Chief's Special Dash Numbers and Changes

[Etalksalot]

I hope I'm posting this in the right forum category as the responses will cover the Model 36 from the 50's - current production, but I was wondering if anyone could list all the Model 36 dash numbers up to the current classic line and what changes took place. If changes took place during a particular dash number but the dash didn't change please list that if you can. I think I posted something like this before but I cannot find it. I have a hard time finding out anything about a 36 higher than a -1. Thanks in advance.

 

[Targets Guy]

36 nd thru 36-9. In 1999 the Model 36 was discontinued except for special orders.

36 in 1957, Model # stamping began at s/n 125000

36-1 in 1967 - indicates the HB

36-2 and -3 in 1988 - had to do with the yoke

36-4 in 1989 Lady Smith in 2" standard barrel
36-5 in 1989 Lady Smith version 3" heavy barrel

-6 in 1989 Target Version in special production; full lug w/ ribbed barrel

-7 in 1990 new sight width on standard frame and barrel from .1 to .125"

-8 in 1990 new sight width for heavy barrel; .125 "

36-9 in August 1996 J frame magnum, rated +P

from 3rd edition of the SCS&W

 

[Etalksalot]

Thank you. I don't know why I can't just type thank you, but it says my message is too short so I have to add all this extra so it will post it. Thank you again!

 

[flagman1776]

36-1

36-1 indicates any of several 3" barrel profiles... I think I've seen 3 or more. I don't believe all 3" barrels are -1 but all -1s are 3". I'm not certain all variants were Heavy Barrel. There are threads here discussing this.
36-1 HEAVY BARREL
i hope the picture threads were lost to photobucket.
The 36 no dash & 36-1 production overlapped.
My 36-1 was a 1980 purchase.

 

[JP@AK]

Once the heavy barrel was introduced in 1967, all of the Chiefs Specials with heavy and standard barrels were produced together, with different dash numbers until 1995-96.

So no dash and dash 1 were concurrent;
Dash 2 and dash 3 were concurrent;
and so on through dash 8.

 

[murphydog]

Good information above. Just to add -

In about 1981-'82 the pinned barrel (on both the 36 and 36-1) went away but the "dash number" stayed the same.

The yoke retention screw went from one that needed to be fitted to a spring-loaded version in the -2 and 3.

The currently available model is the 36-10 (Classic 1 7/8" .38 Special), not counting stainless versions.

 

[Etalksalot]

36-1 indicates any of several 3" barrel profiles... I think I've seen 3 or more. I don't believe all 3" barrels are -1 but all -1s are 3". I'm not certain all variants were Heavy Barrel. There are threads here discussing this.
36-1 HEAVY BARREL
i hope the picture threads were lost to photobucket.
The 36 no dash & 36-1 production overlapped.
My 36-1 was a 1980 purchase.

Yeah, the -1 is a 3 inch heavy barrel. The tapered barrels should be a no dash. I think they overlapped for almost 20 years. Something like 1967-1984ish. Thanks for the input.

 

[Etalksalot]

Good information above. Just to add -

In about 1981-'82 the pinned barrel (on both the 36 and 36-1) went away but the "dash number" stayed the same.

The yoke retention screw went from one that needed to be fitted to a spring-loaded version in the -2 and 3.

The currently available model is the 36-10 (Classic 1 7/8" .38 Special), not counting stainless versions.

Yeah I just found that out recently that when they lost the pinned barrel they were still a no dash for a while. I thought when it got rid of that it would be a -2 but I was wrong apparently as I tend to be from time to time.

 

[Tytan01]

Model 36 I just bought

Ok guys, I scrolled through the postings here and I couldn't find what I have based on the info listed. Hopefully you can help.

I just bought a Model 36 but the serial number and markings don't match anything listed here.

Serial# on butt of handle is: ALD1751
The crane area is stamped:
MOD 36
X4X96
B14 ( stamped upside down )

Any help would be appreciated. I have photos but no website to post them on to link to this forum.

 

[Etalksalot]

Ok guys, I scrolled through the postings here and I couldn't find what I have based on the info listed. Hopefully you can help.

I just bought a Model 36 but the serial number and markings don't match anything listed here.

Serial# on butt of handle is: ALD1751
The crane area is stamped:
MOD 36
X4X96
B14 ( stamped upside down )

Any help would be appreciated. I have photos but no website to post them on to link to this forum.

That's weird, all the early ones had all numbers and from some point, maybe in the later 60's I think they all had a J in it somewhere. I've never seen one that starts with ALD.

Does your's have a pinned barrel? Can you post pictures?

Also, this list was just for what the changes were that took place when the dash number changed.

 

[Etalksalot]

Ok guys, I scrolled through the postings here and I couldn't find what I have based on the info listed. Hopefully you can help.

I just bought a Model 36 but the serial number and markings don't match anything listed here.

