Odd 1973-74 36 no dash

[FinnMike]

Been away for a while...

I came into possession of my mother's Model 36. The yoke is stamped "36" only. The serial number 171xxx dates to 73-74 yet the no dash series ended earlier. It lacks the flat catch and has the rounded catch. The cylinder and non-diamond right stock (s) have matching numbers. It appears to be unfired and has the matching box and papers. Any ideas on this odd match of features. I'm not sure if an investment in a letter is worthwhile.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Nothing odd at all about your Mom's Chiefs Special.

S&W launched the Model 36-1 in 1966 -- it had a 3" Heavy Barrel.

The company continued to concurrently produce the Model 36 until 1988.

 

[Model19man]

I am wondering why you chose to hide the last three digits in one photo while showing 171453 in the other?

 

[GerSan69]

Hey Finn, one other "correction" - the "J" is part of the serial number.

 

[ken158]

Nothing to letter here unless you got a spare hundred bucks…

 

[Hondo44]

Flat latches ended in 1966 and the grip diamond ended mid 1968.

The dash number usage for the mod 36 does have a little different logic from most other models.

 

[JP@AK]

the "J" is part of the serial number.

Yes. To illustrate the importance, a Model 36, serialized at 171452, would be from c. 1960; while one serialized at J171452 would be from c. 1974. Roughly a 14 year difference.

 

[K-22]

No Dash Number

Nothing odd at all about your Mom's Chiefs Special.

S&W launched the Model 36-1 in 1966 -- it had a 3" Heavy Barrel.

The company continued to concurrently produce the Model 36 until 1988.

The oddity,is that there is no dash # stamped on what appears to be a later gun.

Best,
Gary

 

[JP@AK]

The oddity,is that there is no dash # stamped on what appears to be a later gun.

Not so. The pictures and the serial number clearly indicate that it is a Model 36, period. As Bob stated, the Model 36 was made all the way up to 1988. There simply is nothing "odd" about this revolver.

 

[IraIII]

What is not being explained well is that with model 36 revolvers the 36 without any dash number was not replaced by the 36-1 it was still manufactured along with 36-1 revolvers. In most models say model 27 the 27 without a dash was replaced by the 27-1, but the 36 was made in multiple dash numbers at the same time, the dash numbers meaning tapered barrel, 3 inch heavy barrel etc.

 

[K-22]

Thank You

What is not being explained well is that with model 36 revolvers the 36 without any dash number was not replaced by the 36-1 it was still manufactured along with 36-1 revolvers. In most models say model 27 the 27 without a dash was replaced by the 27-1, but the 36 was made in multiple dash numbers at the same time, the dash numbers meaning tapered barrel, 3 inch heavy barrel etc.

Thus ends the mystery.
Thank you.
Best,
Gary

 

[JP@AK]

What is not being explained well is that with model 36 revolvers the 36 without any dash number was not replaced by the 36-1 it was still manufactured along with 36-1 revolvers.

True. But Bob wrote this in his post #2 above:

S&W launched the Model 36-1 in 1966 -- it had a 3" Heavy Barrel.
The company continued to concurrently produce the Model 36 until 1988.

Note the word, concurrently.

You explained this well, and Gary (K-22) now gets it. Good.

 

[Hondo44]

...but the 36 was made in multiple dash numbers at the same time, the dash numbers meaning tapered barrel, 3 inch heavy barrel etc.

The M36 no dash # was the 2" and 3" tapered barrels.

The dash 1 for the M36 was for the 3" heavy barrel in 1968 and the 2" heavy barrel in 1975.

The dash 2 in 1988 for the new yoke retention system with tapered barrels.

The dash 3 in 1988 for the new yoke retention system with heavy barrels.

 

[T112-4]

I have a model 36 no dash s/n 57J723 3in heavy barrel. I think they call this the random J because it was put in various spots in the s/n. 1971-72 only years.

 

[Hondo44]

Frames are stamped with the Model # long before barrels are fitted to them. S&W would install a heavy barrel on a Mod 36 no dash stamped frame to complete the order and get it out the door.


The "floating" J series, used 1969 thru 1972.

 

[Vtgw938]

Trying to figure this out. Would a stamped model 36 with a three inch barrel and shipped May 1974 be a 36 or 36-1 that didn't get stamped with the -1?

 

[murphydog]

Trying to figure this out. Would a stamped model 36 with a three inch barrel and shipped May 1974 be a 36 or 36-1 that didn't get stamped with the -1?

The model 36 was made with a 2 or 3" tapered barrel, the latter like yours. The 36-1 had a heavy 3" barrel; another key to this is a much shorter front sight than a 3" model 36.

 

[Vtgw938]

Model 36 tapered barrel it is. Thank you.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Would a stamped model 36 with a three inch barrel and shipped May 1974 be a 36 or 36-1 that didn't get stamped with the -1?

S&W made the 3" Model 36 with a lightweight barrel and the 3"
Model 36-1 with the Heavy Barrel until 1976 when it deleted the
3" lightweight barrel on carbon steel Chiefs. The 3" Model 37s
continued to have the 3" lightweight barrel stamped AIRWEIGHT
on the right side above the caliber.