Hey yall,

As best as I can have been able to find out from my research this Model 36 is from the early 1950s; however, I'm not 100% sure and I'd like some help confirming the date. The number on the bottom of the handle is ANR0758 and the number inside is X41XXCI9.

I'd also like to learn how to find the value of things like this. The blueing is in great condition minus a little pitting on the back of the handle. The wood grip is also a little Any help with this would also be greatly appreciated.

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The bluing and later (post 1965-'66) cylinder release make me think this is a 1970's or 1980's gun. You also have a wider "combat" trigger and there is no diamond around the screw hole on the stocks. What on Earth makes you think this is a 1950's gun?!

Posting the serial number IN FULL does let someone will tell you the date. Thanks for including the letters in the serial number.

1950's S&W non- premium models had a duller finish than later guns, unless one paid extra and ordered the optional Bright Blue finish. That normally came only on Magnums and a few other premium models. I think the finish was brighter by the late '50's, around the time that model numbers appeared in 1957. Later guns definitely have a better finish.

Old ones also have an added screw at the top of the sideplate and one in front of the trigger guard, and early ones have smaller trigger guards, and hammer shapes varied as they sorted out what provided better ignition of primers and better looks. Really early Chief's Specials also had half -nickel shaped front sights, not this ramp one. If your gun has Mod. 36 stamped in the frame when the cylinder is swung out, it is certainly post-1957, even if fitted with later cylinder release and stocks, which it probably isn't.

Frankly, I suspect that you are having some fun with us, and it took a lot of my time to answer this question. But perhaps it will assist some who read this and who really have no clue about how to date these guns.

First off, welcome to the forum, and thanks for posting photos.

Your Model 36 most likely dates to 1986 or 87.

__________________
SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Welcome to the Forum. The ANC prefix is from 1986 or 1987, so quite a bit younger. You can check completed auctions or listings from the gun websites for values, but somewhere in the $300-350 range should be in the ballpark. Hope this is helpful.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Sorry if I was snippy. The other guys are right: if you are a legitimate seeker of this answer, welcome to the board, and please excuse my cynicism. I've had a stressful day, and nothing about this gun suggests 1950's origin.

Be careful handling that Mod 36 Chief's Special. You may come down with a case of snubbies :-)

Thanks Texas Star - you answered a riddle for me. I recently purchased an early post-war I-frame Terrier that has the not-so-bright blue finish compared to my 1956/7 Chief's Special with the deep blue. I was trying to figure out what happened to the finish. I learn something every time I log in.

Thanks. I feel better for knowing that.

All I want to say is"Nice gun, and welcome aboard!"
I find that the Square Butt version sucks up recoil pretty well.
The warning posted above about contracting a severe case of
the "snubbies" is valid. Actually, the warning is probably too late
to do you any good, as you've just broadcast your first symptom.
JMHO, TACC1.

Welcome to the forum!

An early 50's Chief;

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

shmrcks4,

I hope you will enjoy your relationship with this board. Sometimes we jump in on the middle of a conversation assuming we are all at the same place, a condition that is seldom true! My friend Hondo44 posted a good clean photo of a truly early Chief's Special, made in the very early '50s when there were no model numbers used, and on this model, at least, few if any letters in the serial number. Let's use his picture and your first one to all get on the same page here.

You will notice there are obvious differences between his example and the one you posted, especially the shorter grip frame (which is also the much more frequently encountered "round butt" style) and the different type of trigger guard. The earliest Chiefs had a more rounded trigger guard with a screw in the front to put pressure on the spring and plunger inside to activate the cylinder stop. This hole is blind from the inside on later models, and the loop of the trigger guard is much more elongated.

The so-called diamond grips are also indicative of a '50s gun as opposed to the evenly sized checkering over the entire center panel that your later example displays. BTW, early guns were sold with the serial number of the frame penciled or later stamped into the inside face of the right grip panel, a practice probably discontinued by the time yours appeared.

Finally, the earliest of these little "Baby Chiefs" had the half round sight shown by H44, but this is not a universal, because by the time my personal example was made, the serrated ramp was used, and there was a smooth, unserrated ramp sight used for a short time in there as well.

If nothing else, your posting inspired a quick review for all of us to as to what features to expect on early vs later S&W revolvers. I hope you will enjoy owning and shooting yours.

Regards,
Green Frog

PS Although the picture from H44 doesn't show it, there should be a 4th screw on the sideplate (right hand side of revolver) at the top by the hammer. This in addition to the one at the front holding the cylinder & crane assembly and the other two along the bottom of the plate (one usually hidden under the grip panel.) If you disassemble the gun, be sure to put each one back in its own hole as their lengths and head shapes are critical.

