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Need help identifying year of this baby chief
- Thread starter jimg0109
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OP
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2020
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- 25
- Reaction score
- 95
serial number is 43145
I believe it shipped in early 1954. Technically, it is factory nickel but it was refinished [R-N] by the factory in 1983 [1 1 83]. The B on the lower part of the grip frame likely means it left the factory originally in blue.
Based on others that bracket yours in the database, I'd suggest Smith & Wesson shipped yours in or around February 1954.
We need a better shot of the left side of the grip frame. None of my two dozen blued 1950s-vintage Chiefs Specials have a B to indicate they were to receive a blue finish at the factory. Here are photos of a five-screw Chiefs Special that shipped in September 1952 with a factory nickel finish. The expected three N stamps clearly indicate its original finish was nickel.
We need a better shot of the left side of the grip frame. None of my two dozen blued 1950s-vintage Chiefs Specials have a B to indicate they were to receive a blue finish at the factory. Here are photos of a five-screw Chiefs Special that shipped in September 1952 with a factory nickel finish. The expected three N stamps clearly indicate its original finish was nickel.
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OP
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I checked. And there are no N's stamped on the gun.
