Chiefs Special question

[deadear dan]

looking at pics of a Chief's Special for sale, one thing that is throwing a red flag at me is the hammer and trigger appear to be blued rather than case colored. Have they always been case colored? If so may be looking at a re-blue job. Thanks.

 

[HamHands]

looking at pics of a Chief's Special for sale, one thing that is throwing a red flag at me is the hammer and trigger appear to be blued rather than case colored. Have they always been case colored? If so may be looking at a re-blue job. Thanks.

Both of mine, 70's manufactured have case hardened hammers & triggers! I'd expect 60's and 80's manufacture dates to be the same. Do you have a serial number?

 

[JimCunn]

Mine from the 60s was case hardened

 

[Rpg]

Smith didn’t use blued hammer and trigger: always case colored.

The gun you’re looking at has been redone, in all likelihood.

 

[model17]

Model 36

Mine is a '68. Don't think they ever came blued at the factory, only case hardened.

 

[BC38]

Is it a M36 (blued) - or a M60 (stainless)?
If it is the stainless M60 made in the last several years they could be MIM parts. I've seen a lot of stainless S&Ws with MIM triggers and hammers that were flat black.

If it is a blued M36 and the hammer and trigger are truly blued - as opposed to just really dark colored case hardening - then there is a very good chance it is refinished. Unless some ding-a-ling thought the case coloring was a sign of wear and decided to use cold blue to "improve" the appearance.

 

[yep380]

I really want to see a picture of this.

 

[H Richard]

Some "MIM" hammers give the appearance of being more blued. They are neither blued or case hardened.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

None of my Model 36s have what appear to be blued hammers and triggers.

Here's a flight: a '67, a '78, an '81, a pair of '89s and a '98 (36-9 MIM).

Photos of yours and a serial number would help.