Howdy Malysh,

It's also just about 30 days younger than my wife.....must have been a good year!

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KSCowboy

My early Chief is 33281. Not a very early one, but I'm looking forward to seeing if another 2 or 1 digit gun pops up. Very interesting thread.

that's mine, hondo. it's number 90. that pic was from the previous owner.

ed

Thx Ed,
Deleted the post and corrected my notes.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Not in the running for the lowest number by any stretch. The top CS is number 2273. Refinished, I doubt at the factory. The gun is a 10 on the fun to shoot scale, it gets probably 200-300 rounds a year since I adopted it.
I've posted about the hammers before, but here goes again: these early Chief's seem to have several variations going with the hammers they were making for them. I've seen at least 4 different hammers within just the first few years of production, now here in this thread I see yet another one. Has anyone else noticed this?

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Geoff. Since 1960.

Right around 1,000



Drew

Two very nice examples from the very early to the very late.
I'm interested in the variation of hammers but I don't see the variations that you do. Your two guns show the two basic variations that I count: the pre war/early post war and the Model of 1953 style.

I recognize that there are slight manufacturing differences like smaller and larger teardrop at the tip but I don't see them as distinct variations. Do you see more than that? Please help me see the four variations that you see; can you provide the post numbers?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Brad,
That's an awesome threesome!! What number is the one on the left?
Thanks,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Jim you probably already noticed that one on the left is an "I" frame
.38 S&W Terrier, The Serial is 58078 and it shipped December 1950

The J Frames are .38 "Baby" Chiefs Special, 1 7/8" Barrel, Blue, Serial 1025 shipped in December 1951

.38 "Baby" Chiefs Special , 1 7/8" Barrel, Blue, Serial 38217 shipped in February 1954

Brad,
I hate to admit it but I will; the fact that it's a Terrior went right over my head! But it's a beauty and very early number with a strain screw/leaf spring.
Thanks,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Nothing added in a couple of months. How about it guys, any 1 or 2 digit guns out there???

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James Redfield
LM #497

Another thing noted while re-reading this thread. It appears that the lower numbered guns had the patent dated hammers. Anyone know when this was discontinued? Still looking for pictures of the first 99.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Ed, if that were mine it would be # 06

Charlie

wow. and here I thought I had an old one s/n 26473.

ha! i hadn't thought of that, charlie! thanks for the idea!
ed

JSR,
#99 is sitting in my closet here in Wheatland, WY. One of 12 spicimens from #99 to #41,344.
Once upon a time I could count on finding at least one at every show I attended in Phoenix/Tucson. But only found one in MT and only one here in WY.
Was already aware of #90 shooting me out of the saddle.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474

Sold #91 in April of 1966..

i would REALLY like to have 91, to go with 90! it only seems right!!!

ed

Did the Chief Special serials start at 1 ? Just a wonder type question.

I have one in the thousands range.

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Dave Th.

yes! #1 is in the s&w museum, and, i think belongs to mr. jinks!

This thread started in 2009 and was last posted in about Sept. 2012 so apperently, it has legs. I wanted to add to this because the post by medexam today about low s/n S&W's got me to digging through the earlier posts about the Baby Cheif Specials and since I have a dog in That fight, I had to chime in.

I have owned Baby Chief s/n 117 for about 4 years then at the last Tulsa show, I lucked out and picked up s/n 54. (I'm now looking for a lower s/n than 54.) I haven't lettered either of them, but I do plan to do so next week.

I do not have a Photobucket account, but I do have pictures of both of these guns that I can e-mail to someone if they would be so kind as to help me by posting them here.

Any takers, if I promise to get a photo education?

Art

Hey guys.. I've got a Chief's Special in nickel with mother of pearl grips. I don't think the grips are factory, but I don't know. The serial is 191xx. Does that put it in the 1952 range? I was hoping someone could give me more information about this revolver. Forgive me if this isn't the proper thread for such a post.. and thanks in advance for any information you can provide.



Thanks!
-Dan

Dan
Is it original finish if you pull the grips there should be a n stamped on the side of the frame.
there are not very many original nickel guns. I have two and one was posted earlier in the thread.
But you need to check for the N

Jim

Here is a picture of Baby Chief 117 belonging to member V-35


Also wanted to add that S&W may have changed barrel styles before they ran out of half penny FS barrels,
Picked up these two unserialed Chief barrels at the Orlando conference two years ago for a
future project Model 36 or even a Model 60.

