Model 36 Round/Square butt question

45NUTT

45NUTT

Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2024
Messages
177
Reaction score
504
Location
North Texas
Did S&W make both butt shapes concurrently or did the butt shape change with the - changes? I suspect that the blue one has a round butt, but is it a no - and the 36-1 which were all made with the 3" barrel (I think) obviously has the round butt. Now I want a square butt to compare the feel. Both of mine shoot well and I do carry them on occasion.

I want a 3" blued square butt sounds funny if you say it out loud and no one around you speaks gun nut!

S&W 36-1 NICKEL.jpeg

S&W 36 BLUE.jpg
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Round butt and square butt Chiefs Special revolvers were made concurrently. The two configurations were not specific to particular dash numbers, until the 1990s when the square butt was discontinued.

Here is a square butt Model 36 from 1964.
jp-ak-albums-miscellaneous-revolvers-picture11755-mod-36-1964-a.jpg
 
There is one known example of a 3" Chiefs Special with a five-
screw frame and a square butt (1950). It is experimental serial
number X59.

The 3" Chiefs Special with a four-screw frame (1954-1956) then a
three-screw frame (1956-1958) then the Model 36 (1958~1976)
had a lightweight barrel. It could be had with a round or square
butt.

In 1966 S&W introduced the Model 36-1 with a 3" Heavy Barrel,
and it also could be had with a round or square butt.

The photo shows the difference in the heavy and lightweight barrels.

The last 2" Chiefs Special square butt I've documented is a
Model 36-2 that probably shipped in spring 1989, and the last
3" Heavy Barrel with a square butt is a Model 36-3 that probably
shipped by summer 1989.
 

Attachments

  • 19. 36-1 vs. 36 barrels.jpg
    19. 36-1 vs. 36 barrels.jpg
    50 KB · Views: 60
Cool! So my 3" nickel 36-1 has a heavy barrel and round butt. This site is great. Those of you with copious amounts of knowledge are willing to share so fellow members can learn and know more about their obsession. :D
 
I have a 2" Blue Square Butt Model 37 (Airweight) that I carry in my pocket and then goes in the night stand in the evening.
I have a 3" Nickel Square Butt Model 36 that lives in my wife's night stand.
Nice little guns.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • 20240824_232106.jpg
    20240824_232106.jpg
    145 KB · Views: 165
Last edited:
I had the choice between round or square butt when I bought my M36 back in ‘76 (for $123 + sales tax new). I now wish I’d bought one of each.

BTW, M10’s were $119 + tax. The good ol’ days...
 
Muley Gil said:
Back in '76, I was making $550 a month as a deputy sheriff. :(
Click to expand...

I was attending community college, getting $396 a month under the GI Bill. First year I had to pay out-of-state tuition, $227 a quarter (+ books), but tuition dropped to $83 a quarter after that. I bought most of my firearms on the layaway plan.

I also bought an RCBS Rock Chucker reloading press and when I wasn’t studying I was either shooting or reloading ammo. Good times.
 
Farmer17 said:
The square butt fits my medium/large hand MUCH better than the round butt. I think the 3" square butt M36 is a very under rated concealed carry weapon, with great balance and not too thick. Unless you're using an ankle holster the 3" barrel seems much more practical than the 2" snub.
Click to expand...

I carried a Model 36-1. I also had a Model 36 with the 2” barrel. The extra inch of barrel made it much easier to carry holstered. I still have the Model 36-1.

Kevin
 
S-W4EVER said:
I was attending community college, getting $396 a month under the GI Bill. First year I had to pay out-of-state tuition, $227 a quarter (+ books), but tuition dropped to $83 a quarter after that. I bought most of my firearms on the layaway plan.

I also bought an RCBS Rock Chucker reloading press and when I wasn’t studying I was either shooting or reloading ammo. Good times.
Click to expand...

My college days went more like this, "INSTEAD of studying, I was either shooting or reloading ammo." :D
 
Muley Gil said:
My college days went more like this, "INSTEAD of studying, I was either shooting or reloading ammo." :D
Click to expand...

Frankly, I considered shooting to be an important part of my studies so I shot a lot while in College (and later on the job). Back then, two years of college was required (that requirement was later dropped) so I studied hard (as I had never applied myself in school before quitting to enlist in the Army). After applying to the agency I’m now retired from I sent a copy of my transcripts to the Personnel office at the end of every quarter (so they could see my grades).

There were three things (four if you include lying) they’d fire you for when I attended the Academy: Failing the EMT Training, Shooting, and Driving. (I don’t remember anyone washing out for any of these, the Instructors were very good).

One day at the Range, the Firearms Instructor threw us a curve ball: we had to wear our gas masks while shooting. I concentrated so hard that I qualified Master that day (sure surprised the Instructor).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
What did you pay (and when) for your .38 Special M & P Model of 1905 revolver?
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
handejector
handejector
N
Model 36 no dash 3" barrel
Replies
4
Views
152
Nframe_is_no1
N
V
A new S&W keen from France
2
Replies
35
Views
569
dm1215
D
H
AFT prefix on J-frame model 36-1
Replies
4
Views
277
biku324
biku324
4
S&W 32 Winchester Model
Replies
10
Views
826
glowe
glowe

Latest posts

Back
Top