Nice little flat-latch 36 followed me home...

[YouveHadYour6]

Came across this from a gent I had gone to see about a Ruger. It needed a good cleaning, and as you can see the grips aren't perfect - though they do number in what looks like grease pencil or thick lead to the gun, and all other numbers seem kosher.

Just seems like a nice fairly clean (now) survivor that got tucked away, maybe moved from drawer to drawer occasionally, and never saw much down the pipe - the barrel, what there is of it, is spotless, the turn-line very faint for the age (no re-blue indicators I see, and if the gun appears to 'shine' in pics apologies, that's excess CLP I'm still wiping away), and end shake or scorch marks are both non-existent.

Having been looking for a RB flat latch for a while I was happy to snag this one for five bills in my neck of the woods, though long have I hoped for a genuine early 'Baby Chief' - I just never see them here.

S/N: 1824XX which - I'm guesstimating, w/o my book with me, - means this one hails from 1961-62-ish?

All comments are welcome; she's not perfect but she's the girl I brought to the dance.

Cheers!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Congratulations on your new Chiefs Special. It looks like a dandy.

Based on others nearby it in the database I'd guess yours shipped in spring 1961. It has the 6th flat style thumbpiece and the ball 'n' socket mainspring rod and hammer (photos).

It's a bit odd that the serial number is written in grease pencil on the right stock. S&W had been stamping the serial numbers there for decades before your Chiefs Special was built.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

Congratulations on your new Chiefs Special. It looks like a dandy.

Based on others nearby it in the database I'd guess yours shipped in spring 1961. It has the 6th flat style thumbpiece and the ball 'n' socket mainspring rod and hammer (photos).

It's a bit odd that the serial number is written in grease pencil on the right stock. S&W had been stamping the serial numbers there for decades before your Chiefs Special was built.

Much obliged! On the one hand, the grips well could be OEM but replacement. On the other, I'll have to take them back off and look under better light; it may have been a light stamp that smudged - to be honest at the time I just glanced at the number - thanks again! (And for confirming '61!)

 

[Hondo44]

Nice catch!

Highly unlikely those grips don't have a serial # stamped on the back of the right grip. It wouldn't smudge, it's stamped with a metal stamp into the wood and are about 1/8" numbers. They appear to fit well enough to be original.

 

[firefighterjohn]

That's a nice one you found there YouveHadYour6. It looks very clean and the bluing is really nice for it's age. Just like you, I stumbled upon my first Baby Chief earlier this year and really like shooting it. The guys here; like two-bit cowboy, were all really helpful giving the history and features of mine as well. Mine will never be sold but will be passed down to my son or one of my grandsons. Enjoy yours!

 

[Rudi]

Gee Dad, can we keep him? Nice one.