looking for information on a S&W 36-1
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A nice Chiefs Special that likely shipped in 1977. Stocks were switched out to Herrett's aftermarket which is very common.
Todd
Todd
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The 3" barrel is a plus for many of us, and the nickel finish is, too. Looks like a square butt, though the picture is not definitive in that regard. That is a great gun and worth a minimum of $600, IMO.
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36-1 is the 3” Heavy barrel. As others have mentioned it is nickel and it definitely has the square butt. Your friend got a very nice revolver!
I'm thinking 1969 on your friends....OR earlier!
I have a blued 36-1, 3" HB, Target stocks. My guns serial number is J 591395, or 1,334 higher than your friends. We do know that S&W does not ship in sequential order, but mine is confirmed by Roy Jinks as shipped in August 1969.
I'm thinking your friends shipped around that time or possibly a little earlier. 1968 was the year that supposedly the diamond around the screw escutcheons on checkered wood stock was done away but they are still found on later shipments so your friend MAY be looking for "diamond" grips if trying to recover original style.
On another note, I sold a nickel Model 36-1, also 3" HB back in September 2021 on this Forum. It was s/n J 938523 and it was very much like your friends. The grips were actually numbered to the gun which shipped in 1982 and according to experts on this Forum those grips were the highest serial number recorded for numbered to the gun grips as far as J frames go. S&W had evidently many years earlier, stopped numbering grips.
On value I would say your friends gun as is would be $600 fair price for buyer and seller. If he has documents, original box, tools or any other accessories it may be a slight amount more.
I had both the blued and Nickel 36-1 for sale for $550 in September 2021, and only the Nickel sold. Still shoot the blue one every now and then.
I have a blued 36-1, 3" HB, Target stocks. My guns serial number is J 591395, or 1,334 higher than your friends. We do know that S&W does not ship in sequential order, but mine is confirmed by Roy Jinks as shipped in August 1969.
I'm thinking your friends shipped around that time or possibly a little earlier. 1968 was the year that supposedly the diamond around the screw escutcheons on checkered wood stock was done away but they are still found on later shipments so your friend MAY be looking for "diamond" grips if trying to recover original style.
On another note, I sold a nickel Model 36-1, also 3" HB back in September 2021 on this Forum. It was s/n J 938523 and it was very much like your friends. The grips were actually numbered to the gun which shipped in 1982 and according to experts on this Forum those grips were the highest serial number recorded for numbered to the gun grips as far as J frames go. S&W had evidently many years earlier, stopped numbering grips.
On value I would say your friends gun as is would be $600 fair price for buyer and seller. If he has documents, original box, tools or any other accessories it may be a slight amount more.
I had both the blued and Nickel 36-1 for sale for $550 in September 2021, and only the Nickel sold. Still shoot the blue one every now and then.
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There's something amiss here.
If your Model 36-1 has a J and a six-digit serial number it did not
ship in 1969.
Double post-see next one.
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Probably 1976-77
SCSW5 shows 1976-77...
...Ben
...Ben
Based on others in the database, S&W most likely shipped J591395 in it the last quarter of 1977.
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The forum member who posted right after your first post said it.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
So did mom said it belong to dad, grandpa or an Uncle?
Herrett Grips were quite popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
Why NOT August 1969??? Roy says so!
Hi Bob (two-bit cowboy) and Forum.
What features about my Model 36-1, serial number J 591395 tell you that my Model 36-1, Blue, 3" HB did NOT ship in August 1969?
I don't remember the date but as you can see from my pic of Roy's response, he sure stated that it shipped in August 1969.
Hi Bob (two-bit cowboy) and Forum.
What features about my Model 36-1, serial number J 591395 tell you that my Model 36-1, Blue, 3" HB did NOT ship in August 1969?
I don't remember the date but as you can see from my pic of Roy's response, he sure stated that it shipped in August 1969.
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The J + six-digit serial numbers started in 1973.
In 1969 S&W's equipment could not stamp more than six characters
on a J-frame's small butt.
1969 - 1970 serial numbers ran J1 - J99999
1970 - 1973 serial numbers ran 1J1 - 999J99
1972 S&W obtained equipment to stamp seven characters on a J-frame
1973-1983 serial numbers ran J100000 - J999999
In 1969 S&W's equipment could not stamp more than six characters
on a J-frame's small butt.
1969 - 1970 serial numbers ran J1 - J99999
1970 - 1973 serial numbers ran 1J1 - 999J99
1972 S&W obtained equipment to stamp seven characters on a J-frame
1973-1983 serial numbers ran J100000 - J999999
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I have a 36-1 serial # 65J14. I'm looking for the year of manufacture
Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.
S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks calls the serial number series the
"roving J series." It began in 1970 at serial number 1J1 and ran
through serial number 999J99 in 1973. S&W used the series on
Bodyguard Models 38 and 49 and Chiefs Special Models 36, 36-1,
37, and 50.
The first known serial number is 1J123, which shipped in April
1970, and the last one known is 999J68, which shipped to Zale
Corporation in Texas, on April 11, 1973 (see the photo).
Your 3" Heavy Barrel .38 Chiefs Special Model 36-1 likely shipped
in or around February 1972.
S&W Historian Dr. Roy Jinks calls the serial number series the
"roving J series." It began in 1970 at serial number 1J1 and ran
through serial number 999J99 in 1973. S&W used the series on
Bodyguard Models 38 and 49 and Chiefs Special Models 36, 36-1,
37, and 50.
The first known serial number is 1J123, which shipped in April
1970, and the last one known is 999J68, which shipped to Zale
Corporation in Texas, on April 11, 1973 (see the photo).
Your 3" Heavy Barrel .38 Chiefs Special Model 36-1 likely shipped
in or around February 1972.
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