a Model 36-1 with serial J2170** should be 1973-74?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Had to ask as this thread has the dating of serial numbers.

So a Model 36-1 with serial J2170** should be 1973-74?

Nearby Chiefs in the current database suggest summer '74.