Moon Baby Thread (Half Moon Chiefs Special)

[two-bit cowboy]

The 38 S&W is shorter and bigger in dia. The bullet is .361"
They WILL NOT chamber in a 38 Spl gun.

And vice versa.

Images are k-frame cylinders.

You can see the shoulder difference inside the cylinder in the first photo. The second photo shows that a .38 Special will not go beyond the shorter shoulder of the .38 S&W cylinder.

 

[kscharlie]

Maybe a REALLY rookie question (though didn't think I was a rookie): difference between these and the Terrier's (.38/32)?

Other than caliber (.38 Spl vs .38 S&W), a more important difference is frame size. The Terrier is built on an I frame, thus called the .38/32, meaning it is a .38 caliber revolver built on the .32 frame. The Chiefs Special is built on the J frame.

In 1958, the .38/32 became the Model 32. In 1961, the .38/32 along with the rest of the I frame guns were all changed to the J frame. This particular model became the Model 32-1.

 

[JH1951]

Maybe a REALLY rookie question (though didn't think I was a rookie): difference between these and the Terrier's (.38/32)?

Not a rookie question at all. This would only come up in an advanced study course of the Baby Chiefs Special. I have taken an interest in these too, and been trying to absorb what I can. With the help of Forum members, my knowledge keeps growing (as does my accumulation of Baby Chiefs). I would have never guessed that there are so many "little differences" to be aware of, and further, there are a lot of little things we keep learning about the production variations.
So, to the point, the difference between the Terrier . 38 S&W and the Baby Chiefs Special in ,38 S&W Spl. is as has been mentioned above, the caliber. But it wasn't as simple as modifying the existing cylinder; it had to be lengthened to accept the longer .38 S&W Spl. cartridge. If memory serves me correctly, the I-Frame was 1.25", and the J-Frame was 1.52" (please correct me if I misremembered). To accommodate the new longer cylinder, the frame had to be modified to accept it. At that point the J-Frame was born.

 

[Donald Paul]

... cylinder and window openings:

Pictures of the two cylinder sizes.
First is the shorter .38 S&W {I-frame Terrier}.
Second is the longer .38 Special {J-frame Chief}.
Run the two views quickly, one after the other, and you will easily see the difference.
Regards - Donald
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note !- Look where the FRONT of the two trigger guards join into the frame.
That shows the part of the frame that was lengthened.

 

[Hondo44]

Yep, the J frame cyl window was lengthened 1/8" at the front and the 38 Spl cyl needs virtually the entire length of the opening.

The I frame Terrier cyl length (1.245" - 1.250") is shorter than the .38 spl cyl and still doesn't fill up the shorter I frame cyl window. The J frame Terrier cyl (1.390") is longer but leaves an even bigger gap in the cyl window.

Frame window lengths:

I Frame window: 1.505"
J Frame window: 1.635"
(Difference: .130" or ~1/8")

NOTE: For the J frame .357 the frame was lengthened once again and is known as the Magnum J frame.

 

[Donald Paul]

... more on windows:

Here's a view of the .357 Magnum J frame that Hondo44 is referring to:
It's the model 640 cyl & window with the egg shape guard.
{This cylinder is really long}.
- Donald

 

[Donald Paul]

... the .357 magnum J frame:

... just a few pictures of this beast. the model 640-1 .357 magnum on a J frame.
- Donald

 

[Retired W4]

If I can get my head to stop spinning long enough to print this thread I'll read it in that format. Digestion should be a little easier. I keep getting this urge to grab my calipers.

 

[Art Doc]

Can someone please clarify something for me? The Baby Chief was built on essentially a J frame with a shortened grip, right? It is not an I frame gun, correct?

 

[Kansasgunner]

Art Doc,
The first Chief Specials were built on the first "original" J frame. When customers complained that the gun was hard to control under recoil a change order was put in place to lengthen the grip frame and enlarge the trigger guard. This change gave us the J frame that we know and love!

 

[Toyman]

Here are measurements of Terrier and Chief's Special cylinders.

 

[Hondo44]

... just a few pictures of this beast. the model 640-1 .357 magnum on a J frame.
- Donald

In this photo, w/o scale or much of the grips showing, almost looks like a 500 Centennial!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

In this photo, w/o scale or much of the grips showing, almost looks like a 500 Centennial!

Oh, be still my heart.

Don't I wish S&W would have made one of those in a snubbie?!?!?