Chief's Special Target

[Hondo44]

This may sound like an odd question, but did the Model 36 ever
come in 38 S&W vs 38 Special?

No. But the 38 S&W was eventually built on the J frame when the I frame was replaced by
the J frame in 1961 as the Model 32-1 (rd butt) and Model 33-1 (sq butt).

They have an almost identical appearance to the Model 36 38 Spl. with a slightly shorter cyl.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

I presume that the model number would be stamped on the crane would it not?

 

[Hondo44]

Yes, all J frames chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge are in the period where they would be model stamped in the yoke.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

The seller states that the crane is stamped Model 36 and the caliber is 38 S&W. In the 3rd edition I could find no reference to a Model 38 in 38 S&W hence my question. Addendum - 5 shot - 3 inch barrel.

 

[model3sw]

Yes, all J frames chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge are in the period where they would be model stamped in the yoke.

The old Terriers in .38 S&W are considered an " I " frame, correct ? Sal

 

[Hondo44]

The seller states that the crane is stamped Model 36 and the caliber is 38 S&W. In the 3rd edition I could find no reference to a Model 38 in 38 S&W hence my question. Addendum - 5 shot - 3 inch barrel.

Miss-stamped frames are not unheard of.

No Model 38s (the Bodyguard Airweight) were ever chambered in the 38 S&W.

Ask what the roll mark on side of barrel is?

If there's a photo, and it's truly a 38 S&W, the cyl will not fill the frame window even when built on the J frame. A 38 Spl cyl will completely fill the window.

 

[Hondo44]

The old Terriers in .38 S&W are considered an " I " frame, correct ? Sal

All 38 S&W round butts are Terriers, whether built on the:

I frame,
Post War Transitional I frame,
Improved I frame,
Model of 1953 New I frame,
or the J frame.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

I don't wish to waste anyone's time here guessing. I have requested photos of the crane and barrel stamp to confirm the model and calibre. The seller is well known in the community here in Canada and reputable. So it is either an honest mistake of mislabeling or a real odd ball. Either way let me confirm and get back to everyone. If it is no mistake I will be making a long-distance drive to investigate personally - with cash!

 

[Hondo44]

The person may just be miss-reading it.

You just need a photo of the side of the gun for a view of the cyl, not the yoke (crane is a Colt term) to determine if it's 38 Spl or 38 S&W. That's the only foolproof ID of which cartridge it's chambered for.

Anything else can be miss-interpreted or miss-marked. A miss-marked gun has no additional collector value.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

Ok. Here are the pictures as promised. Clearly the seller has made a mistake on the caliber. You can see this from the barrel stamp as well as the cylinder fit to the frame.

The tag (top view) shows that the seller believes this to be a 38 S&W.

The seller has dropped the price to $269 CAD or $205 USD. The serial number is 5J9936. I have no way of determining the age of the gun, but it looks like is was "well used". My guess it is somewhere in the mid to late 1980's.


Thoughts?

 

[linde]

. . . The serial number is 5J9936. I have no way of determining the age . . . but it looks like . . . somewhere in the mid to late 1980's.

The serial number would make it 1971.

Russ

 

[Hondo44]

I agree with Russ. But even w/o the serial #, the pinned barrel dates it to pre 1982.

 

[tomthacker]

Newly found Chiefs Special Target

I found a CST on an internet ad a couple weeks ago. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading many articles on them. But, this one was the most interesting, and I used this thread as a guide, to buy it. The seller thought it was a Model 50 and there were 1100 made. After buying, I told him what I found out in this thread. So, I would like to thank the experts on this forum for educating me on the CST!
It is serial number 57740 and I believe it to be one of the first 114 made in 1955. Please correct me if I am wrong. The condition is very nice for it's age, but not perfect. The numbers on the frame, grips, barrel, and cylinder all match. I will post pics in a few days for viewing.
Thanks for the education!
Pics added.

 

[model3sw]

I found a CST on an internet ad a couple weeks ago. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading many articles on them. But, this one was the most interesting, and I used this thread as a guide, to buy it. The seller thought it was a Model 50 and there were 1100 made. After buying, I told him what I found out in this thread. So, I would like to thank the experts on this forum for educating me on the CST!
It is serial number 57740 and I believe it to be one of the first 114 made in 1955. Please correct me if I am wrong. The condition is very nice for it's age, but not perfect. The numbers on the frame, grips, barrel, and cylinder all match. I will post pics in a few days for viewing.
Thanks for the education!

Tom, yes, you have one of the first run of the Chief's Special Targets. Most of them have some wear on them. As long as you paid a fair price for the condition it is in, you're good. Nice find. Congrats.

 

[model3sw]

Ok. Here are the pictures as promised. Clearly the seller has made a mistake on the caliber. You can see this from the barrel stamp as well as the cylinder fit to the frame.

The tag (top view) shows that the seller believes this to be a 38 S&W.

The seller has dropped the price to $269 CAD or $205 USD. The serial number is 5J9936. I have no way of determining the age of the gun, but it looks like is was "well used". My guess it is somewhere in the mid to late 1980's.


Thoughts?

The .38 S&W vs. the .38 Special (actually stamped .38 S&W Special CTG) has been a common misquoted caliber for many decades by those who are not gun aficionados. Most younger shooters / collectors consider a .38 Special as "the" one and only .38 Caliber but we know the .38 S&W Ctg. and the .38 S&W Special Ctg. are different calibers. In fact there were many Victory models (during WWII) chambered in both .38S&W (.38/200) and others in .38 S&W Special.

A reasonable analogy would be that they are as different to each other as .44 S&W (or .44 S&W Russian) is to the .44 S&W Special Ctg.