Hi Guys,

My Dad traded for this revolver probably 30 years ago and I'd like to know a few things about it.

It is a 5-screw and has serial number 407XX. All the numbers match on the revolver and the correct serial number is stamped into one of the grips.

The man my Dad traded with worked as a detective with the Houston Police Department in the 50's and 60's and carried it daily for a number of years. There are scratches on the butt from it scraping against the seat belt or something while he had it in his holster.

There isn't much wear otherwise. A slight cylinder turn line and a few small specks of old "sweat" rust on the right side.

The box is for a Chief Special but the label says "round butt" and the serial number on the back of the box written in grease pen isn't the right one, obviously. I don't know where he got the box.

Can someone date this revolver for me and give me an estimate as to what it is worth?

Sure appreciate it.

TH

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Unless Im awfully mistaken that is indeed a round butt.... they were MUCH more common mainly because they are much easier to conceal.... nice gun, enjoy!!

And below is the aforementioned guru! LOL Thanks Mike, I have pre 12 on the brain today for some reason! LOL

Thanks...I could have the square butt wrong, probably do.

Is the box right if it is a round butt...disregarding the incorrect serial number on the box?

That is a Chief Special, actually a Baby Chief special with the smaller I frame stocks (grips). I would date that around 1953 without looking it up. It would eventually become a Model 36 Chief Special. Is that a red box? Can you take a picture of the end label? Those are very cool little J frames (my favorites) Yours is a transition gun. Hondo44 has a couple of threads on here that give the entire history/transitions of the Baby Chief starting in 1950 to the full size J frame Chief by 1957.
That is a very nice one. $500-$600 most days to the right buyers.

This one was shipped in July 1953. So yours was "probably" shipped a little later in 1953. (I looked it up)

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

You have the ID correct, except it is a round butt early Chiefs Special built on an early version of the J frame, and called a "Baby Chief" by collectors. Probably a late 1953 gun, and it is one of the later Baby versions with the ramp front sight. I would guess it is between a $500-600 gun depending on its exact condition.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Here's a picture of the label on the end of the box.

I appreciate the information everyone.

TH

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TH,

That's a very nice condition Baby Chief J frame. What is the # on the bottom of the box?

It is indeed a rd butt which is a relative term when compared to the sq butt which looks like this:

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That is the correct box for that gun and looks like it's in really nice shape based on the label. Can you give us the serial number on the bottom?

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Jim
That is really nice 3 inch target Model.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

The serial number on the bottom of the box is 40107. On the end of the box opposite the label end are the numbers X691, whatever that stands for.

Thanks Hondo and everyone for the information.

TH,

We don't know the full serial # of the gun, but the box # seems remarkably close. Box #s can be hard to decipher occasionally. And it wouldn't be the 1st time someone at the factory recorded a wrong digit or two. Based on the provenance of the gun and box (if your dad got the box with the gun) I'm inclined to think it could be original.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I just realized that too. Its possible the box #3rd digit looks like a 7 but was a 1. They can be mistaken depending on the penmanship. Many 1s have a flag at the top. If the last 2 are the same then I think it's a match. if not then so be it.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Thank you! I found it a year and a half ago after wanting one for a long time!

One of 213 in 1975 (only 202 sold), Model 36-1 (-1 due to HB), # range 2j3134-2j3347 (actually 214 S/Ns), 3" HB, pinned barrel and Sq Butt. Appear to be the only Targets with ramp base front sight prior to the Mod 36-6s w/full shroud. Special feature code on box label: G347.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

With this revolver I just don't know. I don't think I saw it but once and for the life of me I don't remember the box.

The numbers while both starting with 40 are too far apart to have been incorrectly written. Might have written off the wrong line but he would have been way off.

I have to agree w/you. Here's a little relevant evolution of your gun:

EARLY "Model .38 Chiefs Special" (collector nickname Baby J frame)

1950, Oct 27, Introduction of the J frame Chiefs Special, #6 is 1st shipped, #1 is in the S&W museum, and is thought to belong to Mr. Jinks; 5 screw, longer frame window than ‘I’ frames, ‘I’ frame size grip and trigger guard (shorter grip and smaller guard than the later Mod 1953 J frame), with half moon front sight, satin blue finish and left hand extractor rod thread. Pre Magna Service stocks and standard thumbpiece up to at least #117, followed by mini Magna stocks, (earliest known #1754, Dec. 1951), and the 1st style flat latch. 1st 3” slim barrel Dec 1950. Latest reported round sight #116XX, shipped 4/52.

1952 - Introduced ribbed barrel with smooth ramp front sight, earliest observed #2945 and latest currently known #12340, otherwise same features as 1950 issue; then came the serrated ramp sight, lowest known #6541. #45963 highest known with fine knurled early hammer, (#12041 earliest observed with new coarse checkered hammer but most likely a replacement, and #38953 the next lowest and); introduce square butt option on the ‘Baby J’ (c. #21342 per SCSW but #25300 is the lowest known); Magna Stocks on both rd and sq butts. Will still have 1st style flat latch up to at least the 26,000 range, then changed to 2nd style flat latch. Highest steel Baby known #45963.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks for that Jim, it's most appreciated.

Thanks to all of you for the information.

TH

Another rare one to hunt! I'm looking for a Model 50 too.
Thx Jim

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I have to believe the box is original to the gun but was swapped with a baby Chief box from the same shipment at the original dealer . . . or by the armorer at the Department when it was "checked out" for on -duty carry.

I vividly remember buying my first Chief Special at a large gun shop in Washington D.C. back in 1965. There were numerous customers at the counter and as many handguns out being inspected by prospective customers. When they went back in the box . . . albeit the correct box for the model . . . I'll guarantee the salesman didn't look on the bottom of the box for the correct serial number.

Just a theory . . . but based on observation,

Very nice baby Chief and box,

Russ

Russ,

Excellent theory though. Especially since this was a law enforcement gun, I suspect you are absolutely correct about the armorer switching boxes!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I recently bought an early 1970's model 36 from a woman whose policeman dad had owned it. She later found "the box" and ended up selling it to me. However it was for a blue SB Chief with a different s/n than the RB nickel gun she sold me. She was surprised that the box didn't match the gun, as it was the only S&W revolver he had owned. I agree with Linde's scenario, as I think it was the same deal with mine.

I think that Linde is correct too. I doubt that the retired officer would have acquired a correct box for the revolver after the fact and I'm positive that my Dad wouldn't have tracked one down.

In any case everyone has been very helpful to me and I do appreciate it.

TH