Am looking at a S&W Model 36-1 Cheifs Special Target 3” in excellent condition.Is a pre-50 version. Wondering a good price for it, I think pretty rare and comes with original box. Cant find the pricing on BB but I want it. Any price eatimtes? Thanks, Brian
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S&W Model 36-1 Chiefs Special Target 3”
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I have no idea what the pricing climate is like in Oregon. Lots of things alter price. Is this an online transaction? Is this a face to face local transaction? Is this a store?
If you can get a truly excellent model 36 Chiefs Special Target for $1600 or less I think you'll probably be doing very very good
They are nice revolvers and very easy to shoot with the upgraded sights
I am not sure it is rare but it is certainly unusual. Original box helps. I recently bought an absolutely immaculate Chiefs Special 2" blue with no papers or box for I think $650 (CA price). That was a good deal, maybe even a very good deal. I guess it depends if you are looking at it as a shooter or a collector's item. I think that the $1,600 estimate above is steep, but for a collectors piece as opposed to a shooter that may be perfectly reasonable.
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Sounds like a cool gun. I would also guess the value estimate above is high but not by much ($200-300?), but with no data to support that.
This gun actually came well after the model 50 designation was used and was the last blued steel J frame .38 Target made. No rhyme or reason as to why one was called a model 50 or a 36 as far as I can tell.
This gun actually came well after the model 50 designation was used and was the last blued steel J frame .38 Target made. No rhyme or reason as to why one was called a model 50 or a 36 as far as I can tell.
Watch carefully. Does the front sight look like the picture in post 2? This is a commonly "Faked" item. Non-target sight revolvers can be easily refit with target sights, but the front sight is very difficult to come by, so they usually used a high blade only with no base. Like this:
The value is about half that of an original.
The value is about half that of an original.
Check right grip panel for factory serial number
My Nickel Model 36-1 shipped in 1982. While NOT a Target Model it was "unique" ( maybe not rare, but still different than most of that age). The gun was pretty standard from all aspects and I sold it for $550 in early 2021.
I only found out later from Bob (Wrangler of stray Chiefs) on this forum that the factory numbered grips were "the highest serial number J frame grips in the data base". I don't recall when S&W quit numbering grips, but it was before 1982 for sure.
Had I known the grip s/n thing, I probably would have kept it..Oh well......live and learn.
I also didn't know the Target versions of 36-1 were so highly priced and sought after. Were not that many made? What else other than the adjustable sights makes them command such elevated prices for just the gun?
My Nickel Model 36-1 shipped in 1982. While NOT a Target Model it was "unique" ( maybe not rare, but still different than most of that age). The gun was pretty standard from all aspects and I sold it for $550 in early 2021.
I only found out later from Bob (Wrangler of stray Chiefs) on this forum that the factory numbered grips were "the highest serial number J frame grips in the data base". I don't recall when S&W quit numbering grips, but it was before 1982 for sure.
Had I known the grip s/n thing, I probably would have kept it..Oh well......live and learn.
I also didn't know the Target versions of 36-1 were so highly priced and sought after. Were not that many made? What else other than the adjustable sights makes them command such elevated prices for just the gun?
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The Model 36-1 Chiefs Special Target (ca. 1975, although serial
numbered in the earlier "roving J series") was a run of 213 units,
although, according to S&W Hisorian Dr. Roy Jinks, "202
shipped," and "The 3" Heavy Barrel did not fit the Model 50
designation." That's probably due to the fact that at the time S&W
came up with the Model 50 distinction (1962) for a Chiefs Special
Target model there was no such thing as a 3" Heavy Barrel, which
was not introduced as a separate model as the 36-1 until 1966.
You cannot compare prices for a 2" Chiefs Special or even a 3"
Chiefs Special Model 36-1 to a Model 36-1 Chiefs Special Target.
The gun you're looking at was one of the only of its kind. The
serial series runs from 2J3124 - 2J3347.
I do track online sales prices on the model, and in the last three
years ones almost as new in the box have varied between
$1,350 and $1,977. The most recent sale I've documented was
in May 2023, and the hammer price was $1,852.
Here's a photo of serial number 2J3333 -- as new in the box.
S&W did make another blue 3" Heavy Barrel, full lug Chiefs
Special Target model in 1989. It's the Model 36-6. The finish is
called "blue -- glass bead-blasted," and Hogue's Monogrip was
standard.
ps: my name's Bob, not Dave, and I wrangle "stray" not just "old" Chiefs.
numbered in the earlier "roving J series") was a run of 213 units,
although, according to S&W Hisorian Dr. Roy Jinks, "202
shipped," and "The 3" Heavy Barrel did not fit the Model 50
designation." That's probably due to the fact that at the time S&W
came up with the Model 50 distinction (1962) for a Chiefs Special
Target model there was no such thing as a 3" Heavy Barrel, which
was not introduced as a separate model as the 36-1 until 1966.
You cannot compare prices for a 2" Chiefs Special or even a 3"
Chiefs Special Model 36-1 to a Model 36-1 Chiefs Special Target.
The gun you're looking at was one of the only of its kind. The
serial series runs from 2J3124 - 2J3347.
