well, it took me a while, but i have finally put together all three chamberings of small snubby with the early features. finding a nice 32 was tough. finding the right terrier was a tad easier, but still took a while. finding a 2-digit chief was pert nigh impossible! all are in about as nice a condition as you could hope for (without finding nib examples), and all serial numbers match on all three.

i am a happy camper! i really love these early snubbies, and i really didn't know if it would be realistic to think i could find them, and OWN them!

here is the chief special (38 s&w special):




here is the terrier (38 s&w):




here is the 32h.e. (32 s&w long):




i appreciate all the help, education, and direction provided by my fellow forum members!!!!!

What great old Smiths! You are a fortunate man!

Very nice!!!

That is an excellent assortment. Congratulations.

I like-em! Nice job!

Great collection, congrats on finding them all in such nice shape!

__________________
Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I LOVE the pre-war grips on the post-war .32. Are they original to the gun? I have a set just like them waiting to go on a project on my bench.

__________________
Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

GREAT Collection !!!

The early baby chief is my favorite.

Any idea how many were produced with the half penny site before they switched to the smooth ramp?

I recently stumbled on a pair of half penny site 38 special Baby Chief barrels that were too nice to pass up.

the half-moon sight went into the 2000+ serial number range, but some have appeared all the way into the higher 3000 range, sporadically. i think i saw a 3700 one that was the highest i have seen.

the small triggerguard went into the 41000 range.

the round-top "service" grips and standard latch went to serial number 90. #91 is confirmed to have magnas and a flatlatch, and several close thereafter also. i haven't heard of any scattered-in any higher.

i am still learning about them, but i find them fascinating.

the grips on the 32 are original and serial numbered to it. it also has the "pre-war "hourglass" latch. it is in the 534000 range, and is the lowest number i have ever seen with the 4-line address, on a snubby.

to be completely matched up, i really need to find a 32 with the "post-war" checkering on the grips.

it never ends!!!!!!!

They are terrific, Ed!
You know how much I like snubbys

Very nice group. Well done.

__________________
Pace

That's a great trio! Congratulations. I like every one of them. A lot.

I had a moment of shock when I read the thread title and thought, "What, someone found an early snubnose .22/32?"

Then reality crashed in on me.

__________________
David Wilson

Fantastic trio!
I just missed a similar .32 on GB. Wonder if someone else here got it?

i was watching the 32 on gb! it had magnas. and just to show the "transitional" wierdness of these things, it had a barrel with the 2 line stamping on the left side. usually these are the very earliest ones, but this one was into the magna grip range, and the grips were correct. it was a very interesting little gun, but i have about blew my stash for a little while! i hope someone here got it.

thanks, dc. i was deciding what to persue next, and i had almost settled on a very early 22/32 model of 1953, but i am thinking at the moment, that i would like to find one of the earliest 5 screw (6 screw?!) airweights with the small triggerguard. i don't reckon i have ever seen one in real life, and only a couple of pics of one.

Well done! Can't say I've ever seen such a group of small, high-condition snubbies.

Thanks,

Jerry

A very nice group!

I have standard Chief Specials but have always "thought" I wanted a Terrier in .38 S&W or .32 S&W Long.

You haven't helped me!!

Great pics....

__________________
Have guns...will shoot'em.

WOW. I just love that .32 HE snub. (And all the rest also). One of those will have to go on the "want" list to match up to my .32 HE 3 1/4" barrel.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

that .32 stood out for me, as well.
very nice trio!

The Baby Chiefs go at least into the 42,000 range. I owned 42037. It sticks in my mind that I've seen one above 43,000, but I can't remember for sure.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

love those snubbies

Very nice triplets.
I had an early chief that had a flat latch?

Very nice, you are a lucky dude.

I also meant to say-
Nicely done. That is a hard trio to assemble!

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I can probably count on one hand and have fingers left thinking about the number of 5-screws Smith snubbies that I have actually seen. That is one fine group. You don't actually carry any of them I assume, so you must just have fun at the range making others drool!
Very nice sir, and very nice pics as well.

I missed out on a "Baby" Chief a while back, but I really like your taste! Hope you luck continues! TACC1

Very nicely done! Congrats on putting them together.

I know how hard it can be finding the "right' ones.

Great set of snubbie-ness! I went after them with the idea that since I was going to potentially carry any one of them on any given day for CCW, pristine was not as important as specific models/features. Oddly enough, the first one I found (and was able to buy) was the .32 HE snubbie. Next, I found my baby Chief that is late enough to have the serrated ramp style front sight instead of the half penny, but that's OK, 'cause I see it better that way. Matching all three to that level is super, but I guess I couldn't bring myself to wait. However, I am still holding out for a "perfect" match for my .32, a true post-War .38 S&W Terrier with all of the pre-War features except with the improved hammer block safety. I will probably replace the stocks on the one being carried most to minimize wear and tear on the original, numbered-to-the-gun stocks. Stag looks cool to me!

Froggie

Attached Images

Snubbies.jpg (50.6 KB, 22 views)

Yeah, I don't think you're close to done. Now you need to find all three in nickel, then the same trio all engraved. Your work is cut out for you....

__________________
SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

give me a second to clear the drool off of my keyboard.

i have the 32 hand ejector, which is one of my favorite guns, i should start working on the terrier and baby chief. i knew i shouldnt have read this thread.

many thanks for all the kind words! i think i am going to set my sights on a 5-screw, small triggerguard "baby" airweight. that should keep me out of trouble for quite a while!

very nice collection

Keep looking for one while on your quests for the Holy Grail.
You'll probably find the Grail first.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

how many do you think were made? is there an accepted range of serial numbers that encompassed them? any help is greatly appreciated!