Question on j frame with no model number

[john14_18]

Maybe I am missing something, and at my age, I miss a lot, but I am looking to purchase this j frame 38 special, 2" barrel, blue, orig diamond grips, flat latch, serial number 206141.

According to S&WCHAD, the serial number places the gun in 1961 which would make it a model 36.

However, there is no model number stamped on the gun. Normally there is a MOD-# stamped on guns after 57 but this one has no stamp at all.

Is it common to find one that was not stamped at all in this time frame? I have had quite a few of these over the years and never found one like this one.

Thanks in advance,
Jack

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Does the right side of the barrel say "AIRWEIGHT" above the caliber?

 

[john14_18]

No. Just 38 S&W SPCL. All steel frame and cylinder.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Hmmm. I asked because Dr. Jinks has said there was a run of
Chiefs Special Airweights in the early 60s that left the factory
without a model number stamped on the frame in the yoke cut.
Maybe there were some carbon steel Chiefs, too.

Two curious bits to me are the flat style thumbpiece and the
hammer. That 3rd flat style thumbpiece was used for a very
short time from late 1953 through spring 1955. At the serial
number you gave us the 7th flat style thumbpiece was in use.

The Engineering Change to that large coarse hammer came out
in December 1955.

Also, at the time the 3rd flat style thumbpiece was being used the
guns had a standard, postwar dull blue finish. Yours appears to be
bright blue.

One more curiosity question. Is the serial number stamped on
the inside of the right walnut stock and the front face of the
extractor star?

 

[john14_18]

Yes. It is a deep blue finish. Not dull at all. Grips are excellent and only a few handling marks. Few spots on cylinder where it sat for years and turn line.
Matching serial number is stamped on inside right grip and face of ejector star. Added new pic of hammer above.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Thanks for sharing the extra photos.

Here's a theory: someone along the way swapped the original flat
thumbpiece for the older mat-blue one currently on the revolver.

Very unusual the serial number is not stamped on the back of the
extractor star. My photo shows an example.

Added: your serial number places your Chiefs Special in the midst
of an order for 1,500 Model 36s for Japan. That order shipped on
December 5, 1960.

 

[john14_18]

After more careful examination, the serial number is stamped on the face of the ejector star and inside right grip. I changed above answer to reflect this.

As far as the theory of the thumbpiece being swapped for an older makes sense, because unless you push from the back of the thumbpiece, the cylinder will not open, but what reason would someone have to do that?

 

[Muley Gil]

After more careful examination, the serial number is stamped on the face of the ejector star and inside right grip. I changed above answer to reflect this.

As far as the theory of the thumbpiece being swapped for an older makes sense, because unless you push from the back of the thumbpiece, the cylinder will not open, but what reason would someone have to do that?

Screw came loose and he lost the original thumbpiece?

 

[Truckman]

Screw came loose and he lost the original thumbpiece?

A common occurrence......Ben

 

[two-bit cowboy]

As far as the theory of the thumbpiece being swapped for an older makes sense, ...

If you decide to search for the correct thumbpiece, this might help:

The flat thumbpiece you probably need is the one I call the sixth
flat style thumbpiece. Here's how I describe it: "The sixth flat
style thumbpiece has 11 ridges and 12 valleys, and its screw
spans ridges four through six." (photo 1)

The fifth flat style thumbpiece is often hard to distinguish from
the sixth. The one distinction is the screw barely cuts into the
7th ridge. It came out when the finish was still a mat blue and
was still in use when the bright blue finish became the standard.
My only close-up photo of the fifth flat style thumbpiece is a
nickel one. (photo 2)

 

[john14_18]

latch

Thanks! I appreciate it. I will post on wtb and if anyone has one to sell, please contact me.

Thanks,
Jack

 

[JSR III]

As Dr. Jinks has explained several times, it is always possible that the roll stamp was broken that day or that the worker just missed one. S&W was not known to stop a sale because of a missing stamp as long as it did not affect function it went out the door.

May not be the case here but always a possibility.

 

[luvsmiths]

Stamp it 29-1....