Help identifying my .38 Special

[nofx_boden]

Hello, New to the group and I have inherited a .38 Special revolver and am looking for some help in identifying the model of this pistol as well and possible year it was made. Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[MajorD]

Looks to be a chiefs special refinished in nickel ( if it was originally nickel from the factory it would have an N on the rear face of the cylinder and side of the grip frame - unfortunately cut off in your picture) plus the gap between the side plate and frame looks wide which is usually indicative of a refinish, as well as nickeled trigger and hammer which is not how they came from the factory.

 

[stansdds]

I agree with MajorD, it is a Chief's Special that has been refinished and not by S&W. The plated hammer and trigger are the first clue, the other clues are the edges that would normally be crisp are rounded and many of the roll markings stamped into the frame are shallow and some are nearly obliterated.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

Your IMG_2049 clearly shows there is no N on the grip frame so I'm quite sure it left the factory with a blue finish.

Based on the few others near your serial number in the database I would say Smith & Wesson likely shipped yours in early 1963. You should find MOD-36 or MOD. 36 stamped on the frame in the yoke cut (roll out the cylinder to see it). The company introduced the Chiefs Special in 1950 and added the Model 36 to the name in June 1957. It took some time to get through the inventory of frames without the model stamp so we begin seeing ones shipped in September 1958 with the MOD-36 stamp.

 

[nofx_boden]

Looks to be a chiefs special refinished in nickel ( if it was originally nickel from the factory it would have an N on the rear face of the cylinder and side of the grip frame - unfortunately cut off in your picture) plus the gap between the side plate and frame looks wide which is usually indicative of a refinish, as well as nickeled trigger and hammer which is not how they came from the factory.

Thank you for your reply

 

[nofx_boden]

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

Your IMG_2049 clearly shows there is no N on the grip frame so I'm quite sure it left the factory with a blue finish.

Based on the few others near your serial number in the database I would say Smith & Wesson likely shipped yours in early 1963. You should find MOD-36 or MOD. 36 stamped on the frame in the yoke cut (roll out the cylinder to see it). The company introduced the Chiefs Special in 1950 and added the Model 36 to the name in June 1957. It took some time to get through the inventory of frames without the model stamp so we begin seeing ones shipped in September 1958 with the MOD-36 stamp.

Thank you for your reply. I was able to locate the MOD 38. Just out of curiosity does the refinish affect the value of the pistol?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

It's MOD-36.

And, yes, especially since we know (due to the nickel-plated hammer and trigger) the refinish was not done at the factory. I cannot put an amount of devaluation; perhaps others could offer their thoughts on that.

 

[MajorD]

Value- refinished model 36 250 on the good day

 

[nofx_boden]

Value- refinished model 36 250 on the good day

Good thing I’m not interested in selling it. Just going to go into the collection. Thank you for the input

 

[stansdds]

View attachment 757965
Thank you for your reply. I was able to locate the MOD 38. Just out of curiosity does the refinish affect the value of the pistol?

That is a Model 36, not a Model 38. Yes, refinishing reduces the value, yours would be considered a shooter grade firearm, not a collector grade piece.

 

[nofx_boden]

That is a Model 36, not a Model 38. Yes, refinishing reduces the value, yours would be considered a shooter grade firearm, not a collector grade piece.

Oh wow you are right. I didn’t even notice it was a 36. Thank you

 

[bobsguns]

Thank you for your reply. I was able to locate the MOD 38. Just out of curiosity does the refinish affect the value of the pistol?

Greatly, IMO.

Depending on the gun (rarity, value, etc), I've seen some lose 50% of value with refinishing. But those would be highly priced guns to begin with.

With your 36, there's no real collector value as there's thousands of them out there. So for an identical gun with no refinish, I'd say it will lose somewhere between 10-25% of retail value.

Having said that, a rookie gun buyer who doesn't know beans might pay a non-refinished price. I get you're not selling it, but just throwing that out there.

I've been heavily involved in gun shows & gun shops for over 30 years now. I learned gun trading from some guys who are/were VERY good at it. Doesn't mean I'm always right, but I'm usually pretty darn close.

My .o2

 

[nofx_boden]

Greatly, IMO.

Depending on the gun (rarity, value, etc), I've seen some lose 50% of value with refinishing. But those would be highly priced guns to begin with.

With your 36, there's no real collector value as there's thousands of them out there. So for an identical gun with no refinish, I'd say it will lose somewhere between 10-25% of retail value.

Having said that, a rookie gun buyer who doesn't know beans might pay a non-refinished price. I get you're not selling it, but just throwing that out there.

I've been heavily involved in gun shows & gun shops for over 30 years now. I learned gun trading from some guys who are/were VERY good at it. Doesn't mean I'm always right, but I'm usually pretty darn close.

My .o2

Yeah it was passed down to me from my uncle that passed away and it has that sentimental value but I did not know anything about the pistol. I do appreciate all the input.