Against my better judgment I picked this up yesterday. It's in fair condition with push off issues. The original grips are long gone. It has the typical Bubba signs of buggered screws and a cut rebound spring can be seen. It has a little bit of end shake but it doesn't seem excessive. It is well in time and shows some minor holster wear with some small surface rust specks as well.


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Once in proper working order it will be going to the wife. My Airweight is too light for her and the 649 Magnum has got considerable heft for a little gun. Besides, the little guy is too cute to just leave alone.

The plan was originally to find a clean Detective Special, but the Cheifs Special will certainly do. Best I can tell it should be a 1952.

The pics are a little light challenged due to the poorly lit clandestine photo op.

As long as the price was right I think it is a keeper. A good cleaning and some new/used better screws would go a long way to making it very nice. I have been looking for a Baby Chief for a while now. Also would really like to have an Austin PD Heavy Duty. Very nice find. Good luck on the restoration.

I have certainly seen worse! A guy wanted to sell me a 36 with poor finish and nothing wonderful about it for $300. Bought a 3" 36 (1957) at local gun show last Sept. $425 matching #'s including grips box & papers. (no tools) Make you post once again when it is done. Hope you got a good deal! Those look like Charter Arms grips? Bob

Very nice rescue of a treasured Baby Chief.

__________________
Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

The grips are Sile.

It was purchased for a fair price.

As long as the hammer and/or trigger don't need replacement it will be a good buy.

The bore and chambers look excellent and it's otherwise in good shape.

I'm thinking it's deserving of some checkered wood combat stocks...real ones...not that laminate stuff...

Sir, you have just entered the new field of collecting. Rescue of S&Ws
in need of a little attention and love. Now, start picking up some nice screws, springs, hands and a few period grips. Your collection will grow and you can shoot them. Mike 2796

It's always good to rescue a Baby!

Froggie

I don't plan on making a habit of it...but this one had been stuck on my mind since it hit the gun case. It's a practical carry piece and cool piece of history. It's just ugly enough that a little more wear and tear isn't doing any harm. It has a lot of life left to give.

I got it for a fraction of a new or newer 36, and just love thd dimensions. My finger barely fits in that little trigger guard. If worse comes to worse it may become a DAO.

That latch really bugged me initially, but has grown on me. It reminds me of a pill bug.

The wife likes pretty things. Maybe some fancy grips may spruce it up for her.

Though I'm not a fan of laminates I have been eyeballing these as a potential candidate:


I may mod and refinish what's on it.

If it's for a lady, I'm thinking some Ivory stocks with embedded diamonds.

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

She's never had a diamond from me...

I'm down to a couple other choices.

Tomarrow a test fire.

Found a set of stocks.

They were cheap, but as I'm chopping off the bottom flush I'm not getting anything expensive.

The look is very reminiscent of Ahrends grips.

Got a quick test fire out of the way with the factory boot grips from my 649. It shoots sweet. If I can get it to work properly in single action I'll have a winner.

Got into it. Everything looks fine except for the trigger. The sear surface has been stoned crooked and uneven, so it only has about 25% contact with the hammer, at best.

Hopefully the next update it will be corrected and in fine working order...

Before:

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The wonky surface made for a 2.5lb pull due to poor sear contact even as rough as it was. The pictures look better than it was.

After:

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All save for that very corner was reparable. No more pushoff and the single action is a crisp 3lbs. With a good cleaning and lube it is butter smooth.

This will be it until the grips come in.

Some goodyears on it for the time being. The wood grips are a few long weeks out.


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It's not the cleanest gun I've seen, but at least the character came honestly.

Rick, as a Member of the Rescue Group, that is a beauty. I carry one everyday. Shoot, clean and enjoy. Mike S&WCA 2796

Thanks. I'll probably only shoot it once or twice before handing it off to the wife later this year.

Personally, I think it looks pretty darned good, and it'll be even better when your new grips come in! Yep, I'd take that little sweetheart anytime. I'd probably take the red paint off the ramp, but I'm a little bit OCD about such things .

The ramp is red and the rear sight is white. It doesn't bother me any.

I'm debating whether to blue the little finish-less specks left where there was rust.