Scored flat-latch 4-screw Chiefs Special

[robertrwalsh]

I hardly ever buy guns at gun shows. The owners often seem to think that their guns are hand engraved and gold plated, and price them accordingly. Not always however.

Today at the gun show in Sacramento I scored a flat-latch, 4-screw, blue 2" Chiefs Special for $675 OTD. Private party transfer. It is an old cops gun with a fair bit of blue wear on the muzzle and around the cylinder. Times correctly on all five bores. Cross-hatched trigger (which I could do without, I like a smooth trigger for d/a). Even came with an interesting holster, a Thompson BTK30S. It has an open cylinder window. It is black basket-weave and is open on three sides and held together by a spring coming up from the bottom. It is a vertical right side OTW belt holster.

Serial # 49723. Probably-possibly 1953. With luck the Chief Wrangler will be along to help me out on the date. I may even letter this puppy, see if it was a department gun or not. No obvious department markings on it. Once I get it out of CA gun jail in ten days I will take a good luck under the grips and see if anything strange is lurking there. I gotta admit I am pretty pleased with myself on this one. Not that I NEED another Chiefs Special, but need has very little to do with it.

 

[Elroy]

if truly a '53 we would anticipate an early pre-war hammer.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Will post photos when I get it out of CA gun jail.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Congrats.

Based on others in the database near the serial number you gave
us it would have shipped in late '54 or early '55. The first known
four-screw Chiefs Special is serial number 46042, and it shipped
in September 1954.

Like Elroy's, yours will have the third version of the flat thumbpiece.
It has 10 ridges and 11 valleys.

The small knurled hammer, as collectors call it, was used on Chiefs
from serial number 1 through about 77850 in May 1956.

Enjoy your new Chiefs Special.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Thanks for info.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Turned out the gun was hot. The Sheriff's Office seized it. I have been trying without success to contact the seller, who now has $600 of my money. First time this has happened to me in over 50 years of gun buying. I will let you know how this works out. So far I have been unable to contact the actual seller. His phone just rings and rings and rings.

 

[GypsmJim]

Will post photos when I get it out of CA gun jail.

I understand the jail comment, but not how it works. Shouldn't the seller have retained it until it passed muster? That being the case, wouldn't you pay the full price when you received it, not when you made the sale?

 

[CalifEd]

All pistol sales have to go through an FFL/01 or 07.
In the PRofC, you pay the seller, you do the paperwork, called a DROS, at the FFL's store and they keep it in their storage for 10 days, unless you are LEO or the gun qualifies as C&R and have an 03. This is affectionally referred to as Jail.
The Dealer Record Of Sale (DROS) goes into the wild blue where the authorities do their checks. This is were it got tagged as stolen.

 

[bamabiker]

Wow that's a bummer. Was the guy set up at the show? Did he have other guns for sale?

 

[bobsguns]

Does the FFL not retain the seller's info? A copy of his DL?

Don't give up on the gun. I've seen S/Ns be wrong that were reported stolen. It could also have been recovered in the past but not removed from the stolen list. I've seen this happen to someone I knew.

Was his phone # a landline or cell #?

 

[dobegrant]

That sucks, hope it works out for you.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I am working on contacting the seller. If nothing else since he had a table set up at the show and I have seen him there several times before if push comes to shove I should be able to contact him thru the show operator. I have contacted the venue to see if they can put me in touch with the show operator. Also I am hopeful (if not fully confident) that it is an error of some sort. The seller told me the gun came from a retired cop and he carried it on duty. The holster that came with the gun is clearly a cop holster so I am inclined to believe the story. If nothing else I am confident the S.O. will want to talk to him about it and I should be able to get some info in that direction, maybe-probably.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I suspect the phone number is a cell, but I don't know that for sure. I don't get any mail box, or full mailbox, or non-set-up mailbox announcement when I call. Just rings and no pick-up.

 

[Elroy]

All pistol sales have to go through an FFL/01 or 07.
In the PRofC, you pay the seller, you do the paperwork, called a DROS, at the FFL's store and they keep it in their storage for 10 days, unless you are LEO or the gun qualifies as C&R and have an 03. This is affectionally referred to as Jail.
The Dealer Record Of Sale (DROS) goes into the wild blue where the authorities do their checks. This is were it got tagged as stolen.

I would trust those records would accurately ID both the buyer and seller. So what happens to the firearm ? Would it be safe to assume the authorities take possession in an attempt to return it to rightful owner. Would contacting the local DA be next step ?

That sucks, hope it works out for you.

good luck to you on getting this mess worked out.

 

[Green Frog]

Here in VA, for a private sale they take both buyer’s and seller’s info and the gun must stay with the seller until everything clears.
Regardless, I can’t imagine the FFL in any state processing a private sale without all of the seller’s info. What if he’s the one who stole it? Something is crazy in California (or is that redundant?)
Froggie

 

[jcelect]

Turned out the gun was hot. The Sheriff's Office seized it. I have been trying without success to contact the seller, who now has $600 of my money. First time this has happened to me in over 50 years of gun buying. I will let you know how this works out. So far I have been unable to contact the actual seller. His phone just rings and rings and rings.

Do a reverse lookup on the phone number! You should be able to find the owners address!
jcelect