Is this considered a model 36 ??
- Thread starter Win
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gunnut44
Member
It's a pre mod 36 probally made in 52-53
Win:
Check out this great article on the history of the Chief's Special. I think the answer to your question is yes and no. It may have been made as a Chief's Special before the 36 model number was started.
http://www.snubnose.info/docs/Model_36.htm
Check out this great article on the history of the Chief's Special. I think the answer to your question is yes and no. It may have been made as a Chief's Special before the 36 model number was started.
http://www.snubnose.info/docs/Model_36.htm
Penquin
Member
Nice find Win - at a very nice price I might add. PEN
Rigmover
Member
Nice Pre-Chief Special I,d take that in a New York second.No Problem very nice indeed like the serial almost all 7's cool.Yes it is an I Frame the J's didn't come out till the early 60's.
Malysh
Member
Wow! It looks like you found a very early Chief's Special often called a pre Mod 36. This gun features a smaller rounded trigger guard shaped like the K and N frame trigger guards rather than the elongated modern J frame trigger guard. It also has the smaller I frame and grips, first pattern flat cylinder release latch. Some even earlier ones have the half moon front sight instead of the ramp front sight as in your pictures. It has a 5 screw frame also. The experts can tell you more than I can.
If that receipt shows what you paid for it you got a great deal, congratulations!
Please let me know via email as found in my member profile if you decide you want to sell it at a good profit or make a trade.
If that receipt shows what you paid for it you got a great deal, congratulations!
Please let me know via email as found in my member profile if you decide you want to sell it at a good profit or make a trade.
armybass
US Veteran
Looks like a great deal to me. I paid more for that for mine. Would love to have a pre M36. Very nice!
HEADKNOCKER
Member
If You Didn't have the receipt I'd say you stole it..
Nice Early Chiefs Special
Nice Early Chiefs Special
RedBerens
Member
I think I've seen some people refer to that as a 'baby chief'.
handejector
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That is the first variety of the Chief's Special, with the second sight variety. The very first ones had half moons. The ramps were made in smooth and serrated varieties. Which is yours? It looks smooth.
Probably built around 51.
We call the "Baby Chief's" because of the short grips and small trigger guards. The myth persists that they are built on the I frame, which is impossible- the I frame cylinder is too SHORT for the 38 Special round. All Chief's Specials are built on J frames.
Way to go.
Probably built around 51.
We call the "Baby Chief's" because of the short grips and small trigger guards. The myth persists that they are built on the I frame, which is impossible- the I frame cylinder is too SHORT for the 38 Special round. All Chief's Specials are built on J frames.
Way to go.
photoman
Member
Yep. Baby Chief at a VERY good price.
mkk41
US Veteran
Trade ya for a brand new Taurus of your choice?
Blackcloud2
US Veteran
Whoa!!! What a score! Great deal, congratulations and thanks for posting the pictures!
jframe
Member
How the hell do y'all get the pawn shops to sell to you so cheap? All the pawners around Nortwest Alabama want to high gross you on anything that goes into pawn default. I tried to buy a nice Browning A-5 Light Twelve a few years ago that I KNOW the guy had a $100.00 in real money in. He ended up selling it for a thousand! Very nice profit indeed! Now while I can't fault him at all for doing it, I have done business with this guy for years, and I offered him a tidy profit on his investment when it went into default and he shot me down. Guess I need to find another pawn shop.
Very nice pre 36, by the way!
photoman
Member
I know what you mean jframe. The local I frequent puts $399 on every K frame that goes up for sale whether it's junk or not. I did get the last laugh on the Model 14-2 Dayton though.
OK...so what I'm understanding, it is a "J" frame Chief's Special, but with the shorter length grip left over from the "I" frame .32 Terrier.
So, considering it dates from approx 1951, does it have any type of collector value? Over and above a regular 36 Chiefs Special?
So, considering it dates from approx 1951, does it have any type of collector value? Over and above a regular 36 Chiefs Special?
Re-read the post by Lee (Handejector). The Chiefs Special was introduced in 1950 and was built on the all new J frame. It was similar to the I frame, but it had a longer and taller frame to accept a 5 shot .38 Special length cylinder and it used a coil mainspring instead of a leaf spring. Before that, the .38 M&P (K frame - 6 shot) was the smallest .38 Special revolver S&W made. The largest caliber you could get in an I frame was the .38 S&W (shorter than a Special), which was a 5 shot.
As the Chiefs Special evolved, the sights were changed, the trigger guard and grip frame were made larger and model numbers were assigned to and stamped on guns around 1957. The right stock (only) should have the serial number stamped on the inside. Based on the fit of the stocks, I'll bet they match. The cylinder and underside of barrel will be numbered too. It's worth more than a model marked gun and yes, it is collectable. Cool serial number too!
Here's my baby Chief with a serrated front sight. Your front sight type is more desirable then the serrated, but less than the half round. Very cool find!
