Chiefs Special CS40

[Crookedcreek]

I mentioned in another thread on '(Another) Pawn Shop Find' that I had seen this at 'My' Pawn Shop. At the 'encouragement' of @GaryS I went back and 'struck a deal' and 'home it went with me'. Trying to research, it doesn't match (in every aspect) the product codes shown for a CS40 in the thread that has excellent references for the series as per: The S&W Chief's Special and a CS40 Quinfecta
This one is TDA Stainless ambi. safety (I don't see it in the descriptions).
It has been fitted with a set of KSD Walnut (Turkish?) grips. Four magazines...no box! I don't know if it has been 'worked on', but the feed ramp looks like a 'mirror'...maybe all were like that(?). I'd like to get a manufacturing year, if possible, S.N. VJH155X. Here goes:

 

[toddimusnimski]

SCSW 4th edition lists VJH prefixes as known to have shipped in 2002, the last year they were produced (1999-2002). Nice!

Todd

 

[3rdgenfriend]

thanks for sharing...those grips are nice. Wouldn't mind one in Stainless, some day. I have the .40 in Carbon and CS9 & 45 in Stainless, Love the way they shoot and carry. Enjoy 3GF

 

[Crookedcreek]

SCSW 4th edition lists VJH prefixes as known to have shipped in 2002, the last year they were produced (1999-2002). Nice!

Todd

Thanks Todd, I appreciate the info. I called S&W customer service today to see if they could tell me the number of CS40's produced. Since they were only made for two years (or so I've heard?), I'm assuming the number would be far fewer than for the 9mm and 45ACP CS Models. She said she did not have production numbers, but that my serial number gun was shipped in Sept. 2002, which falls right in line with what your book indicates. I guess there is no way to determine the production numbers(?). Mine has a relatively low four digit S.N. but I don't know if that could be indicative of 'numbers produced', based on my assumption that since caliber is a part of the model number, does each caliber have it's own serial number range(?). Certainly, adding the 'prefix' designation to the numerical portion of the S.N. greatly expands the S.N. possibilities.

 

[BruceB]

Then there is the two-tone CS40 with Ambi safety, apparently the only two-tone Chief's Special. Product Code 108567

My nice example is from February 2000 and the blue frame has stood up very well. I would think more wear would be on the slide, so the stainless top end is better. It wears original Big Dog grips.

 

[jbltwin1]

I bet that thing is a handful to shoot!

 

[BruceB]

I bet that thing is a handful to shoot!

Not at all! I've shot some mini/micro 9s that were a lot more objectionable. The Kimber Micro stands out, it was painful.

Standard .40 S&W ammo is pretty tame. I've toyed with the idea of getting a second top end and having the 10mm conversion done, but I worry that as I'm aging, it might become a 'handful'.

My 4026 is a pleasure to shoot, I've done 2-day trainings with it and don't notice any more fatigue or discomfort than if I used the soft-shooting 5906.

 

[mauser9]

Looks very nice condition and I like the grips. Saw a stainless CS 9 for sale for $500 in fair condition recently with 2 mags. First one I had seen for sale in years out my way.

 

[ACEd]

I guess there is no way to determine the production numbers(?). Mine has a relatively low four digit S.N. but I don't know if that could be indicative of 'numbers produced', based on my assumption that since caliber is a part of the model number, does each caliber have it's own serial number range(?). Certainly, adding the 'prefix' designation to the numerical portion of the S.N. greatly expands the S.N. possibilities.

Serial numbers are more or less random - the VJH prefix includes multiple models.

CS9D (VJH013x), 3913TSW (VJH123x), 4046TSW (VJH134x), CS40 (VJH155x), 4566TSW (VJH158x), 910 (VJH25xx), 457 (VJH26xx), multiple 4006TSW with and without rail, CS45 (VJH43xx), etc. You get the picture.

Observed CS40 prefixes include EKW, EKY, EKZ, TDR, TDS, TDU, TDT, VJB, VJC, VJE, VJF, VJH, VJJ, VJL, BAY, BDH, etc.

 

[Crookedcreek]

"Observed CS40 prefixes include EKW, EKY, EKZ, TDR, TDS, TDU, TDT, VJB, VJC, VJE, VJF, VJH, VJJ, VJL, BAY, BDH, etc."

I now know that 'at a minimum' they produced at least 16 Model CS40's....getting closer!

Seriously, that is good 'educational' (for me, at least) information. Thank you ACEd

 

[ACEd]

CS40 Configuration & Serial Number Observations

"Observed CS40 prefixes include EKW, EKY, EKZ, TDR, TDS, TDU, TDT, VJB, VJC, VJE, VJF, VJH, VJJ, VJL, BAY, BDH, etc."

I now know that 'at a minimum' they produced at least 16 Model CS40's....getting closer!

Seriously, that is good 'educational' (for me, at least) information. Thank you ACEd

Based on my observations (100 CS40s and 14 CS40Ds) I will make the following observations (as a matter of interest at least to me).


CS40 Blue, Left Safety - 108521 - EKW05xx, EKW44xx, EKY22xx

CS40 Blue, Ambi Safety - none observed (by me)

CS40 Silver, Left Safety - 108544 - EKY14xx, EKY66xx, EKY86xx, EKZ16xx, EKZ55xx, TDT51xx

CS40 Silver, Ambi Safety - also 108544 - TDU19xx, VJB56xx, VJE00xx, VJH15xx, VJJ18xx, VJL38xx, BAY49xx, BAY83xx, BDH29xx

CS40 TwoTone, Ambi Safety - 108567 - Multiple TDR85xx-TDR99xx, Multiple TDS00xx-TDS5144

CS40D Blue - 108543 - Multiple EKY498x-EKY506x

CS40D Silver - 108545 - EKY498x, EKY51xx, TDU20xx, VJD73xx, VJL47xx, BDH55xx

Again, it appears Blue Left Safety were only in the early EKW & EKY groups ending in 1999.

Silver Left Safety were interspersed with Blue Left Safety and both Blue and Silver DAO pistols in the EKY group in 1999.

Silver Left Safety were last observed in the EKZ and TDT prefixes (late 1999- early 2000)

The TwoTone had Ambi Safety (circa 2000) in multiple examples in the TDR and TDS prefixes.

It appears the Silver with Ambi Safety and DAO (No Blue and No Left Only Safety) began in the TDU or the VJB prefixes mid 2000 and continued or were revived in the BAY series (2004) and BDH (2005)

Product codes (6 digits) beginning with 4 or 6 instead of 1 such as 608544 or 408544 appear to be the same pistols as the corresponding 108544 but sold as Surplus after the end of production, Refurbished, or Used. I have seen the 6xxxxx with Used on the printed label.

All standard configurations appear to be fixed sights (no adjustable or night sights) with the possible exception of the Special mentioned previously.