S&W .38 SPL Chiefs Special Target Revolver

[swagmeister]

That is a pretty rare revolver! You said that you are contemplating selling it. I agree with the previous poster's comments concerning trying to sell it at a gunshow, gun store, or pawn shop. They WILL try to take advantage of you and offer a ridiculously low price and then brag about how they gave so little for it. I understand that those places are businesses or individuals who are trying to make a profit to keep their businesses going and as the result of buying, selling, and trading firearms for over 50 years, I further understand their game. But as one wise old retired sheriff told me many years ago,"they can make their profit on someone else, just not me." If it were mine and I were forced to sell it, I would not take a penny under $1000. Good luck with your decision, but I would keep that one!

 

[Hammer2024]

I bought an Ashland Shooting Supply that was advertised as one of 3000 run in 1985 or 86. I’m not home now so I can’t access the box or invoice. Nice gun. Should originally have magma stocks on it.

This is the only Smith & Wesson I’ve ever owned and I haven’t looked at it for many years so I’ve been doing a lot just in the past 24 hours. I just looked online and saw what Magna stocks (grips) look like and I do believe that’s the ones that I have in my gun parts storage box I’ll be digging thru tomorrow.

Would this CST revolver have had gold medallion or silver S&W medallions on its wooden grips?

 

[Rick Sanborn]

Mine is an ALU prefix 60-1, showing the type of grips it came with when I bought it several years ago.

 

[Hammer2024]

Mine is an ALU prefix 60-1, showing the type of grips it came with when I bought it several years ago.

Thanks! Those look like what I remember because they had gold medallions because 25+ years ago I remember wondering if it was real gold or not. I’m traveling tomorrow through Thursday but I’ll have access to gun parts box I believe they’re in on Thursday afternoon and when I find them, I’ll put them back on the revolver and take pictures and share it with everybody.

 

[murphydog]

jcelect - I just sent you a PM with the full serial number for your database.

It’s a little confusing because you’re saying it’s not a CST, but then the next post from Hawg Rider on the thread says that it is a CST from the 1985 block. What am I missing?

Oh, and I do believe I have those brown wooden checkered grips with the S&W medallion but they’re in a box in my storage that I’m gonna have to dig through to get. I do not think I have a blue colored box that I see pics of for Chief Special .38 Revolvers.

If it didn’t come through the Ashland group, and it’s not part of a 1986 CST group, is it possible that the chief who got it may have ordered it directly in that configuration from Smith and Wesson? He was very senior and was in the second largest sheriff department in the nation at the time.

jcelect is correct in that the official CSTs were the blued Chiefs Specials, model 36s and 50s with adjustable sights out to the mid-1970s. After these, S & W made a lot of adjustable sight model 36s and 60s which are the unofficial successors to the earlier guns.

If you requested a letter of authenticity on one of these model 60-1s, it may state it is a "model 60-1, special stainless Target variation" or words to that effect. Effectively the same as a CST. Angels dancing on the heads of pins and all that.

 

[Hammer2024]

Here’s a picture of the inside of the cylinder. Again, this is my first Smith & Wesson revolver, and I’m curious do all of them have this number 1 stamp ?

 

[Hammer2024]

And Gold Contributor JCELECT ran my full AHV44XX serial number in his database and he let me know that its the only AHV he has, and it is the earliest that he has, which just adds to the mystique and interest of this special S&W revolver.

I’m mailing out my authenticity/factory letter request form tomorrow.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I appreciate what I’m finding out about this revolver! It sat in a drawer for at least 25 years and just recently I pulled it out and was thinking about taking it to a gun show to sell.

If I can’t find the box and original grips, Any idea on what this pistol is worth in today’s market?

And if I choose to sell it, should I try listing it on this S&W Forum or should I take it to one of the large gun shows in Florida?

Welcome to the S&W Forum.

You will get a better deal here from a Collector. At a Gun Show most people want to buy guns cheaply so they can resell them.

 

[Hammer2024]

Found Them!

I finally got to my gun parts box and dug to the bottom and look what I found! I took the Pachmayer grips off and put these back on and I forgot how cool they look!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I did a little digging, and could only come up with information that has already been given to you by other Forum members. The "AHV" triple alpha serial number definitely dates your Model 60-1 revolver to 1985 (the A in the s/n does not refer to Ashland). Its Product Code (102305) says: "2" barrel w/round butt, with adjustable sights. Limited production of 660 for Ashland Shooters Supply...special 1985, Model 60-1". Apparently the same Product Code was used for 2" adjustable sight Model 60-1s manufactured in 1986 that were not part of the Ashland shipment (SCSW 4th Ed., pg 262). Some Forum members have mentioned that they've seen a bunch of these Model 60 adjustable sight revolvers, so I believe that they've seen ones from 1986, and not the Ashland version like you have. Your revolver would have been shipped with checkered walnut stocks with S&W medallions. This appears to be a fairly rare and valuable revolver, but without the original box and walnut stocks, probably not worth $1000. More like $800. As others have said, if you're planning to sell it, first try the S&W Forums "Want to Sell". Dealers at gun shows (or pawn shops) will try to low ball you. Good luck.

