Baby Chief...Finally !

Gun Relics

Gun Relics

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Finally got one. I was the only bidder, so I wasn't sure if it had been overlooked as a Baby Chief because of the ramp sight and the lack of reference to "baby". I would have preferred the half moon sight version but I haven't seen one come up for awhile.

It came in today and I'm thrilled. All original, all matching including the itty bitty grips, doesn't appear to be carried or shot too much, serial number 19xxx. I'm still on the hunt for the earlier version but this will do for now. Good collecting day so far (y)

IMG_8165.jpg

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Well done!
That is a nice example. I'll take a stab at a ship date - perhaps late 1952? Bob will be along shortly to pin down a ship date for you based on a lot more knowledge than I have.
All said, it's a good looking Baby Chiefs, and a box too! Is it numbered to the gun?
Congratulations on finding a nice one. Seems they are getting fewer and farther in-between.
John
 
JH1951 said:
Well done!
That is a nice example. I'll take a stab at a ship date - perhaps late 1952? Bob will be along shortly to pin down a ship date for you based on a lot more knowledge than I have.
All said, it's a good looking Baby Chiefs, and a box too! Is it numbered to the gun?
Congratulations on finding a nice one. Seems they are getting fewer and farther in-between.
John
Click to expand...
No, the box is not numbered to the gun and the gun should have a 1952 date. . The gun came with a box but it was from around 1955 or 1956. - it had the old style cover with the 3 lines and proper label but had the printing inside. This box I had bought some time ago and is the earlier style with no printing inside. It was also unnumbered but comes from the pre-1955 era.
 
Very nice,
The steel stock medallions are a hint of its age IMO.
The style just prior were made of plastic for around 1 year and nickel plated brass before that,
Iirc the very earliest examples that I've seen had the older style service stocks and cylinder latch (pre flat latch), Also Iirc there is another variation made just after the half penny front sight but just prior to yours that has a smooth ramp without serrations.
 
Engine49guy said:
Very nice,
The steel stock medallions are a hint of its age IMO.
The style just prior were made of plastic for around 1 year and nickel plated brass before that,
Iirc the very earliest examples that I've seen had the older style service stocks and cylinder latch (pre flat latch), Also Iirc there is another variation made just after the half penny front sight but just prior to yours that has a smooth ramp without serrations.
Click to expand...

Here's my other Chief from 1955. It's also all matching. It's interesting that it has a high polish finish. I don't know how common this was but it's an early 4 screw. I love it!

IMG_8171.jpg
 
At first you just want one of each screw variation, then each model variation. Next thing you know you want each sight style, stocks style, medallion style , box style and latch variation,
It can become an expensive addiction.
 

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two-bit cowboy said:
Congrats on that nice one.

Based on all the 19xxx serial numbers in the database I'd say there's a good chance yours shipped in the last quarter of 1952.

The serrated front sight began after serial number 12750.

Yours would have come in a red box.
Click to expand...
I'll keep an eye our for the red box - not easy to find!
 
Gun Relics said:
Here's my other Chief from 1955. It's also all matching. It's interesting that it has a high polish finish. I don't know how common this was but it's an early 4 screw. I love it!
Click to expand...

Depending upon the serial number, the bright blue finish could have been a special order or it might have been completed after Smith & Wesson converted to the bright blue finish as standard in 1956. Yours has the small hammer; the last month I've documented a Chiefs Special shipping with the small hammer was May 1956.

My 3" square butt serial number 55693 was a special order with a bright blue finish, and it shipped in May 1956.

'56 3'' 55693, bright blue, 5th flat thumbpiece, lightweight barrel.jpg
 
two-bit cowboy said:
Depending upon the serial number, the bright blue finish could have been a special order or it might have been completed after Smith & Wesson converted to the bright blue finish as standard in 1956. Yours has the small hammer; the last month I've documented a Chiefs Special shipping with the small hammer was May 1956.

My 3" square butt serial number 55693 was a special order with a bright blue finish, and it shipped in May 1956.

View attachment 774966
Click to expand...
That's a really nice one!
 
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I came into possession of this today. First time posting pictures - hope I got it correct. There are no scratches - what is showing up in the pictures are from the cloth I wiped it down with. I referenced J. Supica and R. Hahas' Standard Catalog of S&W 2nd ed. and assume (but hope someone can help me) that this was manufactured in ~ 1950 (?) based on the serial number. It's got a smooth ramp without serrations. The bottom of the barrel, cylinder, grips, and butt all have the same #. The yoke does not have the model number - assuming it's a pre-M36? Any idea what it's value is - GB has prices all over the place. I'm delighted with it but looking to hear from you on your thoughts, please.
 
Looks like you did well posting pictures. Very nice Baby CS. Do you have the box?
I think you will get more responses and information if you start a new thread. Please consider doing so.
The resident expert is Two-Bit Cowboy I suspect he will be along shortly to fill in the blanks.
I would be guessing that your CS shipped in late 1951.
It is a predecessor to the Model 36. Generally speaking, there were three different front sights on early five-screw production CS's, a 1/2 round, a ramp non serrated, and a ramp serrated. From what I have observed, the smooth ramp is the least common to find.
As for value, condition is king (and yours seems to be high condition). To help us arrive at a guess on value, a bit more information is needed. The stocks (grips) should have a number on the inside of the right panel - does it match the gun?
Are there any 'extras' such as a factory box (which may be also numbered to the gun on the bottom). Both of those things will have a measurable impact on value.
I think you will find the early Chiefs Special a joy to own.

Here is one that shipped August 24, 1951. SN is 101. Note the 1/2 round front sight and service grips.
IMG_3132.JPGIMG_3132.JPG

and here is another with the smooth front sight that likely shipped February 1952. SN 6353.IMG_3502.JPGIMG_3502.JPG

I'm looking forward to learning more about your CS. Thanks for showing it to us.
 
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