help with model 36
- Thread starter bill1951
- Start date
Without going upstairs to check my catalog, I've got an 84J that dates to early 72'. So I'm guessing around the same for yours.
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The roving J - maximum 5 digits with a J that floats through the digits - made from 1970-73. Our resident expert will be along soon to give you a good estimate for the ship date on one with the 88Jxxx configuration.
two-bit cowboy
US Veteran
Howdy Bill, and welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.
My 87J974 and also 89J740 both shipped in March 1972. S&W didn't ship in serial number order, but I'd guess there's a good chance the Chiefs Special you mentioned shipped somewhere close to these two.
In that "roving J series," so named by S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks, for each serial number with two digits before the J there were only 999 revolvers made so the company ran through the serial numbers relatively quickly.
My 87J974 and also 89J740 both shipped in March 1972. S&W didn't ship in serial number order, but I'd guess there's a good chance the Chiefs Special you mentioned shipped somewhere close to these two.
In that "roving J series," so named by S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks, for each serial number with two digits before the J there were only 999 revolvers made so the company ran through the serial numbers relatively quickly.
gunsmoke101
Member
I have a wrench to throw in the mix. I have a Model 36 (No Dash) with the standard latch which should date the frame to 1966, but the serial number has the floating J with 79J707 as the serial number. Comments?
Where are you getting 1966? Should be 71’-72’.
two-bit cowboy
US Veteran
The contoured thumbpiece did reappear on Chiefs in February 1966.
That was also the year S&W introduced the Model 36-1 with a 3" Heavy Barrel. It was a new model number not as is usual with S&W a model number that replaced another model due to an engineering change.
The company concurrently produced Model 36 with 2" and 3" lightweight barrels and Model 36-1 with a 3" Heavy Barrel until 1976 when it discontinued the 3" lightweight barrel. Models 36 (2") and 36-1 (3" Heavy Barrel) continued till 1988.
The "roving J series" serial numbersran from 1970 through 1973. That series was a result of S&W's equipment not being able to stamp more than six characters on a round butt J-frame. In 1972 the company acquired new equipment capable of stamping seven character's on the J-frame. These details come courtesy of S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks.
Perhaps your confusion is that the "standard" latch (contoured, not flat) started in 1966. It continued in use forever after, beginning that year.
two-bit cowboy
US Veteran
Well, almost. Along with the J-magnum frame in 1996 S&W changed the contoured thumbpiece to a beveled style.
Hondo44
Member
Welcome to the forum Bill.
Thanks, Bob. I did consider mentioning that, but decided not to because that later iteration is still "contoured." It just has a slice taken off the top of it. It isn't flat, like the pre-1966 version.
