Help ID'ing this old 38 Spl

[lowcountry joe]

It looks like a Baby Aircrewman, but it does not have the markings necessary to verify. Its a 5-shot, 5 screw pistol. Cylinder seems to be made of steel, not aluminum. Handles are pearl, but probably aftermarket. Number on base of handle is 19279, cylinder is also stamped 19279, frame and cylinder pivot stamped 69775.

Any ideas?


Tnx,
Joe

 

[robertrwalsh]

A photograph would be very helpful. Also the text and location of any wording on the weapon would be helpful.

 

[s&wchad]

Sounds like an early Chiefs Special. Collectors refer to these as "Baby Chiefs", because they have a smaller triggerguard (roundish) and a shorter grip frame, compared to later J frames.

Does yours look like this?

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Is the frame steel or aluminum?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

Most certainly a carbon steel Chiefs Special (the aluminum
Airweights began at serial number 24000).

The front sight should be serrated, and the inside of the right stock
should be stamped with the same serial number as the butt and
cylinder. You should also find the serial number on the flat part of
the bottom of the barrel when you roll the cylinder out.

The 69775 is an assembly number used to get the parts back
together for final assembly.

S&W likely shipped your Chiefs Special in the fall of 1952. Here's
another photo of what it probably looks like.

Added question: Is it blue?

 

[lowcountry joe]

Wow you guys are good. It is definately a Chief's Special based on the info you have provided. I tried to move some photos to the post but it was getting late last night. I even placed it in the wrong forum and one of the moderators was nice enough to move it here for me. I am going to try to get some photos posted, but it's all steel, serrated front ramp sight, same cylinder release button, except that mine has what appeaars to be pearl grips.
Is there any way to determine if the grips are S&W or likley aftermarket?
Thanks,
Joe

 

[lowcountry joe]

Yes sir is is blue. Thanks for all of the info and helping me ID the gun.

 

[lowcountry joe]

Welcome to the Forum.

Is the frame steel or aluminum?

Blued steel

 

[lowcountry joe]

Sounds like an early Chiefs Special. Collectors refer to these as "Baby Chiefs", because they have a smaller triggerguard (roundish) and a shorter grip frame, compared to later J frames.

Does yours look like this?

Thanks for the info. Yes, that's it except for the grips. Mine has what appears to be pearl grips, but not sure of the authenticity of the grips or of the material used to manufacture the grips.
Thanks,
Joe

 

[lowcountry joe]

Are the Chief Special's a rare revolver? Any idea on value of the gun? It's been fired a few times based on the marks around the cylinder and areas of the bluing being somewhat worn with age. It appears to have been holstered many times since the muzzle and front of the cylinder margins are somewhat worn.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Are the Chief Special's a rare revolver? Any idea on value of the gun?

Chiefs built on the five-screw frame are desirable to be sure.
Rare? No. S&W made about 42,000 of them in the first four years,
(1950 - 1954). Yours with the serrated ramp front sight is the
most common, making up about three quarters of the total.

We'll need to see your photos to offer an idea of the value of yours.

 

[lowcountry joe]

Photos of the Chief

Chiefs built on the five-screw frame are desirable to be sure.
Rare? No. S&W made about 42,000 of them in the first four years,
(1950 - 1954). Yours with the serrated ramp front sight is the
most common, making up about three quarters of the total.

We'll need to see your photos to offer an idea of the value of yours.

Please see attached photos. Tnx,
Joe

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Hi, Joe,

Thanks for the photos.

I believe the stocks are faux mother of pearl -- i.e., plastic --
yes, aftermarket.

Your Chiefs Special has some character, but it doesn't appear
abused.

I think the hammer has been changed for the more modern
coarse style, compared to the small knurled hammer that would
have been original.

I'd guess its value in the $500+ range.

One guy's opinion.

 

[jeffrefrig]

OP, I believe the numbers on the yoke are factory assembly numbers, in case I missed it mentioned up above. Welcome, by the way, to the world of enablers. I'm not sure about actual statistics, (we have infinite numbers to make anything come out the way we want), but if you ask about whether or not to buy a certain S&W, with a realistic price, I think 73.2% here will say "Buy it!"
Nice gun, BTW! Jeff

 

[Truckman]

...if you ask about whether or not to buy a certain S&W, with a realistic price, I think 73.2% here will say "Buy it!"

The main variable being the "realistic" price, and the one true constant being genuine S&W, my mantra is buy it anyway, and if the glory fades in the coming daylight, trade it for another S&W......Ben

 

[lowcountry joe]

Thanks Bob, Jeff, and Truckman. Appreciate your comments and inputs. My mother-in-law had this piece, kept it in a zip-up pistol case with 5 old rounds of .38 special loose in the case. (go figure) Anyway, we moved her to assisted living a couple weeks ago and she wanted me to have one of the pistols belonging to her late husband. The other was a small, similar-sized Charter Arms revolver. I gave my brother-in-law first choice, but he failed to make his choice before he left to go back to Atlanta. I figured if it wasn't important enough to him to make a choice when given the chance, then I would make the choice for him. And of course I went with S&W, as always.
Thanks again for all the help,
Joe

 

[steelslaver]

Excellent choice. Be glad your sister didn't marry a true gun guy