A guy I met the other day said he has a 36-1 with a 3" barrel serial number he gave me is 884JXX I know they started making these guns in the 50's but don't now the year and the serial number don't seam to fall in the catalog that I got can anyone help me pin down the value and age of the gun I may try to buy off him. He is older and may have given me wrong info
Model 36-1 with 3” barrel
- Thread starter G.henning
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No, it's a correct number from late 1972 to early '73 - six characters total with five numbers (at least one in front and back of the letter J), with the J moving around.
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Yes, a little paranoia about giving out full serial numbers 
. Good luck in your buying decision.
. Good luck in your buying decision.
I had a 3" 36-1 and sold it here on the forum some years back. I wish that I had kept it. Would buy another if the right deal came along.
Although the original Chief Special has been around since 1950, the 3" heavy barrel Model 36-1 was first introduced in late 1966.
I agree with others, they have great balance and instinctively point on target.
Russ
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The guy I spoke with does not know how to take pics and it is 1 1/2 hr drive to meet him but the pic he showed me was not very good to grainy to blow up but it looked like yours from what I could tell so I should expect to see pinned barrel and recessed cylinder right if it is from the 70's
The 36-1 with that serial number will have a pinned barrel, yes, but it won't have the recessed cylinder (the .22 and magnum calibers had recessed barrels, but not the .38s). It also will not have the diamonds around the screw escutcheon on the stocks (as shown in linde's photos).
Best of luck with your decision.
Best of luck with your decision.
HayesGreener
US Veteran
The Model 36 3" heavy barrel was my duty revolver with Air Force OSI in the 70's. They are a pleasant gun to shoot compared to other J frames.
M3Stuart
Member
They're great! I had one for a long time. I did not actually shoot it that much - because I had other shooters and I didn't want to tear that one up. I eventually sold it for top dollar due to keeping it in great condition.
I do recommend them. Great guns. Good luck.
I do recommend them. Great guns. Good luck.
flagman1776
Member
Here is my 36-1 round butt with target stocks of the era.. I think they came both round & square. I like it a lot & still have it. It's a fine 5 shooter. I carried it IWB when I drew duty on the dispatch desk. The extra inch of barrel doesn't get in the way in a belt holster but makes it easier to shoot well.
In years gone by, some depts issued them to female officers.
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len917
Member
Love mine. Great shooter, Draws attention at the range for looks and accuracy
Texas Star
US Veteran
Had recessed cylinders, not recessed barrels. But as you said, this applies only to .22's and to centerfire Magnum calibers.
I think you know the difference and just got careless with typing? But a lot of new people lurk here and might be misinformed by such posts.
I wish I owned a 36-1 with a 3" barrel. I LOVE my 2" Chiefs, but I've wised up as years have gone by. At 10', I have no problem hitting really important parts of a silhouette with a 22" Chief. The consensus is a 3" Chief has better balance, which ought to make it a better point shooter beyond 10'.
Richard Simmons
Member
If you can get it I think you'll like it. Picked up a NIB, round butt, no dash 36 with the 3" taper barrel years ago. Though I've never shot it, I did add a Tyler T-Grip with the intention of at least taking it to the range. Never did but I can see how it would make for an excellent little carry piece.
OP;
As to value it is usually set based on supply and demand unless you are dickering on a super rare variant (like a 36 with a 6" bbl...only 2 dozen made, and those were "off the books") or a gun with proven provenance (belonged to Elvis, etc.).
I have found that even typical supply and demand prices are further dependent on where you live (gun friendly State...easy to make FTF deals, or California, New York, others that make it tougher than nails, etc.).
The "go to" around my area for Smiths no longer made is basically the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, now in its 4th Edition. The SCSW shows $ 650 for ANIB (that is As New In Box) which basically means unfired except for the factory test shots which you can usually see evidence of by checking the face of the cylinder, in its original (numbered to the gun) box with vapor paper, all instructions, leaflets, cleaning tools, etc.
Next down is $525 for Excellent, $450 for Very Good, $300 Good, and last $250 for Fair.
So when you see the gun, check for "end shake" (cylinder moves excessively in axial direction...fore and aft), lock-up (cylinder is tight when hammer cocked, "push-off" (hammer cocked and cannot be moved by thumb toward firing)...general condition of the finish (bluing heavily worn or scratched), chips or heavy scratches in the stocks.
You may already know all of the above, but I find everyone is worth personally checking out in a face-to-face environment and is why I don't buy off the Internet, however I do sell on the Internet because of the wider availability of buyers, but if you are only 1.5 hours from looking personally at the gun that you may pop any where from $350 to $500 on...it's a no brainer for me.
Added "value" in talking with an owner?...sometimes the back story of how and why they came to have the gun is funny, unbelievable, totally believable, they have proof, it truly IS that "one-of-a-kind"..........all part of the slippery slope we call Collecting.
Best of luck on your decision......let us know (if you buy it...photos posted are required or we are forced to believe it never happened)
As to value it is usually set based on supply and demand unless you are dickering on a super rare variant (like a 36 with a 6" bbl...only 2 dozen made, and those were "off the books") or a gun with proven provenance (belonged to Elvis, etc.).
I have found that even typical supply and demand prices are further dependent on where you live (gun friendly State...easy to make FTF deals, or California, New York, others that make it tougher than nails, etc.).
The "go to" around my area for Smiths no longer made is basically the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, now in its 4th Edition. The SCSW shows $ 650 for ANIB (that is As New In Box) which basically means unfired except for the factory test shots which you can usually see evidence of by checking the face of the cylinder, in its original (numbered to the gun) box with vapor paper, all instructions, leaflets, cleaning tools, etc.
Next down is $525 for Excellent, $450 for Very Good, $300 Good, and last $250 for Fair.
So when you see the gun, check for "end shake" (cylinder moves excessively in axial direction...fore and aft), lock-up (cylinder is tight when hammer cocked, "push-off" (hammer cocked and cannot be moved by thumb toward firing)...general condition of the finish (bluing heavily worn or scratched), chips or heavy scratches in the stocks.
You may already know all of the above, but I find everyone is worth personally checking out in a face-to-face environment and is why I don't buy off the Internet, however I do sell on the Internet because of the wider availability of buyers, but if you are only 1.5 hours from looking personally at the gun that you may pop any where from $350 to $500 on...it's a no brainer for me.
Added "value" in talking with an owner?...sometimes the back story of how and why they came to have the gun is funny, unbelievable, totally believable, they have proof, it truly IS that "one-of-a-kind"..........all part of the slippery slope we call Collecting.
Best of luck on your decision......let us know (if you buy it...photos posted are required or we are forced to believe it never happened)
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flagman1776
Member
The target stocks shown above were genuine S&W products & are often refered to as "banana targets".
True. Lots of guys think they are ugly, but my wife likes them a lot on her 2" Kit Gun round butt (Model 34-1). She shoots it better with them than with the original Magna stocks (which are stashed away for safe keeping).
Does your pinky fit on that grip?
otasan56
US Veteran
I used to own a S&W 36 with a three inch barrel. Great little gun. My ex-wife took it with her.
flagman1776
Member
Yes, I can get all fingers on the banana target grips.
My 3" wearing some "banana targets" and yes, I can get 3 fingers on em.
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Thank you everyone for your responses and advice. I did the drive and made the purchase after talking a while I almost walked away from deal because it was not as perfect as I like them. But it is 46 years old. I add pic when I figure out how to
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Very nice! If you get replacement stocks be sure they will fit a square butt J frame. Enjoy!
