FLAT LATCH J FRAME FEVER IN AUGUST

[UNCLE PAULY]

Gone off the reservation this month and started hunting J frames from 1960, my birth year and this is what I've picked up so far:

8/1/14 - S&W 36 Chiefs Special (ca. 1960)

8/16/14 - S&W 38 Bodyguard Airweight (ca. 1957)
(Serial # fooled me, I thought it was 1960.)

8/19/14 - S&W 40 Centennial (ca. 1967)

Thanks Jim (Hondo44) for helping with dating serial #'s.

All 3 will be shooters and were sold without boxes, tools or papers.

Sorry for the poor pictures. I just pulled they off the seller's ads. I will get better pictures with fancy Sunday BQ grips on soon.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I love the Paper Towel background in the last picture!

 

[JohnRippert]

My hand is almost itching to try that Centennial with the trigger shoe. Nice acquisitions.

 

[Isis1200L]

Oh, there's just sumpthin' 'bout those 36 snubbies that just gets me, right there... you know, in my trigger finger.
Nice finds!
Thanks, Uncle Pauly. Now I've got another reason to expand my list of Smiths to quest for...birth year.

 

[Texas Star]

Those guns remind me of TV shows like, "Peter Gunn" and "Bourbon St. Beat ." That and in Larry Koller's gun books are where I first saw them, as a kid.

By the time I was 12, I could ID more guns than any adult I knew.

The old Centennial is like James Bond had in the book version of, "Dr. No", the gun he took to the island. He left the PPK in Jamaica.

I hate trigger shoes. Take this one off and look for rust under it.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

I hate trigger shoes. Take this one off and look for rust under it.

I never handled a gun with a trigger shoe, but I can say I don't like the looks of it on the gun. Will take your good advice and remove it to inspect for rust.

Thanks Texas.

 

[jackvs1]

Great collection of 38's.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Last Saturday I finally picked up the model 36 (shipped from out of state, then 7 day wait in Md.), tore it down, cleaned it and then went off to the range.
First 5 shots at 10 yards (slow fired, single action & free handed).

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

After qualifying at the range the model 36 was awarded these beautiful, real Sambar stag grips acquired from S&W forum member scattershot.
(thanks again Gene)

The model 38 and model 40 will both need to qualify at the range before being dressed out in something becoming the 1960's era.
Imitation mother of pear, ivory and buffalo horn grips ordered. Pictures to follow.

 

[AirCommando]

8/19/14 - S&W 40 Centennial (ca. 19??)
(Bought this without knowing the serial # - waiting delivery)

Thanks Jim (Hondo44) for helping with dating serial #'s.

I will get better pictures with fancy Sunday BQ grips on soon.[/QUOTE]

Sure like this one! Might be before 1960. Like the grips too!

 

[Green Frog]

Uncle Pauly,

Those have to be about the nicest Sambar Stags I have seen used on a small frame gun. In the recesses of my demented amphibian brain lurks the hope that I will find a pair with that kind of bark figure for my Baby Chief, but unfortunately First Amphibian National Bank doesn't support the kind of prices they seem to be bringing now. Congrats on some great buys recently!

Froggie