Identify the age of my Dad’s service pistol.

[Mjgraci89]

My Dad was a Pennsylvania State Police Detective in the late 50's to early 70's. During this time he carried the Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief's Special in .38. Serial Number - 221XXX. Grips are original as the same serial number is on the inside of them. Love to pin down it manufacture age (maybe 1961 to 1963) and history. Thanks in advance.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

It shipped around 1960-61.

 

[Rudi]

Very nice!

 

[flundertaker]

Great looking Chief. Doesn't look like it was carried to me, certainly not for 20 years. None of the typical bluing wear or flattening of the checkering. Is that your dad's actual gun or just the same model?

 

[Retired W4]

I would get a letter for it. The letter will help with discovery if it's history.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

My Dad was a Pennsylvania State Police Detective in the late 50's to early 70's. During this time he carried the Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief's Special in .38

Was this his only Duty Handgun?

 

[MajorD]

Great looking Chief. Doesn't look like it was carried to me, certainly not for 20 years. None of the typical bluing wear or flattening of the checkering. Is that your dad's actual gun or just the same model?

I had a chief that my dad carried for about 20 years then I did as well for another 10-15 ( usually in an ankle holster exposed to high humidity/ stepping in snow drifts and rain puddles) and it looked pretty good still - some spots worn bear on the grip straps but others wise about like the one pictured.
Also a lot of detectives in that era would only carry the gun while out of the office, and often keep it in a desk drawer the rest of the time, so it is very plausible this could have been a duty gun. Also detectives guns ( typically covered by a garment unlike uniform cops guns constantly exposed to the elements) didn't accumulate as much wear as you'd think

 

[Mjgraci89]

I had a chief that my dad carried for about 20 years then I did as well for another 10-15 ( usually in an ankle holster exposed to high humidity/ stepping in snow drifts and rain puddles) and it looked pretty good still - some spots worn bear on the grip straps but others wise about like the one pictured.
Also a lot of detectives in that era would only carry the gun while out of the office, and often keep it in a desk drawer the rest of the time, so it is very plausible this could have been a duty gun. Also detectives guns ( typically covered by a garment unlike uniform cops guns constantly exposed to the elements) didn't accumulate as much wear as you'd think

I would say a very similar story. He carried this S&W during his time as a plain clothes detective. Maybe 10 years of his career. He wore a brown leather holster looped on this belt & it was almost always covered by his suit jacket. I have vivid memories as a kid.

His uniformed duty gun as I recall was a 6" Colt "Official Police" in .38 Special. He returned that when he retired in 1975. I think the PSP switched to Ruger .357 shortly after he retired. My dad passed in 1980 & I've had the S&W for much of the last 45 years. I took it out to a range once in the early 90's, but it's not been fired since.

 

[Mjgraci89]

Was this his only Duty Handgun?

No, he carried the S&W during his time as a detective. His uniformed duty gun was a 6" Colt "Official Police" in .38. He retired in 1975 just before the PSP went to the .357 Ruger.