36 Flat Latch , year and details...

[Waveski]

I am in the process of cleaning up a recently acquired 36. I wanted a flat latch , now I have one. A few dings , a bit of corrosion , not a safe queen - but cleaning up rather nicely.

I am looking for help in the details -
First , year of manufacture?
Then --- Does this 36 have the "light barrel" ? Looks like it to me.
Given the fact that S&W dropped the very cool model name "Chiefs Special" in 1957 (IIRC) and went with dullsville model numbers , this would suggest that my gun is '57 or later , but the barrel and flat latch make me think earlier than '57.

I am no expert , but there are some of those on this forum.
What was the window during which a Chiefs/36 could carry the model number , flat latch and light barrel? (If in fact , that is what I have.)

Please enjoy the images and enlighten me. Oh - the "see if it works" test target was 10 yards unsupported , sa/da mixed.

 

[Waveski]

I have to ask myself - Wrong forum section?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Congrats and good shootin'.

Couple things: S&W continued with the "Chiefs Special" name after it added the model number in 1957.

The flat latch like yours continued to be used through early 1966 (Roy said S&W incorporated the "order" to return to the original style thumbpiece on February 11, 1966).

As far as Roy's term "lightweight" barrel, he used that related to the 3" Chiefs to distinguish them from the Model 36-1 Heavy Barrel. The 2" Chiefs never had a heavy barrel so they were, in essence, all lightweight barrels, by Roy's definition.

Based on the Chiefs on my list I'm guessing yours shipped in mid '65 so you're in the right forum.

Hope this helps.

ps: should have had diamond magna grips.

 

[JP@AK]

351xxx shipped in September, 1964, so two-bit cowboy's 1965 guess is probably correct.

The other info he gave you is also spot on.

 

[Waveski]

So , I now know that I misinterpreted the lightweight barrel reference. The barrel wall does look thinner than that of my 60 no dash , but a 60 is a 60 , not a 36 however similar.
A post '57 m.36 is still a Chiefs Special - that's good to know.

"ps: should have had diamond magna grips" --- And it soon will. By sheer coincidence I will soon have a nice set of non-diamond magnas for sale.

1965 flat latch - Very helpful fellows , thank you.

 

[mbliss57]

Very nice looking flat latch. Yu did well! ^^^^What others have said is all true.

The diamond Magnas were standard on the Chiefs Special until 1968..likely some shipping into 1969. I am sure there is transition in that time frame. But you are severals years prior to that change.

One item that is an interesting observation..the barrel thickness on model 36 and model 60 could actually/ theoretically be different since they are different alloys. I do not know if they are different but I guess there is a possibility they are. it's something I never thought about.

 

[Waveski]

One item that is an interesting observation..the barrel thickness on model 36 and model 60 could actually/ theoretically be different since they are different alloys. I do not know if they are different but I guess there is a possibility they are. it's something I never thought about.

In fact , the 36 and the 60 are made of different alloys , the 60 being stainless steel.

I have not put a micrometer to the different barrels , but it is clear that I misunderstood the "lightweight" reference.

Just for fun , here is a side by side -