38 special, no model number

1994T600 · Aug 4, 2024

I know there're probably tons of threads on model numbers and what not. I'm new to this forum. I recently inherited a nickel 38 special. There is no model number where they usually are. So from what I'm researching it is pre 1957?

Details on the gun are as followed.

2 inch barrel
3 side screws with 1 going in front of the trigger guard.
39642 stamped on bottom of handle. On the cylinder and on the barrel.

It has a very flat barrel release button.

Hopefully this helps with identification thanks everyone

glowe · Aug 4, 2024

Welcome to the Forum. I assume you have noted the caliber on the barrel and the serial number on the butt of the gun? The reason I ask is that a 38 Special M&P K frame revolver with that low serial number does not have a 5th screw located ahead of the trigger guard.

Also, what is often termed a flat latch gun is post-WWII. Does it have a letter associated with the serial number on the butt? More information please and a picture would be very helpful.

s&wchad · Aug 4, 2024

It sounds like a Chiefs Special.
Does the cylinder hold 5 or 6 cartridges?

Does it look like this?

two-bit cowboy · Aug 4, 2024

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

Your description points to a Chiefs Special S&W would have shipped
around early 1954.

Since you said it has a nickel finish it probably looks like the one
in my photos, except your flat thumbpiece will look a bit different
(ps: it releases the cylinder, not the barrel).

It actually is built on the five-screw J-frame (there's a screw under
the stock). When you remove the stocks you should see a serial
number stamped inside the right one.

The five-screw Chiefs went from serial number 1 through
46025 (October 1950 through May 1954), then S&W eliminated
the screw in front of the trigger guard, enlarged the guard to an
oval, and lengthened the grip frame by ⅛".

1994T600 · Aug 4, 2024

Here's some pictures of the gun.

Serial number is 36942

It was well loved and carried alot.. So were these just called the chief special or did they have an actual model number?

Model19man · Aug 4, 2024

1994T600 said:
Here's some pictures of the gun.

Serial number is 36942

It was well loved and carried alot.. So were these just called the chief special or did they have an actual model number?

Model numbers started in the late 1950's. Your revolver is earlier than that.

murphydog · Aug 4, 2024

It was simply called the Chiefs Special. It is an earlier version that collectors call the "Baby" due to the smaller grip frame and trigger guard.

Originally these had a case-hardened hammer and trigger, so these parts (and likely the rest of the gun) have been refinished.

DETROIT · Aug 4, 2024

1994T600 said:
Here's some pictures of the gun.

Serial number is 36942

It was well loved and carried alot.. So were these just called the chief special or did they have an actual model number?

Your model is called a chief special, in later production it was called a Model 36. If you’re reading through the forum, you will also see them called Pre M36.

DWalt · Aug 4, 2024

Many here would call it a “Baby Chief” but that is an unofficial term for an early Chiefs Special. And if the trigger and hammer are plated, it has likely been refinished outside the factory. And that would reduce its collector value significantly. Too early to have a model number.

BC38 · Aug 5, 2024

Have you actually loaded 38 Special ammo into the cylinder?

I can't read the last few characters of the stamping on the left side of the barrel. Does it say

S&W 38 SPL

or does it say

S&W 38 CTG

If it is stamped SPL - a "Baby Chief" - chambered in 38 Special

If it is stamped CTG - a "Terrier" - chambered in 38 S&W

I think...

If I'm wrong I'm sure one of our more knowledgeable members will correct my mistake.

rct269 · Aug 5, 2024

If it'd be of any interest to you, the S&W Historical Foundation will provide a "Letter of Authenticity" on your gun (The cost is $100.)

The letter will give you the background of the particular model, and the particulars of your gun-----the configuration when shipped, the date shipped, and to whom shipped, plus any unusual features if applicable.

You'll find the particulars of ordering a letter in their section of this forum (Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation).

Ralph Tremaine

rct269 · Aug 5, 2024

BC38 said:
Have you actually loaded 38 Special ammo into the cylinder?

I can't read the last few characters of the stamping on the left side of the barrel. Does it say

S&W 38 SPL

or does it say

S&W 38 CTG

If it is stamped SPL - a "Baby Chief" - chambered in 38 Special

If it is stamped CTG - a "Terrier" - chambered in 38 S&W

I think...

If I'm wrong I'm sure one of our more knowledgeable members will correct my mistake.

You didn't make any mistakes that I know of---and even if you did, they were little bitty ones. That said, the length of the cylinder suggests .38 Special.

Ralph Tremaine

DWalt · Aug 5, 2024

rct269 said:
If it'd be of any interest to you, the S&W Historical Foundation will provide a "Letter of Authenticity" on your gun (The cost is $100.)

The letter will give you the background of the particular model, and the particulars of your gun-----the configuration when shipped, the date shipped, and to whom shipped, plus any unusual features if applicable.

You'll find the particulars of ordering a letter in their section of this forum (Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation).

Ralph Tremaine

Be aware that the letter will not establish a chain of ownership after it left S&W. The letter will normally show only shipment to a wholesaler, distributor, retail store, or possibly to a law enforcement agency. Plus the date of shipment (not date of manufacture) and whether it left the factory plated or blued.

