Chief Special Markings...What does "N" Mean

[delmaxfield]

I have found a beautiful Nickel plated Mod. 36 (no dash) s/n J 801XXX with s/n stamped on Butt, Grips, and under grips, But there is an "N" stamped on the Barrel, Cylinder and the frame under the grips near the bottom. What does it designate? I have never seen and "N" or any other letter for that matter.

Please help me. I would hate to let this get away if this means something special. And I would like to learn what it means

Del

 

[bigmoneylewis]

N =Nickel


Lewis

 

[delmaxfield]

Is this to distinguish it from polished Stainless Steel, which it certainly looks like?

Del

 

[texmex]

36 no dash pre-dates stainless steel. I think the N stamp marked parts that needed to be prepared for plating as opposed to blueing. The N stamp certainly helps collectors determine if a revolver is factory nickle or has been plated aftermarket.

 

[murphydog]

36 no dash pre-dates stainless steel. I think the N stamp marked parts that needed to be prepared for plating as opposed to blueing. The N stamp certainly helps collectors determine if a revolver is factory nickle or has been plated aftermarket.

Yes, the N indicated a factory nickel gun.

J 801000 is a 1981 production gun, probably a very late pinned barrel model 36. These were produced from 1957 to 1986 and the model 60 started in 1965, so there is quite a bit of overlap in the two models being made. Usually a model 36 will have a case-hardened hammer and trigger and the model 60 satin chromed...and of course the model stamping .

We need photos after you buy it!

 

[OLDSTER]

Nickle The first SS revolver was the Model 60, but murphydog would know more about the details as posted above

 

[JP@AK]

Alan is completely correct.
Just to clarify. All Model 36 revolvers (no matter what dash number it might have, or none at all) were made of carbon steel. It might have a blue finish or it might be nickel plated as yours is. But the basic material was carbon steel.
When S&W introduced its first stainless revolver in 1965, it was a version of the Chiefs Special but it was not a Model 36. It was, as noted, called the Model 60.

 

[delmaxfield]

Much obliged. I should have picked up on the Mod. 60 advent date. All of the above makes total sense, I had just never seen anything in writing indicating they ID the Nickel plate directive with a stamp. Learn something everyday! I'll post some pix.

 

[jcelect]

A 36-1!

A -1 on the model 36 only indicates the 3" heavy barrel model, not an engineering change! This model was introduced in 1967.
jcelect

 

[JP@AK]

A -1 on the model 36 only indicates the 3" heavy barrel model, not an engineering change!

Of course. But I don't see anywhere in this thread where someone said otherwise. So your exclamation mark has me puzzled.

And you are correct. The first engineering change on the Model 36 came in 1988, with the introduction of the Models 36-2 and 36-3.

 

[jcelect]

Of course. But I don't see anywhere in this thread where someone said otherwise. So your exclamation mark has me puzzled.

And you are correct. The first engineering change on the Model 36 came in 1988, with the introduction of the Models 36-2 and 36-3.

The implication or use of the exclamation mark was to accentuate the fact that Smith & Wesson deviated from the normal protocol in the use of the dash numbers. Although the introduction of the heavy barrel on the standard model 36 frame could be construed as another engineering change that was not included in all variations of the standard model 36.
jcelect

 

[JP@AK]

jcelect
Thanks for clearing that up.
S&W's use of dash numbers on the Model 10 is also different from other models. It used separate sequences for the tapered and heavy barrels.

 

[jd67]

the "N" stands for NO PIMPING! only the 3" nickel guns were allowed to be carried by the pimps back in the day. If yours is a 3" gun it should be stamped with a "K" Which stands for "OK" a pimp AKA a player could carry it or maybe it just means nickel...LOL ..

 

[JSR III]

When the disassembled parts went to the finishing department, the N was there to make sure that the gun, now in the "white", would get the nickel plating instead of the blue finish.

 

[gmborkovic]

After extensive study, the "N" means Norbert, an inspector. Man, you guys have to study a little more. Wink!