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I have SN 107322. It shipped Sept 5, 1918 to Springfield Armory.

Been there - Pay off the CC, then destroy it . The hard part for me was next , living within my means...... CC debt will eat you alive unless you get rid of it. You will be a much happier person in the end not carrying that debt. You can always rebuild a collection.

Although the "first year of production" can be defined several ways, numbers 8067 and 9588 in my estimation wouldn't fall in a first year realm no matter how we define it. Conventional wisdom tells us that the Chiefs Special came upon the scene in 1950. I have a very early three digit that...

Archie Bunker made dingbat a household word. Actually it is an old term used by printers to signify certain symbols.

Many years ago I read that S&W vintage stocks were treated with applications of a mixture of BLO (boiled linseed oil), bees wax, and turpentine. The proportions of the concoction were lost to history, but the fundamentals are there. Later on, the factory started using a varnish or poly. To...

Hi, Riot, and welcome to the Forum, and congratulations on picking up a nice looking 1917 and a great piece of history! A S&W 1917 is a pleasure to own and a joy to shoot. I am confident you will enjoy owning and using it at the range. You asked for opinions. Everyone has them and not all are...

My earliest, and the first Chiefs Special I bought, is SN 101. It left the factory with SN 16 on August 24, 1951, billed at the wholesale price of $38.60. The flat latch is an early version, and the service style stocks are numbered to the gun.

I have that habit, too! But as time marches on values tend to catch up. I guess the main point is we are meeting our objectives to have certain things we want.

Well done! That is a nice example. I'll take a stab at a ship date - perhaps late 1952? Bob will be along shortly to pin down a ship date for you based on a lot more knowledge than I have. All said, it's a good looking Baby Chiefs, and a box too! Is it numbered to the gun? Congratulations on...

I'm ready to learn.

Here is #66971 (only 272 away from yours). It is an 'Improved I-Frame, First Version', which shipped 04-18-1952. They are a joy to have, shoot, and collect. They are becoming somewhat difficult to find in nice condition, and getting harder to afford as well. They have been overlooked for...

if there is a "K" prefix to the SN would lead one to think 1952ish ship date.

I did some research on these boxes a few years ago. The research was far from complete, but it indicates that the blue box appeared around the middle of 1953, near SN 206XXX. The blue box would seem incorrect, but not very far off from what we think it should be.

still searching!

Welcome from Pennsylvania. There is always something to learn here.... Enjoy your stay!

Tommy, unless I am missing something big, yes, a Terrier. And it appears to be in very nice condition. 671XX likely shipped near the first half of 1952. Your Terrier is chambered for .38 S&W. The Chiefs Special is chambered for .38 S&W Special. The Terrier cylinder is shorter than that of the...

Back to the original question.... "...but which years were the chambers most likely to be a little tight and need a bit of reaming?" Many comments tend to implicate worn reamers at the factory, and I tend to agree. Now which year had more tight chambers? I will venture a guess - 1948. I...

As with many models, condition dictates price/value. In my neck of the woods, an 'excellent' example with box, SAT, etc. will bring in the neighborhood of $1200. Prices will decline from there based on condition and accessories. Depending upon your definition of "very good condition", $900...

I was thinking they are for a Baby Chiefs Special or an early Terrier (which are the same), but this thread made me get out my early Baby Chiefs and a ruler. Results below. The OP stocks are a bit larger, so not a Baby Chiefs or Terrier. The larger Chiefs and Terrier stocks to my knowledge...