Smith and Wesson pre model 36 Baby Chief ?

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 26, 2025

I recently acquired what I believe to be a S&W pre model 36 "Baby Chief". The gun is a 5 screw, half moon blade front sight and the small round trigger guard. The grips are diamond magna's and numbers matching to the gun. All of the numbers are matching on the gun. What I'm questioning is the date of manufacturing using the serial numbers. It doesn't make sense to the information found in the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. According to the book this gun shouldn't have some of the features (half moon front blade sight, 5 screw and the smaller round trigger guard). The serial number is 671XX dating it to 1955. Is this a "Baby Chief"? Any help will be much appreciated.

Kansasgunner · May 26, 2025

Nice gun, but not a Chief Special. You have a Terrier, which is chambered in .38 S&W, the Chief would be chambered in .38 S&W Special.

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 26, 2025

Kansasgunner said:
Nice gun, but not a Chief Special. You have a Terrier, which is chambered in .38 S&W, the Chief would be chambered in .38 S&W Special.

Not a Terrier. I have another Baby Chief and they both weigh the same.

Frailer · May 26, 2025

Tommy Gun 1256 said:
Not a Terrier. I have another Baby Chief and they both weigh the same.

That revolver is indeed a Terrier.

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 26, 2025

Frailer said:
That revolver is indeed a Terrier.

Not a Terrier. I have a pre model 37 Terrier and a pre 36. This gun weighs almost the same as my pre 36 and not close to my Terrior

JH1951 · May 26, 2025

Tommy, unless I am missing something big, yes, a Terrier. And it appears to be in very nice condition.

671XX likely shipped near the first half of 1952.
Your Terrier is chambered for .38 S&W. The Chiefs Special is chambered for .38 S&W Special. The Terrier cylinder is shorter than that of the Chiefs Special and is visually evident.
Your Terrier is a post-war improved I-frame, first version.
According to the S&W 1952 Centennial Catalog, the weights are as follow:
The S&W Terrier - 17 ounces
The .38 Chiefs Special - 19 ounces

Here are pictures of a Terrier very close in number to yours (SN669XX):

Please post pictures of your 'other Baby Chiefs' that weighs the same as your Terrier. I'd be interested to learn about it.

Here is a Baby Chiefs Special (chambered in .38 S&W Spl.) Note the difference in the length of the cylinder in comparison to that of the .38 S&W Terrier.

quinn · May 26, 2025

What is the exact caliber marking on the side of the barrel?

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 26, 2025

JH1951 said:
Tommy, unless I am missing something big, yes, a Terrier. And it appears to be in very nice condition.

671XX likely shipped near the first half of 1952.
Your Terrier is chambered for .38 S&W. The Chiefs Special is chambered for .38 S&W Special. The Terrier cylinder is shorter than that of the Chiefs Special and is visually evident.
Your Terrier is a post-war improved I-frame, first version.
According to the S&W 1952 Centennial Catalog, the weights are as follow:
The S&W Terrier - 17 ounces
The .38 Chiefs Special - 19 ounces

Here are pictures of a Terrier very close in number to yours (SN669XX):

Please post pictures of your 'other Baby Chiefs' that weighs the same as your Terrier. I'd be interested to learn about it.

View attachment 761154 View attachment 761155

Here is a Baby Chiefs Special (chambered in .38 S&W Spl.) Note the difference in the length of the cylinder in comparison to that of the .38 S&W Terrier.

View attachment 761173

Frailer · May 26, 2025

Tommy Gun 1256 said:
Not a Terrier. I have a pre model 37 Terrier and a pre 36. This gun weighs almost the same as my pre 36 and not close to my Terrior

I think this is where the confusion might lie. Your “pre-37” is a Chiefs Special Airweight, not a Terrier.

The Terrier is an all-steel revolver chambered in .38 S&W.

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 26, 2025

You hit it on the head. The cylinder length on this gun is shorter than my Chiefs Special. This is a pre 37 Terrier without a question. I love this site for all of the information and knowledge that's out there. I can't thank you enough for answering my question. Happy Memorial Day.

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 26, 2025

Frailer said:
I think this is where the confusion might lie. Your “pre-37” is a Chiefs Special Airweight, not a Terrier.

The Terrier is an all-steel revolver chambered in .38 S&W.

You are absolutely correct. The name is also what confused me. Thank you for your input. Happy Memorial Day.

StevePi · May 27, 2025

Kansasgunner said:
Nice gun, but not a Chief Special. You have a Terrier, which is chambered in .38 S&W, the Chief would be chambered in .38 S&W Special.

I have a baby chief 38 special from 51 or 52

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 27, 2025

StevePi said:
I have a baby chief 38 special from 51 or 52

Thank you for the information. Yes, my gun is a .38 Chiefs Special Airweight (pre 37). I was confused by the name in the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. I have a 1950 Chief Special, 1952 Chiefs Special and 1959 Chiefs Special Target model. I didn't realize that the Airweight had a shorter cylinder.

Boxlock · May 27, 2025

I like the way everyone tries to help and stays civil!
It’s a beautiful revolver!

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 27, 2025

Boxlock said:
I like the way everyone tries to help and stays civil!
It’s a beautiful revolver!

Absolutely, this is a great site.

JP@AK · May 27, 2025

Tommy Gun 1256
Let's get one final matter cleared up. The Terrier is NOT a "pre-Model 37." The Terrier eventually became the Model 32. As stated above, the Model 37 is the Chiefs Special Airweight.

Tommy Gun 1256 · May 27, 2025

JP@AK said:
Tommy Gun 1256
Let's get one final matter cleared up. The Terrier is NOT a "pre-Model 37." The Terrier eventually became the Model 32. As stated above, the Model 37 is the Chiefs Special Airweight.

Thank you for clarifying that.

Smith and Wesson pre model 36 Baby Chief ?

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