Assistance with Chiefs Special and 686

[tombstone2000]

I was recently fortunate enough to acquire two older revolvers. I have a 686 6" (serial AFS42xx) and a Chief Special (serial 1006xx). I don't have history on the 686 but the Chief Special was said to have been carried by a local judge in SoCal. The revolver didn't include the box but it did include the original Lewis concealment holster.
Can someone please tell me what year they were made?

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[pharman]

dates

686.....1985


chief special.....1956

 

[tombstone2000]

686.....1985


chief special.....1956

Thank you very much for the assistance.


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[JohnnieBoy]

That Chiefs is in fantastic condition! How lucky you are, congratulations! Can we see a pic of the other side, pretty please?

...And welcome to a great group/forum, btw!

 

[tombstone2000]

That Chiefs is in fantastic condition! How lucky you are, congratulations! Can we see a pic of the other side, pretty please?

...And welcome to a great group/forum, btw!

Absolutely

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[rubiranch]

For some reason I can't see the picture of the 686.

 

[tombstone2000]

For some reason I can't see the picture of the 686.

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[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard from the hills of ol' Wyo.

Gorgeous Chiefs Special.

S&W doesn't track manufacturing dates, only the date a particular gun was shipped from the factory.

I show another 1006XX on my list that shipped in July 1957. There are many others on both sides of 1006XX that shipped in 1957, too.

Bob

 

[tombstone2000]

Welcome aboard from the hills of ol' Wyo.



Gorgeous Chiefs Special.



S&W doesn't track manufacturing dates, only the date a particular gun was shipped from the factory.



I show another 1006XX on my list that shipped in July 1957. There are many others on both sides of 1006XX that shipped in 1957, too.



Bob

Thank you for the information. Do you by chance know if this was considered a pre-model 36 or was this one of the early model 36?


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[kennethg]

As stated above, that chiefs special is a beauty. If the history on it is correct, the judge was probably better than most of the judges we have here now.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Thank you for the information. Do you by chance know if this was considered a pre-model 36 or was this one of the early model 36?

I'd bet it's a pre-Model 36.

Most folks quote 125000 as the serial number when Model 36 and 37 was added to the name Chiefs Special. I don't have a great number in that serial number vicinity on my list. The earliest model numbered Chiefs Special Airweight on my list is Model 37 130XXX, and the earliest steel Model 36 is 133XXX.

 

[tombstone2000]

I'd bet it's a pre-Model 36.



Most folks quote 125000 as the serial number when Model 36 and 37 was added to the name Chiefs Special. I don't have a great number in that serial number vicinity on my list. The earliest model numbered Chiefs Special Airweight on my list is Model 37 130XXX, and the earliest steel Model 36 is 133XXX.

Thank you for the information. I really love it. It was an impulse buy on consignment that I happen to see while at my LGS picking up another one. It's so interesting to see something that is over 60 years old and was carried to be in such great shape. In the last year, I have definitely become a big fan of revolvers!



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[JohnnieBoy]

...It's so interesting to see something that is over 60 years old and was carried to be in such great shape. In the last year, I have definitely become a big fan of revolvers!

Be careful, the sickness sets in real fast!

Here's one I recently got ahold of, early 60's. More wear on mine though. Supposedly it was carried by a pd detective most of its life, in this holster.

 

[tombstone2000]

Be careful, the sickness sets in real fast!



Here's one I recently got ahold of, early 60's. More wear on mine though. Supposedly it was carried by a pd detective most of its life, in this holster.

Have you had a chance to shoot any of the older Colt SAA pistols? Awesome to shoot!


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[rubiranch]

]

Thanks, I like it.

 

[Sistema1927]

That Chief's Special is a birth year gun for me. I would snap that up in a heartbeat with very little dickering over price.

 

[tombstone2000]

That Chief's Special is a birth year gun for me. I would snap that up in a heartbeat with very little dickering over price.

I'm like you, I sure appreciate finding a birth year gun. As of now, I do not own one. I've only had this one about a month and have not even had a chance to shoot it. I'm really not even sure what it's worth or if I paid too much.


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[pharman]

1956? 1957?

Welcome aboard from the hills of ol' Wyo.

Gorgeous Chiefs Special.

S&W doesn't track manufacturing dates, only the date a particular gun was shipped from the factory.

I show another 1006XX on my list that shipped in July 1957. There are many others on both sides of 1006XX that shipped in 1957, too.

Bob

SCSW 4th edition page 489 states (approximate manufactured dates) Early J frame serial range...1957 serial numbers are 117770 to 125000...that is why I thought it probably would be 1956...


Oh well...1956? 1957?...I guess what differencxe does 1 year make? Maybe the SCSW is off???

 

[JohnnieBoy]

Have you had a chance to shoot any of the older Colt SAA pistols? Awesome to shoot!

I have, they are really fun to shoot! I actually own a 2nd gen SAA, but have never fired it (flame suit on!). She's a safe queen represented is nib, never fired/turned.

Lets not start (another) off topic safe queen debate here, guys! lol

 

[tombstone2000]

I have, they are really fun to shoot! I actually own a 2nd gen SAA, but have never fired it (flame suit on!). She's a safe queen represented is nib, never fired/turned.



Lets not start (another) off topic safe queen debate here, guys! lol

Too funny. I have a couple of 2nd gens myself. One never fired and the other is a blast to shoot.


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