Serial# on butt of handle is: ALD1751
The crane area is stamped:
MOD 36
X4X96
B14 ( stamped upside down )

Any help would be appreciated. I have photos but no website to post them on to link to this forum.

This is all I can find and it ends at 1983

 

[JP@AK]

Ok guys, I scrolled through the postings here and I couldn't find what I have based on the info listed. Hopefully you can help.

I just bought a Model 36 but the serial number and markings don't match anything listed here.

Serial# on butt of handle is: ALD1751
The crane area is stamped:
MOD 36

The ALD serial number is from about 1985-86. The Model 36 (with no dash number) was still in production at that point. I can't see why this doesn't fit with what was written above.

X4X96
B14 ( stamped upside down )

This stuff in the yoke area means nothing to you now. They are just marks used during assembly.

 

[murphydog]

Yes, forgot to mention the model 36 went from numeric SNs, to ones with the letter J, and well into the three letter prefix era.

 

[Tytan01]

Model 36 I just bought

@ETalksAlot : It does not have a pinned barrel that I can see. It has the firing pin on the hammer. It has a 1-1/4" barrel. I have pics but don't have a site to post them to and link to here. I can e-mail them directly to someone if they need to see it.

@JP@AK : I saw that chart when doing a google search and didn't think it applied since it didn't have the serial# that's on my 36. How would I use that to reference? I'm a newbie at the whole Serial# thing. You guys are the Grand Masters that I will bow to!

 

[JP@AK]

@JP@AK : I saw that chart when doing a google search and didn't think it applied since it didn't have the serial# that's on my 36. How would I use that to reference? I'm a newbie at the whole Serial# thing. You guys are the Grand Masters that I will bow to!

In about 1980, S&W began transitioning to the three-alpha serial numbers. Eventually all models were included in this sequence and individual serial sequences for various model lines were suspended.

S&W has not fully released the various three-alpha characters for each model year. There is a partial list in the Standard Catalog of S&W 4th Edition on pages 490-492. Sometimes you have to extrapolate, and that effort will not always be correct. It seems that the numbers were not used in a consistent manner. So, just like with all serial numbers, you have to reach out to the S&W Historical Foundation to get an accurate year of release (shipment) for a particular gun. All we can do here is estimate, based on known numbers.

I hope this helps.

 

[Etalksalot]

The ALD serial number is from about 1985-86. The Model 36 (with no dash number) was still in production at that point. I can't see why this doesn't fit with what was written above.


This stuff in the yoke area means nothing to you now. They are just marks used during assembly.

I was wondering if it was after that list stopped. Thanks for the info

 

[Etalksalot]

@ETalksAlot : It does not have a pinned barrel that I can see. It has the firing pin on the hammer. It has a 1-1/4" barrel. I have pics but don't have a site to post them to and link to here. I can e-mail them directly to someone if they need to see it.

@JP@AK : I saw that chart when doing a google search and didn't think it applied since it didn't have the serial# that's on my 36. How would I use that to reference? I'm a newbie at the whole Serial# thing. You guys are the Grand Masters that I will bow to!

When trying to place your serial number, it's like using the card catalog at the library if you remember that, or it's like having a phone book that lists all people in order by their telephone number, the range for the years is like a range on the top of the page that helps you narrow down what page you need. Sounds weird but it's pretty much like that.

 

[Etalksalot]

Yes, forgot to mention the model 36 went from numeric SNs, to ones with the letter J, and well into the three letter prefix era.

One of my Chief's has 2 digits 9n front of the J and the other has 3 DIGITS in front of the J! The years of 1971-72 show it ending with 99J999. I assume it comes from the 17-72 era, but I just don't know for sure. Nowhere else is the J in the middle that I've seen.

 

[JP@AK]

1971-1972 = 1J1-999J99 (SCSW 4th, p. 489)

The "floating J" serial numbers were used in these two years, and had no more than five numeric digits.

In late 1982, the J started moving down the line again, but always with a total of six numeric digits. That lasted until the J prefix numbers ended, and were replaced with the three-alpha serial sequence.

 

[Etalksalot]

36 nd thru 36-9. In 1999 the Model 36 was discontinued except for special orders.

36 in 1957, Model # stamping began at s/n 125000

36-1 in 1967 - indicates the HB

36-2 and -3 in 1988 - had to do with the yoke

36-4 in 1989 Lady Smith in 2" standard barrel
36-5 in 1989 Lady Smith version 3" heavy barrel

-6 in 1989 Target Version in special production; full lug w/ ribbed barrel

-7 in 1990 new sight width on standard frame and barrel from .1 to .125"

-8 in 1990 new sight width for heavy barrel; .125 "

36-9 in August 1996 J frame magnum, rated +P

from 3rd edition of the SCS&W

Question for you, do you have all the pre Model 36 info? Dates where flat latch disappeared, date 5th screw disappeared, date diamond grips disappeared?