A Project J frame.........and now the After look.

[lawandorder]

have had this old former Chattanooga PD Chief's Special for several years. I used to carry it daily until it was replaced by a 649 that I had Cylinder & Slide do some modification to.

This one gets pressed into service occasionaly so thought I would let a gunsmith who is a friend of mine work on this one a bit.

I like the brass bead front sight from C&S on the 649, so he did his version on this one with a matching U notch rear sight channel. I had bobbed the hammer years ago and he cross hatched the spur so it can be cocked if need be. He thinned the front of the trigger guard, did a melt treatment, smoothed & worked the trigger, and slicked up the action.

Now going to see him later in the week to see what finish to apply to it.

I think I am really going to like this little gun a lot more.

 

[bamabiker]

I really like that. Cool carry gun.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Some might poo poo what you did, but I think the sight in particular is a very practical modification. There are a lot of 36s out there, no harm in making what you want out of that one.

Hard chrome would make a nice tough finish for a tough looking little roscoe. I think you can get it black.

Looking forward to seeing it when it's done.

 

[rangemaster]

very cool front sight mod.

Funny, My charter undercover came like that.......

 

[2hawk]

Very slick. Hard chrome or parkerized, it'll be plain that it means business!

 

[MDMarauder]

I like it!

 

[Hapworth]

Just about an ideal J-frame set-up for carry. I'd snag a different set of grips that absorb recoil a little better, maybe cut the cylinder for moon clips, and that'd be it.

I like the finish as is...

 

[jglsprings]

I like it! The mods are subtle and well done.

I'm not afraid to spend money on a refinish - as a matter of fact I'd be one of the first to tell you to do what you like with a gun.

But, I like the "worked" finish on this one as is. Maybe a bead blast and blue.

YMMV

 

[bronco45]

Nice upgrades, stop right there, it maintains it's history yet is ready to work today.

 

[AZretired]

I'd leave the finish alone. I like the weathered look.

 

[snubbyfan]

Like the mods, looking forward to seeing it finished.

 

[Old TexMex]

Nice work!
I like the idea of moon clips

 

[redlevel]

Nice.

I would either leave the finish as is or have it Parkerized.

 

[hotrod150]

That's a very nice little Chief! I see it's a vintage pinned barrel model-- what year? I really like the checkered top on the bobbed hammer-- I have two vintage bobbed-hammer Chiefs (36 & 60) and that'd be a worthwhile mod for them. I like the sight mods also-- that bead is probably a lot easier to see than the 1/10" front ramp sight. I have to paint mine white to even be able to see them with my 55-year-old eyes. I like the finish as-is, but if you refinish it a beadblast (matt) blue would look good as would parkerized. Have you considerd a matt black finish like on the modern 442's? Non-glare and very businesslike, and it seems to hold up pretty well. Not sure exactly what it is-- I asked S&W but they wouldn't tell me. Nice floral holster too-- I would recommend a set of boot grips, uncle mike or otherwise, but that looks like a trigger-guard retention strap on the holster which might not work with grips that fill in more behind the trigger guard.
No offense, but the thinned trigger guard does nothing for me-- my trigger finger falls almost too readily onto the trigger already without any mods.
If you refinish it, please post some more pics.

 

[Beachcomber]

It's a work gun and has so much charisma just the way that it is. I wouldn't do anything to the existing finish as it looks like it has earned it's battle scars.

 

[hotrod150]

I don't even see any "battle scars"-- just a little holster wear & the patina that an old blued steel S&W acquires over years of use.

 

[burneyr]

I love it like it is.

 

[ron farmer]

Leave it as is. It is a neat, honestly worn old warrior and deserves its hard won gray/silver dignity. Also, I'm big on grip adaptors and like to see them on revolvers.

 

[5 screw]

There's nothing like a gun with a little livin' rubbed into it, and the metal on that one looks great just the way you have it. A set of smooth wood or ivory boot grips would look good on it though.

 

[jt1]

Very nice. All business, no bull.

jt