Lowest Chief Special serial number

[JSR III]

2 and 3 were shipped out of the country so #4 could be the lowest number still in the USA. I forget which number was produced first, I will have to check.

PS: It was #6 produced in 10/1950.

 

[wordsmith]

James,

I've had #'s 32 - 57 - 91, 99 - 181 and a few other low ones, but can't recall all of them right now.

DC

 

[labocca]

I have # 160, shipped on Oct 12, 1951 to A.F Stoeger Arms Co, New York City, NY.

 

[Mushroom1]

Chief's Special dating

Hello folks,

New to forum and proud owner of an inherited S&W Chief's Special which I believe to be a pre-Model 36. It is a flat latch, with 4 screws and a 5 digit serial number: 649xx. Unfortunately the original diamond grips have been replaced with the non-diamond grips common to later models.

Believe it to be circa 1955 or so. Could anyone please confirm. It's in very good condition and I'm interested in it's current value.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[VM]

I posted this early in the thread

If anybody has #317, I'd like to buy it
Send me a PM

 

[STCM(SW)]

Mine is 38206.
Belonged to the chief of police, Long Branch, N.J.
Got it from his widow.

 

[murphydog]

Hello folks,

New to forum and proud owner of an inherited S&W Chief's Special which I believe to be a pre-Model 36. It is a flat latch, with 4 screws and a 5 digit serial number: 649xx. Unfortunately the original diamond grips have been replaced with the non-diamond grips common to later models.

Believe it to be circa 1955 or so. Could anyone please confirm. It's in very good condition and I'm interested in it's current value.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Welcome to the Forum. The ship date information for J frames of this era is spotty, but your gun falls into...ta-da!...the 1955 year range. Value is based on condition, so photos would be best to judge this. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Mushroom1]

Thanks Alan

Alan,
Appreciate it. Will try posting pics when I can.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Not that long ago I bought some old, smooth, J Frame, round butt rosewood
grips that are both stamped 103 on the inside of each panel. The first thought
that crossed my mind when I noticed the numbers was, where is gun no. 103?

 

[Malysh]

Here's #2321 and it's Berns Martin Lightning holster. Shipped 3/12/1952 to Elliott's in K.C., MO.

Wow, this one shipped two days before my birthday and my birthyear.
Great gun.
Thanks to all that posted their early Chiefs. I never get tire of the
threads on these great old snubbys.

 

[KSCowboy]

Howdy Malysh,

It's also just about 30 days younger than my wife.....must have been a good year!

 

[H P Bushrod]

My early Chief is 33281. Not a very early one, but I'm looking forward to seeing if another 2 or 1 digit gun pops up. Very interesting thread.

 

[ar15ed]

that's mine, hondo. it's number 90. that pic was from the previous owner.

ed

 

[Hondo44]

that's mine, hondo. it's number 90. that pic was from the previous owner.

ed

Thx Ed,
Deleted the post and corrected my notes.

 

[geoff40]

Not in the running for the lowest number by any stretch. The top CS is number 2273. Refinished, I doubt at the factory. The gun is a 10 on the fun to shoot scale, it gets probably 200-300 rounds a year since I adopted it.
I've posted about the hammers before, but here goes again: these early Chief's seem to have several variations going with the hammers they were making for them. I've seen at least 4 different hammers within just the first few years of production, now here in this thread I see yet another one. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[Sebago Son]

This one's early....

Right around 1,000

Drew

 

[Hondo44]

Not in the running for the lowest number by any stretch. The top CS is number 2273. Refinished, I doubt at the factory. The gun is a 10 on the fun to shoot scale, it gets probably 200-300 rounds a year since I adopted it.
I've posted about the hammers before, but here goes again: these early Chief's seem to have several variations going with the hammers they were making for them. I've seen at least 4 different hammers within just the first few years of production, now here in this thread I see yet another one. Has anyone else noticed this?

Two very nice examples from the very early to the very late.
I'm interested in the variation of hammers but I don't see the variations that you do. Your two guns show the two basic variations that I count: the pre war/early post war and the Model of 1953 style.

I recognize that there are slight manufacturing differences like smaller and larger teardrop at the tip but I don't see them as distinct variations. Do you see more than that? Please help me see the four variations that you see; can you provide the post numbers?

 

[Hondo44]

WOW number 90...That is AWESOME !

Center .38 Chiefs Special #1025 Shipped Dec 52

Brad,
That's an awesome threesome!! What number is the one on the left?
Thanks,

 

[Engine49guy]

Jim you probably already noticed that one on the left is an "I" frame
.38 S&W Terrier, The Serial is 58078 and it shipped December 1950

The J Frames are .38 "Baby" Chiefs Special, 1 7/8" Barrel, Blue, Serial 1025 shipped in December 1951

.38 "Baby" Chiefs Special , 1 7/8" Barrel, Blue, Serial 38217 shipped in February 1954

 

[Hondo44]

Brad,
I hate to admit it but I will; the fact that it's a Terrior went right over my head! But it's a beauty and very early number with a strain screw/leaf spring.
Thanks,