Thank you. There is no J prefix, so I guess 57 to 62. Early gun.
Dating the Model 36 chiefs special
- Thread starter blackpowder
- Start date
Please bear in mind that "leaving the factory" and "date of manufacture" are two very different matters and can be separated by a great deal of time. You would think that if S&W made this or that gun on a certain date it wouldn't be long before they sold and shipped it and often enough you would be correct but it is not at all unusual for that to not be correct - a gun could sit for awhile before it is sold and shipped. Which sometimes makes for a fascinating bit of trivia methinks!
***GRJ***
***GRJ***
first 5 shots
I went to range and tested the little .38 special at 15 feet. After the first shot with the gun I settled in well. I put the butt end of grip higher up in palm swell and there ya go. Works great, and what a nice trigger pull as these shots were not in single action (where you pull hammer back) so you could really feel the trigger squeeze all the way.
Later I did some instinct combat shooting and it was all in the kill zone but I had shot a bunch of .40 from my G27 over the M36 shots in torso and head. Pretty surprising how accurate a short barrel can be. First time I ever shot a model 36.
Additional : I was so happy I snapped up a pair of stag grips to make it look complete for display purposes and occasional carry.
I went to range and tested the little .38 special at 15 feet. After the first shot with the gun I settled in well. I put the butt end of grip higher up in palm swell and there ya go. Works great, and what a nice trigger pull as these shots were not in single action (where you pull hammer back) so you could really feel the trigger squeeze all the way.
Later I did some instinct combat shooting and it was all in the kill zone but I had shot a bunch of .40 from my G27 over the M36 shots in torso and head. Pretty surprising how accurate a short barrel can be. First time I ever shot a model 36.
Additional : I was so happy I snapped up a pair of stag grips to make it look complete for display purposes and occasional carry.
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hotrod150
Member
How about a photo of the stags?
Stags are enroute from midwest seller
I will post a picture of the gun with sambar stag grips once they get to my house. Found em on eBay. i bid at end and won. $109.00.
Some other sellers were wanting $270+ and theirs were less figured than the ones I won, so I am excited as when I first shot this gun. It's a keeper all the way.
On the grips they are highly figured and not those cheap ajax style stags with 90% white material and 10% brown. I'll need to get my grip guy to put in the medallions for 10 bucks but,
On grip colors these are more brown/walnut all the way up and down. I been chomping at the bit. Will try and get a better camera to use since my phone cam is substituting now since my pitbull bit through my battery charger.
I will post a picture of the gun with sambar stag grips once they get to my house. Found em on eBay. i bid at end and won. $109.00.
Some other sellers were wanting $270+ and theirs were less figured than the ones I won, so I am excited as when I first shot this gun. It's a keeper all the way.
On the grips they are highly figured and not those cheap ajax style stags with 90% white material and 10% brown. I'll need to get my grip guy to put in the medallions for 10 bucks but,
On grip colors these are more brown/walnut all the way up and down. I been chomping at the bit. Will try and get a better camera to use since my phone cam is substituting now since my pitbull bit through my battery charger.
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stag
The first time I put stag grips on a Smith and Wesson. The screw provided by eBay seller was way too long(3/4"), but a dremel solved that issue.
I like it either way... in original wood or stag. The stag feels nice in my grip hand. My camera in my phone is not very good at all
The first time I put stag grips on a Smith and Wesson. The screw provided by eBay seller was way too long(3/4"), but a dremel solved that issue.
I like it either way... in original wood or stag. The stag feels nice in my grip hand. My camera in my phone is not very good at all
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Date Please
S&W, Model 36, 5 shot snub nose at the butt the
Serial# ALA3###?
Thanks!
S&W, Model 36, 5 shot snub nose at the butt the
Serial# ALA3###?
Thanks!
hotrod150
Member
an ALA s/n dates to late 1985 per SCSW.
elkhunt
Member
The seller tells me the SN is BA1009, thanks.
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36 no dash flat latch #1359XX
DWalt
Member
An educated guess - early 1959 shipping.
Suncoast
Member
How about Serial # J792XX No dashes
chadster01
Member
bananaman
Member
I have 1882xx,andwas told by a fellow member 1957. Bob
M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
Strange one
I bought a Model 36 at a local gun store in beautiful condition, hardly fired. It's a nickel, 3 screw, never been refinished from what I can tell but, it says Mod. 36 on the frame in front of the trigger guard and the serial number is 253xx, serial number under the grips matches. According to my copy of the Standard Guide, it should have been made in 1952 or 1953. Problem is that the Mod. 36 would not have been there, am I right? Any thoughts?
I bought a Model 36 at a local gun store in beautiful condition, hardly fired. It's a nickel, 3 screw, never been refinished from what I can tell but, it says Mod. 36 on the frame in front of the trigger guard and the serial number is 253xx, serial number under the grips matches. According to my copy of the Standard Guide, it should have been made in 1952 or 1953. Problem is that the Mod. 36 would not have been there, am I right? Any thoughts?
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J plus a one to five-digit serial number is 1969-1970 . . . J792XX is likely 1970.
J plus a 6-digit number in the 792XXX s/n range would be 1981.
Russ
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