4-Digit Chiefs Special, 1st year of Production

history-fan · #1 05-13-2024, 10:54 AM

Here is my 4-digit Chiefs Special from 1950, serial no. 63xx, the first year these were produced. It's a "Baby Chief" ... aka a Chiefs Special on an "I" frame. It has the 5-screw frame with the rounded trigger guard, a smooth front ramp and a flat latch, all signs of an early issue.

JP@AK · #2 05-13-2024, 11:17 AM

history-fan

It is an early Chiefs Special; a Baby Chief. But it is not an I frame. All Chiefs Specials were built on the J frame. The J frame was introduced specifically for this model. The I frame cylinder window was not large enough to accommodate the .38 Special cylinder.

One of our CS experts will be along soon to confirm the likely ship date of your nice little revolver.

firefighterjohn · #3 05-13-2024, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by history-fan

Here is my 4-digit Chiefs Special from 1950, serial no. 63xx, the first year these were produced. It's a "Baby Chief" ... aka a Chiefs Special on an "I" frame. It has the 5-screw frame with the rounded trigger guard, a smooth front ramp and a flat latch, all signs of an early issue.

Very cool Baby Chief, especially 4-digit one at that! Love those nice diamond stocks, flat latch and round guard. It's amazing what you can learn from the experts here to help us in or own searches. The guys here dated the one I found with an 18,nnn serial number to 1952.

Oh the stories yours might tell...

larryofcc · #4 05-13-2024, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by history-fan

Here is my 4-digit Chiefs Special from 1950, serial no. 63xx, the first year these were produced. It's a "Baby Chief" ... aka a Chiefs Special on an "I" frame. It has the 5-screw frame with the rounded trigger guard, a smooth front ramp and a flat latch, all signs of an early issue.

I have a very early Baby Chief from 11- 1951. Also a 4 digit gun. #1,300. Has the round trigger guard and the 1/2 moon front sight. Better check your ship date again. Big Larry

Frailer · #5 05-13-2024, 11:56 AM

FWIW I own s/n 8338, configured identically to this gun, and it shipped in May of 1952.

demkofour · #6 05-13-2024, 12:52 PM

As the resident experts, such as two-bit cowboy and JP@AK and others often point out, Smith and Wesson did not necessarily ship guns in serial number order. I own Baby Chiefs s/n 673, which Roy said shipped in November of 1951… the OP’s Chiefs likely shipped in 1952.

two-bit cowboy · #7 05-13-2024, 10:55 PM

Thanks for sharing your Chiefs with us, history-fan.

I have no idea where you got the idea your Chiefs Special was
built or shipped in 1950, but it's fiction.

I'd bet the value of my home your Chiefs Special did not ship in 1950.

Most close to your serial number shipped in 1952.

The highest known serial number shipped in 1951 is 1825. None
of those had a smooth ramp front sight, like yours. The earliest
(unconfirmed) smooth ramp front sight is serial number 2452.
All known Chiefs before it had a half-round front sight, like the
photos of my serial numbers 72 and 99, which both shipped in
1951.

According to Dr. Roy Jinks, S&W's renowned historian, beginning
on October 24, 1950, the company "completed" perhaps 112
Chiefs in 1950. Granted, the company neither produced nor
shipped revolvers in serial order, but the thought it produced
serial number 63xx in 1950 is not feasible.