Hi
Here are a couple of Chief Special Targets that were made in one run of
213. These are marked 36-1 and are 3 inch Heavy Barrels.
One is a scarce Nickel with a red ramp front sight and white outline rear
with round Butt Grip. The other is a Blue Square Butt. Both have the original boxes and all the tools both are as New.
Jim Fisher





Here is a picture of the box. My guess is this Nickel one was made
on special order because it is a different serial number. I have to letter it to find out more.
It is the only one I have seen in Nickel and round Butt.

Very nice! When were thay made?

Dang, I thought I'd seen then all, but apparently not.
Extremely nice, I'm envious.

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Dick

Jim
Talk about rare. Only two I can recall seeing. Any listed on the SWCA list of know serial numbers?

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Don Mundell

WOW! Now, thats something I have never seen....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Wow Jim, what a nice pair!

213 made in 1975 (only 202 sold). Model 36-1, # range 2j3134-2j3347, Appear to be the only Mod 36 Targets with ramp base front sight prior to the full lug target 36-6. Blue, 3" HB, no lug, Sq Butt, pinned barrel. Special feature code on box label: G347.
Nickel RB code looks like H13.

I only have the one, a Blue Mod 36-1 Target, Sq Butt, target trigger, target hammer. No box, but no cyl line and it truly looks unfired. This one is # 2J3222:

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I sold one to a Forum member about ten years ago, about new with no box.
I thought there were 600 or so made.

If I had know the run was around 200 I never would have sold it.

He's been very nicc to me since then !

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

Jim,
I was just reading in the SCSW, 3rd ed., on page 217 under model 50 Target:
Three nickel frames from the Mod 50 production were factory lettered as Mod 36-1 production (likely because of the HB) and thought to be the final 3 serial numbers produced. Yours may be the 4th final #.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have posted this summary gleaned from the SCSW in the past but this thread seems a good place to repost an updated version.

Chiefs Special Targets were un-cataloged, sporadic production 1955 thru 1990. Regular production began in 1996 w/the Mod 60-10.

BLUE: Models 36, 37, 50 and some not model stamped

Total production reported by SCSW as 2136 up thru 1978 and serial numbered in Mod 36 serial range.


312 in 1954-55, Pre Model 37, 3 ½” barrel, reportedly but unconfirmed. These are not in the final count of 2136.

First run of 100 in 1955, Pre Model 36, # range 55050-57919, 2” Sq butt, 2nd style flat latch, 4 screw frames.

14 in 1956, Pre model 36, 2nd style flat latch, some may have 4 screw frames.

198 in 1959, Model 36, # range 149811-150133, 2" Sq Butt, 2nd and 3rd style flat latch.

Sporadic from 1965 – 1975, Mod 50, 2” and 3”, Rd or Sq Butt, early w/3rd style flat latch and/or diamond grips, a few with 3” bbl, RR front, w/o rear
and wide trigger.

1006 in 1966, Model 36, # 391773-392778, 2" Sq Butt. 3rd style Flat latch or standard TP with diamond grips.

568 made in 1973-1975, Mod 50, # 930j45-936j19, 2" Sq Butt, standard thumbpiece. 3 known in nickel that lettered as 36-1, SCSW p. 217, which appear to be left over from Mod 50 1973 production.

213 in 1975 (only 202 sold), Model 36-1 (due to HB), # range 2j3134-2j3347 (actually 214 S/Ns), 3" HB no lug, Sq Butt, pinned barrel. Appear to be the only Targets with ramp base front sight prior to the Mod 36-6s. Special feature code on box label: G347.

37 in 1978, Mod 50, prefix # range 933j-936j, 2”, Sq Butt. Unknown if they have front sight ramp base.

615 in 1989, Mod 36-6, 3" HB full lug and Rd Butt, .340 combat trigger, black bead blasted, un-cataloged.

1991, Mod 36-8 with full-lug, limited edition; no more info known.


STAINLESS: Model 60

1986, 660 Mod 60-1, 2” barrel, Rd Butt, Special run for Ashland Shooting Supply.

1990, Mod 60-4, 3" HB full lug and Rd Butt, .340 target hammer, grooved .340 target trigger. Limited production.

1993, 300 Mod 60-4, 38 Spl +P Carry Comp, Perf. Ctr., Lew Horton special.

1996, Mod 60-10, Re-introduced in .357 Mag, 3”, on new J Magnum frame. Regular production, MIM parts. Some were Lew Horton special with Mag-Na-Port barrels.

1996, Mod 60-13, .38 Spl only, new frame.

2001, Mod 60-15, 357 Mag, 3”, w/key lock.

2001, Mod 60-17, 38 Spl, 3”.

2005, Mod 60-18, 357 Mag, 5” new 2 piece barrel.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Great finds, Jim. Congratulations.

Bob

Jim: You mention the 213 mfg in 1975, but only 202 sold. Is there any idea where the other 11 went? (still in the vault waiting to be purchased???)

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Beautiful, interesting, and rare.

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John

Those numbers are from the SCSW, but they don't add up. The serial range actually represents 214 serial numbers. And there is no mention of the missing 11 or 12 frames.

The frames could still be in inventory, could have been rejected and scrapped or are yet to turn up as built and shipped later like the 3 nickel guns (of which Jim's above could be the 4th) left over from the 1973 Mod 50s lettered as stamped 36-1s.
I don't think they'd still be in the vault, S&W would want to ship them to sell. Roy might be able to run them down but he'd have to look up all 214 serial numbers. The mysteries never cease.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have a Chief Special that I will try to describe, given to me by my brother back in the 70's.

It's a 36-1, B, 3", square butt grips, special features (HB), serial number J 131 617.

Not sure what any of this means, as I am not knowledgeable about handguns, but maybe you could fill in the details.

Jim Fisher:

I don't believe we have ever met, but I'm sure you are a nice guy. I just hope you realize that both envy and avarice are among the 7 Deadly Sins. And you are provoking us to both!


Very nice pair and thanks (I think) for posting the photographs. I have been purposely avoiding looking at this thread for several days, but finally succumbed this morning. Glad I looked. Those are very nice eye candy! Congratulations on owning these wonderful little revolvers.

Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Hey Jim
Have you had gun #J455856 lettered? I have been maintaining a data base of known survivors of the CSTs since the old Yahoo days and have many serial numbers of this model that have been produced from fixed sighted guns. Many of these guns were made on 36-1 guns, in fact I have a fake myself! The serial number of your gun does not fit into the known guns of the 36-1 CSTs.

Hey Hondo
According to a factory letter from Mr. Jinks I have on one of my CSTs the 213 guns of 1975 were in serial number range 2J3124-2J3347.
jcelect SWCA#LM723

No I have not lettered it but with the original box and by looking at it
I believe it is right. and both of these were from one guy.
bnut I will letter it.
Jim