Alk8944 · Aug 5, 2024

1994T600,

Are you thoroughly confused yet? One fault many on this forum have is commenting on a post without first taking the time to read and understand the original post thoroughly. There are also often too many "could be's" and "what if's" included! Your post and the subsequent photos are very clear and adequate! You clearly stated the SN was from the butt of the gun and there was a trigger guard screw!

Based on the information you have presented your gun is an early "Chief's Special". Since it has the early more round shaped trigger guard it would be referred to in collectors circles as a "Baby Chief". not S&W terminology!

By SN your gun would have been manufactured between 1952 and 1955. A "factory letter" would give you the shipping date but costs $100 currently. That's a lot of curiosity!

If you remove the left stock there may be a service date stamped on the left side of the grip frame in the form of generally 5 digits that may be separated by a space or period. If the gun was factory re-finished there will be a re-finish mark on the left rear side of the grip frame. It would be RN for re-finish, Nickle, and possibly be within an oval "cartouche' ". My guess is it was re-finished outside the factory though at some time because of the plated hammer and trigger.

From 1852 until 1957 all Smith & Wesson firearms were what is now referred to as "Named Models". In 1957 the decision was made to add a numeric designation to the model. The original model name is still correct. The model number added to the Chiefs Special at that time was Model 36 The collector's reference to a pre-model just means it was made before the model number was assigned and has never been official S&W terminology.

The "Chiefs Special" was so-named because it was first introduced at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in 1950, and the market focus for the model was police use.

A final comment. Look at the SN on the bottom of the barrel. If it is followed by the letter "B" then the gun was originally blued.

1994T600 · Aug 5, 2024

Thank you all so much for the info on the gun. Very helpful. I had friends tell me the cylinder release button wasn't right, and it's a model 60. Some said a model 10. I had no clue really.

There's no B at the end of the serial number. The nickel plating is pretty worn and scratched. Does anyone recommend re plating it, or should I just accept what it is and be happy I got it?

Anyone know the value roughly?

On the barrel it does day 38 S&W SPL

two-bit cowboy · Aug 5, 2024

Thank you for posting the photos.

Your revolver is indeed a Chiefs Special (not Chief's Special). As
the story goes Smith & Wesson introduced its new .38 Special
J-frame revolver at the IACP conference in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, the second week in October 1950. The company sent a
marketing team to the Chiefs conference to ask them to name
the new revolver. Passaic, New Jersey's Chief of Police Edward
Boyko was the first to submit the name Chiefs Special. Smith &
Wesson never published how many votes the name received at
the conference, but it stuck, and the company engraved Boyko's
name on Chiefs Special serial number 29 and shipped it to him
on December 11, 1950.

Yours does appear to be refinished, and probably not at the factory
because the factory would not have nickel plated the hammer
and trigger.

It has the wrong, newer magna stocks without diamonds around
the screw and nut escutcheons. They appear to have been shortened
to accommodate the five-screw frame's shorter grip frame.

Your Chiefs Special will not have a B stamped on the bottom of
the barrel. If it originally left the factory with a nickel finish it
will have an N stamped ahead of the serial number on the bottom
of the barrel, on the left side of the grip frame, and on the back
of the cylinder beneath the extractor star (photos attached).

Minus any/all of those N stamps, it left the factory with a blue finish.

two-bit cowboy · Aug 5, 2024

The cylinder release is correct. S&W calls it a "thumbpiece."

A Model 60 is a stainless steel Chiefs Special the company launched
in October 1965.

A Model 10 is a six-shot .38 Special built on the larger K-frame.

DWalt · Aug 5, 2024

1994T600 said:
There's no B at the end of the serial number. The nickel plating is pretty worn and scratched. Does anyone recommend re plating it, or should I just accept what it is and be happy I got it?

My personal opinion is to just leave the finish as-is, maybe you might attempt polishing it up with a good metal polish. It already has no collectible value, and spending a bundle to have it professionally re-plated will not change that. Just flushing money down the toilet. It’s a shooter so shoot it.

Green Frog · Aug 6, 2024

Late to the conversation (as usual) but let me add my welcome as well. Your Baby Chiefs Special is one of my favorite guns for concealed carry. It’s the smallest 38 Spl that Smith ever built, and I have virtually the same gun in blue doing duty as my primary CCW.

As others have said, it has been refinished at some time in the past, which hurts its collector value somewhat, but puts into the category of “shooter”, meaning you can take it out and shoot it all you want without loss of value.

You mention care and polishing… and mild polish (with no ammonia) should do fine. I don’t do much with nickel plated guns but Mother’s Mag Wheel Polish is often mentioned here. You can get it at your local auto
supply store.

Some folks find that flat cylinder release a little hard to operate, but I for one like the low profile when carrying mine concealed.
It’s a fine revolver. I hope you’ll enjoy shooting it!

Froggie

five 0 · Aug 8, 2024

"Your revolver is indeed a Chiefs Special (not Chief's Special)"
You need to tell Smith and Wesson so they can change their
boxes.

38 special, no model number

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