Recently acquired this S/N 1086, haven't asked Roy Jinks for my letter on it yet, will this week, but suspect it shipped close to 12/52, as did Engine49guy's number 1025 did. I am glad someone final mentioned #99 as it came up in the Thread about two weeks ago.

Attached Images

DSCN4340.jpg (143.3 KB, 48 views)

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Del

I read somewhere in our reference material that #61 was last Standard Thumb Latch I am glad to see this #90 pic

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Del

Thanks for the information Jim! I'm looking for a N stamped somewhere on the frame, can you tell me specifically where it would be located in the early fifties models? If there is no N to be found, does that mean it was refinished from blue somewhere along the line? Is there any way to get information from S&W with the serial number?

Thanks for the help!
-Dan

I'd be interested in a very low SN Chief Special, hopefully with the correct box ! My oldest is 1951-1952. Also any Chief Special Target models of the 1955-1956 batch.

>>>> Very Nice, Jim !!

Do any of you guys own an "i frame" ? I've never seen one, but they sound interesting.

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John

If you are referring to any "I" frame, then yes, I own several. If you are referring to an "I" frame Chief Special then I have to advise you that they do not exist.

The Chief Special was ONLY ever made on the "J" frame as the cylinder and the cylinder window were longer to accomodate the new longer .38 special cartridge. The butt and trigger guard of the early "J" frames were smaller and therefore collectors refer to these early guns as "Baby Chiefs". Since they are similar in size to the "I" frame, many folks confuse this fact and think that these early chiefs are "I" frames or improved "I" frames. That is not the case due to the enlarged frame window and they are only built on the "J" frame.

I hope that is what you were asking, if not please disregard my prior transmission.


Still looking for any 1 or 2 digit guns. Any new additions???

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James Redfield
LM #497

#588 is for sale right now, at North East firearms in Maine. 2K they are asking for it.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

I have S/N #48463 and It is not a Baby Smith, Lee is right it is in the mid 40,000's we determined that on a recent thread. I can not find the Thread but I believe it was around 46,000.

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Del

OK, been a while since this thread was up top so I am reviving it. Still looking for 1 and 2 digit Chief Specials of the pre model 36 variety, not those modern ones made when S&W decided to reuse the term Chief Special.

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James Redfield
LM #497

I have 2, 4 digit SNs ... still looking for a 2 digit or single digit SN.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

I bought and sold # 4 last year, in 2012. It is 'open on the books', according to Roy. I acquired the gun thru an auction sale, from the wife of the 2nd owner, she got it in the divorce. The ex-husband is quite well know in the shooting community and was not a happy camper that she got custody / ownership in the property settlement.

David

David,

What do you think the value of #4 would be today if you had it for sale?

medxam

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

I found the new owner of #4. I met him at the Annual in KC. I don't know if he wants to reveal his identity at this time.

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Don Mundell

Davis
I posted my reply before I saw your thread. I know who it was given to by S&W.
If I can remember who bought it, I'll send him a note with the information I have. I would have liked to have bought it, I have chased it for about 10 years.

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Don Mundell

Serial # 925 shipped November 13, 1951 to St Louis MO.

The 1st one shipped was #6, Oct, 1950. We know these don't ship in sequence, but 925 must have been shipped way out of sequence because I have to believe they shipped a lot more than about 1000 guns in the first 13 months.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

So who was s/n 4 given to by S&W? I seem to recall reading that they gave J Edgar Hoover one of the first ones.

Purely because of privacy and respect between the buyer and me, I wouldn't quote the selling price, Buddy, but will tell you that it was expensive...

David

Send me the info in an e-mail, Don. I'll be sure he gets it.

David

Thanks David, I understand!

medxam (Buddy)

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

Bump to the top, been a few months with no new entries.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Love this thread, but all I've got to offer is a measly 5 digit 201xx.

I have 5 Baby Chiefs, the lowest serial number is#765. The rest are all 5 numbers.

I like this idea!!

I just got #1972 that's nickel plated......not lettered yet but will be waiting the 5-6 months for it to return..

Then few months later got 1642 blued. Both for a few hundred bucks each