Chiefs Special
- Thread starter CobraT
- Start date
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Very early. Should be a Baby Chief. Which front sight does it have?
Pictures???
Pictures???
skwchock
US Veteran
pictures would be nice.
Hondo should be along soon to help with the date. It's an early Baby Chief, second variation. Still has the original type front sight, but the first variation of the flat latch. Nice piece.
considering that "baby" is nearing 70 years old it appears to be in excellent condition. Value is very subjective but suffice to say, these early baby chief models typically pull down premium price due to their collectability interest.
Welcome to the half moon babies club! And, the 4 digit serial doesn't hurt anything! I have SN 98x which shipped in November, 1951.
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CobraT, thanks for posting your baby Chiefs Special. That is a very nice example. It does not appear to have been ridden hard or put up wet in its lifetime. The half-moon front sight and low serial number make it quite desirable to collectors. Yours is a desirable piece for those of us that like the Chiefs Special.
You asked about value, and no real numbers surfaced, so I will take a stab at it. In todays market (which is measurably different than it was pre-Covid), if you were to find one at auction in similar condition, without the box, I suspect you would have to bid a bit in excess of $1200. to snag it. One with a box and in slightly better condition could easily fetch in excess of $2000. I base my guestimate on seeing one picture of one side, and assume the other side and inside are as nice. If you have the box that it came in, and the grips are numbered to match the gun, that can boost the value substantially.
If you can post more pictures, I'm sure we can refine our guesses on the value. We all really like pictures too, so please toss us a bone and let us see more.
These were shipping in 1951, and by 1953 many changes had been made to the front sights, frame size, grips (stocks), etc. They got a bit 'bigger' in frame and trigger guard by the Model of 1953.
As for the flat-latch, I think yours may be the second flat-latch variation (third latch variation on this model). There is a very subtle difference among the first several variations, and my eyes may be fooling me.
I will post a picture of SN 101 (shipped August 24, 1951) with what I understand to be the second latch variation, and the first flat-latch to appear. This one also sports matching number service grips.
In any event, you have a nice piece that is not commonly available in very good condition. Please show and tell us more when you have a chance.
Picture of #101:
You asked about value, and no real numbers surfaced, so I will take a stab at it. In todays market (which is measurably different than it was pre-Covid), if you were to find one at auction in similar condition, without the box, I suspect you would have to bid a bit in excess of $1200. to snag it. One with a box and in slightly better condition could easily fetch in excess of $2000. I base my guestimate on seeing one picture of one side, and assume the other side and inside are as nice. If you have the box that it came in, and the grips are numbered to match the gun, that can boost the value substantially.
If you can post more pictures, I'm sure we can refine our guesses on the value. We all really like pictures too, so please toss us a bone and let us see more.
These were shipping in 1951, and by 1953 many changes had been made to the front sights, frame size, grips (stocks), etc. They got a bit 'bigger' in frame and trigger guard by the Model of 1953.
As for the flat-latch, I think yours may be the second flat-latch variation (third latch variation on this model). There is a very subtle difference among the first several variations, and my eyes may be fooling me.
I will post a picture of SN 101 (shipped August 24, 1951) with what I understand to be the second latch variation, and the first flat-latch to appear. This one also sports matching number service grips.
In any event, you have a nice piece that is not commonly available in very good condition. Please show and tell us more when you have a chance.
Picture of #101:
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bmcgilvray
Member
Serial number 2019 lives here. Was shipped to J. S. Oshman, Houston Texas in March of 1952 according to its historical letter.
The JS Oshman?...
...Ben
Welcome aboard from the hills of ol' Wyo.
That's a handsome Baby, and I'm happy JH1951 brought the thread back to life. I missed it the first time.
JH nailed every detail.
Hope you'll return and, as asked earlier, share more with us.
That's a handsome Baby, and I'm happy JH1951 brought the thread back to life. I missed it the first time.
JH nailed every detail.
Hope you'll return and, as asked earlier, share more with us.
Is it really 2018, or do you have both 2018 and 2019?
See first post on this thread: The Really Old Chief's Special Thread
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I missed this thread the first time around as well. As to value, this auction might give an indication. I really would have liked to have won this one, hopefully the winner is a member here.
Attention Required! | Cloudflare
Attention Required! | Cloudflare
...I really would have liked to have won this one, hopefully the winner is a member here.
Attention Required! | Cloudflare
That one's a beauty!!!
[I linked a photo from the auction...] Congrats!
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I only have a 5 digit, 20171. Ramp sight.
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