Model 36

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I picked this one up a while back. Truthfully, I don't know much about these J-frames, but I knew this one was one I couldn't pass up. I'm not sure it's been fired, but if so, it hasn't been much.
I haven't seen too many with a 3" barrel. Is it rare? Serial number is 432xxx, which I think dates it to shipping around 1963-64?
Would love to hear your comments about this gun.
 

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Very nice.

3" square butts are my favorites.

From other blue 3" square butts in the database, I'd guess S&W shipped yours around March/April 1966.

It has the new contoured thumbpiece, which Dr. Jinks tells us was "incorporated on February 11, 1966" to replace the flat latch. That's the sole change I've noted in Chiefs through the years where I don't find a transition period or an overlap.

Rarity? Myth? In crunching the database numbers I show about nine percent of the Chiefs in the first serial number series (1950-1969) have a 3" barrel. For comparison about six percent of the Chiefs in that range are nickel.

Thanks for sharing your Chiefs Special with us; it's a handsome creature.

If you'd be willing to PM the full serial number to me, I'd be happy to add it to the SWCA database. It's anonymous: no screen names or personal names.
 
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I picked this one up a while back. Truthfully, I don't know much about these J-frames, but I knew this one was one I couldn't pass up. I'm not sure it's been fired, but if so, it hasn't been much.
I haven't seen too many with a 3" barrel. Is it rare? Serial number is 432xxx, which I think dates it to shipping around 1963-64?
Would love to hear your comments about this gun.

I just picked up a 2" round butt the other week that is 301xxx. I think mine is 1962-ish. 63-64 sounds close for yours but I thought they were all flat latches until 1966.

Congrats.
 
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Very nice - use it well! Mine shoots POA=POI with 158 grain RNL. When I carried it for a very short while, I loaded it with Rem. 158 gr. +P LSWCHP (the old FBI load). Would not care to put Buffalo Bore +P's through it!
 
Mod 36s

Here are the variations of the model 36. Top row are 3" Heavy Barrels, 2nd row down are 3"pencil barrels, 3rd row down are 2" barrels, and the bottom one is a Chief's Special 2" Target.
QvikV8X.jpg

jcelect
 
One plain 36 3", 8J s/n prefix, did not come with no dashes, target sights, a "heavy" barrel or other options. Left the factory around 1971 with walnut trim and a standard finish... kept in a dry garage and driven only on weekends, ;):D

20221103-122535.jpg
 

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