You are correct. More 660 for Ashland made. Neat to shoot. Makes a great Carpenter Bee gun too.

 

[jcelect]

I finally got to my gun parts box and dug to the bottom and look what I found! I took the Pachmayer grips off and put these back on and I forgot how cool they look!

The grips do improve the curb appeal of your gun. However, I believe they are not the grips that were on the gun when it left the factory! Note the "diamond" around the screw in the checkering! Please refer back to post#22? This is the configuration of the grips that would be correct for your gun. The diamond centered grips you have would have a number stamped on the back side of the right grip panel. This would be the serial number of the gun from which the grips came.
jcelect

 

[Hammer2024]

The grips do improve the curb appeal of your gun. However, I believe they are not the grips that were on the gun when it left the factory! Note the "diamond" around the screw in the checkering! Please refer back to post#22? This is the configuration of the grips that would be correct for your gun. The diamond centered grips you have would have a number stamped on the back side of the right grip panel. This would be the serial number of the gun from which the grips came.
jcelect

I’ll have to go back and dig deeper into my gun parts box then. What model would these grips have gone to? The deputy chief has several pistols and parts in a box that I got from him and when I pulled these out, I saw a larger set that had a S&W medallion, but they were too big to fit on this 38 special

 

[Hammer2024]

I’ll have to go back and dig deeper into my gun parts box then. What model would these grips have gone to? Are these for an older model or a newer model S&W than this .38 special that I have?

The deputy chief has several pistols and parts in a box that I got from him and when I pulled these out, I saw a larger set that had a S&W medallion, but they were too big to fit on this 38 special.
I actually have several boxes in that storage locker and I’ll have to go thru them. I’m sure I can find the right set. I just need to figure out which pistol these diamond pattern goes to. Te Deputy Chief may have just had them from an earlier revolver he had or as a spare set?

 

[toddimusnimski]

I’ll have to go back and dig deeper into my gun parts box then. What model would these grips have gone to? Are these for an older model or a newer model S&W than this .38 special that I have?

The deputy chief has several pistols and parts in a box that I got from him and when I pulled these out, I saw a larger set that had a S&W medallion, but they were too big to fit on this 38 special.

Those stocks could be from most any J frame revolver made before 1968-ish, including the Model 60. I believe that S&W had stopped stamping the serial numbers into the inside of the RH stock by the time your gun was shipped. With no way to know what exact pair shipped with yours, any set of well-fitting period correct stocks should be fine.

Todd

 

[Retired W4]

My lettered Ashland Shooter's Supply 60-1, ALU4192 was shipped to A.S.S. on September 20, 1985. It's now my wife's gun, and she keeps it close by. These are the original stocks.

 

[POC]

I bought my model 60 w ADJ sights from an El Paso county CO deputy sheriff back in the 90s. It was my understanding several runs of target sight model 60s were made for agencies that required adj sights 38 special for “office” duty guns. I really need to get a letter for mine

 

[tjpopkin]

I have a 3" version.....great shooter....

 

[Jase2007]

60 Ashland

My lettered Ashland Shooter's Supply 60-1, ALU4192 was shipped to A.S.S. on September 20, 1985. It's now my wife's gun, and she keeps it close by. These are the original stocks.

Glad to see you still have that Ashland retired w4 you traded me out of. I’ve got another one a few months ago. Don’t see them too often.

The original grips should be like retired w4s. I’ve heard they only made 660 but I’ve seen a lot of them to make me question it. Serial number wise I’ve only seen alu anb and aiv. Mines an alu. My buddy has 3 of them and none are ahv. So you must have one of the very first ones. I’d hang on to it.

 

[Retired W4]

Glad to see you still have that Ashland retired w4 you traded me out of. I’ve got another one a few months ago. Don’t see them too often.

The original grips should be like retired w4s. I’ve heard they only made 660 but I’ve seen a lot of them to make me question it. Serial number wise I’ve only seen alu anb and aiv. Mines an alu. My buddy has 3 of them and none are ahv. So you must have one of the very first ones. I’d hang on to it.

Yes I still have it Jace. Do you still have the 60-9 357?

Here is the Ashford 60-1 with my special run 60-1 (one of 171) 3" SB from June 12, 1978.

 

[Capt29]

The first Chiefs with adjustable sights were square butt models that were shipped to HH Harris Company in Chicago in the 70s. I remember seeing them in the showcase when I was a young Lieutenant there. HH Harris was the "John Jovino" of the Chicago PD back in that day. They had several limited run S&Ws, unfortunately I was busy raising a family and did not have a lot of cash for guns back then. I did get a 3" M19 in Nickle from them-still have it. Carried it a lot as a lieutenant and Captain.