I was given a S&W .38 SPL from my grandfather the other day.

I see mod 36 when the barrel is out. The right side of the barrel says ".38 S&W SPL" serial number on the bottom of grip is 453711. It appears to have a 1.5 inch barrel and 5 shot cylinder.

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Not to belabor the obvious, but you have a Model 36, known as the Chief's Special back when S&Ws had names instead of numbers.
Barrel length is 1 7/8", you measure all the way back to the front face of the cylinder.
Made sometime in the 1960s. Value several hundred bucks. Not that you are going to sell a gift from Grandpa. I hope.

I don't plan on selling it. I'm a LEO in SC and was looking of a possible range of the year it was manufactured.

Around 1967 or 1968 if I'm correctly recalling what I've read. Mine is SN 442XXX so it was made just a short time before yours.

Very nice! The stocks have a small uncheckered diamond around the screw, and that along with the SN puts it as shipping in 1966 or so. If you remove the right panel you'll probably see the SN stamped on the inside. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220