My new "Baby Chief" Special

Artyldr01 · Oct 29, 2023

I present to you my new "Baby Chief." SN: 1840. Though not prisitine, it is in very good condition! It is all-matching to include the back side of the star ejector

I am confused though. I only see four screws, not five. I see three on the right side panel and one in front of the trigger guard. Is the fifth screw under the right grip panel?

I removed the left grip panel but the right seemed stuck so I didn't force it.

I believe it to be made in early 1951.

I have read the great info on this and other forums, but if anyone has additional information, especially about the screw configuration, I welcome it.

Thanks, and enjoy!

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s&wchad · Oct 29, 2023

Artyldr01 said:
Is the fifth screw under the right grip panel?

Yes it is.

Nice Baby!

CZU · Oct 29, 2023

Nice one and one of the hardest to find with the half round front sight.

quinn · Oct 29, 2023

Welcome! the Moon Baby club is pretty exclusive... took me a couple of years to make the cut. That one is fine! Congrats...

two-bit cowboy · Oct 29, 2023

That's a handsome Chiefs Special. Thanks for sharing all the detailed photos with us.

To help with a guess of when S&W might have shipped it, 1784 shipped in November 1951 and 1870 & 1972 shipped in January 1952.

Here's a look at that elusive side plate screw on an early Chiefs Special with service stocks. That screw on your Chiefs Special will have a flat head so the magna stock will cover it without sticking up.

Artyldr01 · Oct 29, 2023

two-bit cowboy said:
That's a handsome Chiefs Special. Thanks for sharing all the detailed photos with us.

To help with a guess of when S&W might have shipped it, 1784 shipped in November 1951 and 1870 & 1972 shipped in January 1952.

Here's a look at that allusive side plate screw on an early Chiefs Special with service stocks. That screw on your Chiefs Special will have a flat head so the magna stock will cover it without sticking up.

Thank you very much!

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SmithNut · Oct 29, 2023

They are pretty special....

Aren't they......?

Elroy · Oct 29, 2023

hammer looks real good

Artyldr01 · Oct 29, 2023

Elroy said:
hammer looks real good

It and the trigger look very nice.

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CZU · Oct 29, 2023

OP, this one is about 800 units later than yours.

Artyldr01 · Oct 29, 2023

CZU said:
OP, this one is about 800 units later than yours.

Very comparable condition as well. Thanks for sharing.

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demkofour · Oct 29, 2023

Here’s my Baby Chiefs Special, serial number 673, acquired earlier this year. Ship date is November 1951. They are sweet little pistols!

Artyldr01 · Oct 29, 2023

demkofour said:
Here’s my Baby Chiefs Special, serial number 673, acquired earlier this year. Ship date is November 1951. They are sweet little pistols!

Very early! Thanks for sharing.

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Green Frog · Oct 29, 2023

Welcome to the Baby Chiefs Club. I guess I’m only an ornery member since I let my early half moon example get away and then when I sobered up enough to know I should replace it, I had to settle for a later one with the ramp front sight. Any Baby Chiefs Special still ranks as the smallest 38 Spl revolver S&W ever made. Every serious revolver toter ought to have one.

Froggie

Artyldr01 · Oct 29, 2023

Green Frog said:
Welcome to the Baby Chiefs Club. I guess I’m only an ornery member since I let my early half moon example get away and then when I sobered up enough to know I should replace it, I had to settle for a later one with the ramp front sight. Any Baby Chiefs Special still ranks as the smallest 38 Spl revolver S&W ever made. Every serious revolver toter ought to have one.
Froggie

I was really surprised by how small it is compared to my Cobra and Diamondback.

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JH1951 · Oct 29, 2023

That's a very nice Baby Chiefs. It would be welcome in my clutch any time. I feel a little envy creeping in.
Sweet they are, and quite addicting to some of us, You have been warned; good luck.
I've picked up a few over the last several years.
Yours takes a prize in my book for great condition. Congratulations on a nice find of an early configuration Chiefs.
Here's a picture of the second three-digit one produced.

Artyldr01 · Oct 29, 2023

I've only ever been lucky enough to secure ANY classic firearm with its box (my Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless) so I truly admire your complete set. The stag grips are an additional bonus!

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Engine49guy · Oct 30, 2023

Nice Baby Chief,
The half penny front side varients are not commonly encountered, found mine in a pawn shop marked as a model 10.

The earliest version like JH1951 has came with the smaller service stocks, IIRC some were bright blue and from memory the very first ones had the older pre war style cylinder release (lost my notes) as well,
by the end of 1951 the taller Magna stock and first style smaller flat latch cylinder release are std.

Btw if you can remove the left stock just gently tap the right stock out going through the frame.

two-bit cowboy · Oct 30, 2023

Engine49guy said:
... some were bright blue and... the very first ones had the older pre war style cylinder release

The original thumbpiece wasn't the prewar style. The Terrier in the first photo shows the prewar thumbpiece with the "hourglass" pinch between the serrated thumbpiece and the screw. The early Chiefs had a variation on that thumbpiece without the pinch (second photo).

Yes, some were bright blue (second photo). I've documented fewer than a dozen bright blue Chiefs in the first known 2,000 serial numbers. Most of the documented ones came from invoices, and they were gifts to friends of S&W.

Engine49guy · Oct 30, 2023

Good info Bob,
On a side note I found two pristine Baby Chief half penny front site barrels in bright blue at the 2011 SWCA meeting in Orlando.
Still have them , thought that they might make an interesting project one day.

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