I do track online sales prices on the model, and in the last three
years ones almost as new in the box have varied between
$1,350 and $1,977. The most recent sale I've documented was
in May 2023, and the hammer price was $1,852.
Here's a photo of serial number 2J3333 -- as new in the box.
S&W did make another blue 3" Heavy Barrel, full lug Chiefs
Special Target model in 1989. It's the Model 36-6. The finish is
called "blue -- glass bead-blasted," and Hogue's Monogrip was
standard.
ps: my name's Bob, not Dave, and I wrangle "stray" not just "old" Chiefs.
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36 target
This is my made up one/"fake", Sights added years ago by Cheshire & Perez,Monrovia ,Ca......They were a factory warranty and LE dealer. Done while I had a In&out burger and fries................... one of them original 213 would sure be nice to own
This is my made up one/"fake", Sights added years ago by Cheshire & Perez,Monrovia ,Ca......They were a factory warranty and LE dealer. Done while I had a In&out burger and fries................... one of them original 213 would sure be nice to own
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Yes, I forgot about the 36-6...the one I can afford! 
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Model 36-1
I've never seen a Model 36-1 with target sights. Kind of weird looking but also very interesting. i was at my LGS last week
and the owner showed me a Model 50, he had just purchased.
He drags out this revolver, brand new in the box, never been
fired, no turn line, no bluing loss, no scratches, no nothing,
still wrapped in the original treated paper. All factory supplied
Docs still there. Marked as MOD-50 Don't remember anything about the serial number but he says it's from 1974.
I'll probably never see one again. I know they only made a
couple of thousand of them but to see one in this condition
was really something.
I've never seen a Model 36-1 with target sights. Kind of weird looking but also very interesting. i was at my LGS last week
and the owner showed me a Model 50, he had just purchased.
He drags out this revolver, brand new in the box, never been
fired, no turn line, no bluing loss, no scratches, no nothing,
still wrapped in the original treated paper. All factory supplied
Docs still there. Marked as MOD-50 Don't remember anything about the serial number but he says it's from 1974.
I'll probably never see one again. I know they only made a
couple of thousand of them but to see one in this condition
was really something.
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The first Chief's Special Target that I ever owned was the Model 60s that was produced for Ashland Shooting Supply back in 1985.
When I received that first CST I realized how well I could shoot it with those upgraded sites(I added the red insert to the front sight) and it became my BUG. I eventually did purchase a second one so that I could have a spare just in case. I switched to the J-Magnum when it was introduced in 1996. I am still w,aiting for the J-Magnum CST to be introduced.
However I always keep my eyes open for additional variations, obviously I purchased the 36-1 that is pictured above and I also purchased one of the full lug 3 inch 36-6 the CSTs
Then one day, about five years ago, I got exceptionally lucky and stumbled on a beautiful model 50 CST that I added into my collection.
.38SuperMan
Member
Not a 36 but my dealer has an early 60 3” with target sights in the original box and the gun is excellent. don’t know the dash but it’s pre lock. He’s asking $700 and it’s been there for about 6 weeks.
OP
Thanks all for the info. I was at the Denver Gun Collectors show and an older collector had about 15 beautiful S&Ws in original boxes with tools and papers. One of these was the 3” 36-1 Target, as per the box. two-bit-cowboy is correct as I finally found the history in the BB as the Model 36-1 Target Pre-model 50. Not many were made and the 100% value as per the BB is ~$1800. Unfortunately the collector was way out of my price range when I tried to make an offer. He was very attached to the guns and don’t blame him. Oh well….Thanks, Brian
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The M36-1 is the most unique Chiefs Special Target:
- the first and only model target with a front sight base (pre full barrel lug target models). All the previous M36 and M50 targets have the shark fin front sight with no sight base.
- the only 3” heavy barrel target (pre barrel lug models).
- the last target model w/o barrel lug
- only target model made in blue and nickel (less than 1/2 dozen).
- the first and only model target with a front sight base (pre full barrel lug target models). All the previous M36 and M50 targets have the shark fin front sight with no sight base.
- the only 3” heavy barrel target (pre barrel lug models).
- the last target model w/o barrel lug
- only target model made in blue and nickel (less than 1/2 dozen).
toroflow1
Member
Here's a couple...
Stop waiting. Go find a Model 60-10.
Yeah, the 60-10 .357 on J-Magnum CST was introduced in 1996.
Gentlemen,
My apologies for not being more specific, the revolver that both of you are referring to has a 3 inch barrel. Unfortunately it does not fit very well in my ankle holster
What I have been waiting for is Smith and Wesson to produce a 2" Model 60 CST on the J-Magnum frame
When it comes to the 3" J-Magnum Model 60CST, I am very fond of the Lew Horton Small Hunter that was produced in 1997.
A 2" would be a nice package. But I think you'll have to resort to making one.
It wouldn't be that difficult. Just shorten the barrel from the rear end, re-thread, re-cut the forcing cone and shorten the extractor rod.
It wouldn't be that difficult. Just shorten the barrel from the rear end, re-thread, re-cut the forcing cone and shorten the extractor rod.