Also note the shape of the hammer on Hondo's gun. That varied in those days. I mentioned this in my earlier post, but seeing it in a photo is useful.

Thanks, Hondo.

I am a new member, like most trying to get some information from folks that know far more than me.
I too have a Model 36 "J" frame I inherited, and am trying to determine its age and approximate worth. I am including a couple photos. Please don't beat me up about the photos, I am not a photographer. I will provide as much info as I can think of. Anything else I will be glad to give when instructed what and where to look.
The number on the butt of the weapon is 1J1239, from reading the post to which I have attached this posting, the numbers stamped in what I believe you call the yoke are not the same as on the butt. I'm sorry, the info in picture 14 is unreadable,
The information from the upper left in photo 14 is;
Model 36, Fin B, Barrel 2, Stock S,, PKR 17, ser. no. J.
Thank you for any information you can provide.

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	Chiefs Special 014.jpg (133.5 KB, 177 views)

First off, welcome to the forum, and any photos are always appreciated.

Your Model 36 should've shipped in 1971. The box is from a gun made at least a decade later, so it doesn't significantly enhance the value.

__________________
SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Thank you very much for your quick response. Other than keeping a serial number record for insurance purposes I won't
need to purchase any additional insurance coverage for what I
thought was a bit older than you have indicated. Thank you again and have a great day.

gwhiz, welcome to the forum. Your model 36 with serial number 1J1239 was most likely shipped in 1982. I can not read the serial number on the end of the box but it is not "J" as stated. It is "J" followed by the 6 digits in the following two spaces. It appears fuzzy but looks like it could be J999XXX or something like that. That would also point to around 1982.

shmrcks4, also welcome to the forum, your gun is one with a 3 alpha 4 numeric serial number that began to show up in or around 1980-1983. Both the "J" serial numbered guns and the 3 alpha/4 numeric guns are interspersed during these years so exact dating is difficult. The 3A/4N serial number charts aren't specific either but it looks like the ANR prefix was used somewhere around 1985/6.

Several posters have given clues to help date these older guns but to put them in somewhat of an order see below:

1950 introduction of the Chief Special
1951 larger butt and trigger guard
1952 introduce the square butt
1953 eliminate trigger guard screw
1955 eliminate upper sideplate screw
1957 given model number 36 (approx ser number 125000)
1965 Bangor Punta on boxes and paperwork
1966 change thumbpiece
1968 delete diamond around stock screw
1969 begin "J" serial prefix at J1
1980 begin using 3 alpha/4 numeric serial numbers
1982 eliminate pinned barrel
1982 begin moving the "J" within the serial number (1J1234)
1984 Lear Siegler on boxes and paperwork
1987 S&W purchased by Tompkins PLC
1999 Model 36 discontinued except for specials

This list is by no means complete as to all of the various changes that occurred during the Chief Special run, however, it should help the beginner to understand some of the changes that took place during its 50 year life.

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

Hey fellows,

Any clue to the date of manufacture on this old piece? The SN is 25392.

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That's clearly a 1952-53 production. When shipped of course is an entirely different date period.

You have a 'Baby J frame' (collector term) .38 Chiefs Spl indicated by the 1st style flat latch and small trigger guard/short grip of I frame proportion, and one of the last variety indicated by the ramp sight on a ribbed barrel. Not a pre model 36 but a precurser to the model of 1953 changes (shown in post #12 above) which is referred to as a Pre model 36.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks a bunch!!

Excellent information, very helpful to those of us just getting started in the j-frame business. Thanks!

I'm going to side with Goony's estimate of 1971 on gwhiz's 1J1239 ship date.

I've taken the liberty of editing your otherwise excellent summary.

1950 introduction of the Chief Special
1951 larger butt and trigger guard
1952 introduce the square butt
1953 eliminate trigger guard screw
1955 eliminate upper sideplate screw
1957 given model number 36 (approx ser number 125000)
1965 Bangor Punta on boxes and paperwork
1966 change thumbpiece
1968 delete diamond around stock screw
1969 begin "J" serial prefix at J1
1971 begin moving the "J" within the serial number with up to five numerical digits (e.g. 1J1239)
1973 begin J prefix plus six numerical digits (starting with J100000)
1982 eliminate pinned barrel
1982 begin moving the "J" within the serial number with six numerical digits
1983 begin using 3 alpha/4 numeric serial numbers
1984 Lear Siegler on boxes and paperwork
1987 S&W purchased by Tompkins PLC
1999 Model 36 discontinued except for specials

Russ