Square Butt, Two Inch Barrel Chiefs Special??

[The Real Hawkeye]

Just bought this yesterday. Primo condition (looks essentially new), excellent action, original box and papers. $700.00 out the door. Manufactured in the 1970s. How common was the combination of square butt frame and two inch barrel? Thanks.

 

[murphydog]

The majority were RB by a large margin, but the SB is fairly common. Someone here may have data about the relative percentages. Enjoy!

 

[stmry]

Looks good from where I'm sitting.

 

[O2Guy]

Not very rare in square butt. Yours looks nicer than mine.

 

[poordevil]

I wish I could tell you the number difference between RB vs SB, but I will say, I bought a SB chief new in about 1983 and carried it and shoot it and used it heavy, till in 2011 or so, sent it back to S&W to have refinished from blue to nickel. It is a wonderful gun that shoots way out of proportion to its size. You are going to like it.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I wish I could tell you the number difference between RB vs SB, but I will say, I bought a SB chief new in about 1983 and carried it and shoot it and used it heavy, till in 2011 or so, sent it back to S&W to have refinished from blue to nickel. It is a wonderful gun that shoots way out of proportion to its size. You are going to like it.

I suspect I will. Thanks. Looking forward to getting it to the range. Once it checks out, it will become my EDC. I've already put some Hogue, exotic wood, Monogrips on it, and it feels great in the hand. Looks great, too.

 

[waffles]

Nicer than mine! I'd say you may have overpaid a bit, but that's a tough thing to say as you're sure to get more than $700 worth of enjoyment out of it

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Nicer than mine! I'd say you may have overpaid a bit, but that's a tough thing to say as you're sure to get more than $700 worth of enjoyment out of it

That's a beauty. No less nice than mine, by all appearances. Yours is a bit older, I assume, due to the flat latch.

That flat latch is likely a big improvement for one-handed double action shooting, as I usually get a cut up thumb when doing that with a J-Frame.

 

[bigmoneylewis]

I currently own 3 model 36s and a model 60 , all 1 7/8" barrel .
Two of my 36's are blued square butts . My other 36 is nickle and a round butt, and my m60 is round as well. I will say this , the square butt J frames shoot so much more acurate for me. They just fit in the hand much better and that makes all the diffrence in the world .
The round butts may be slightly easier to conceal, but the diffrence in hand is night and day , at least in my opinion .

Lewis

 

[kozmic]

My 36 no dash, dates to the mid '60s. As seen, it is in great condition and sports a square butt with numbered stocks. I paid a touch over 500 bucks out the door (no box or candy) about 6 months back. Price is entirely relative to how it makes you feel.

As an old guitar collector told me "They aren't making '59 Les Pauls and Stratocasters anymore". Similarly, they aren't making 60s and 70s Model 36s anymore....At least that's how I justify buying old S&W revolvers.

 

[ColbyBruce]

They are pretty common around my house. J frame guns can grow on you, so be careful.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I currently own 3 model 36s and a model 60 , all 1 7/8" barrel .
Two of my 36's are blued square butts . My other 36 is nickle and a round butt, and my m60 is round as well. I will say this , the square butt J frames shoot so much more acurate for me. They just fit in the hand much better and that makes all the diffrence in the world .
The round butts may be slightly easier to conceal, but the diffrence in hand is night and day , at least in my opinion .

Lewis

I agree with their feel in the hand. I will likely find that to be the case in terms of results at the range, too, which I plan on getting to during the upcoming week.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

They are pretty common around my house. J frame guns can grow on you, so be careful.

Wow! Nice.

Yeah, I have quite a few J-Frames, myself. Love the picture.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have a pair of S&W 31-1 .32 S&W Long revolvers with square butts. I shoot those better with larger stocks. The .32 S&W Long is very unappreciated amongst hand gunners (except for a fan base here). One of these would make a nice companion to your 36.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I have a pair of S&W 31-1 .32 S&W Long revolvers with square butts. I shoot those better with larger stocks. The .32 S&W Long is very unappreciated amongst hand gunners (except for a fan base here). One of these would make a nice companion to your 36.

I agree. When can you send one to me?

 

[ColbyBruce]

I agree. When can you send one to me?

I did have one of these listed for sale a few months back, but have since come to my senses. If you want to email me your contact info and price and condition requirements I will keep an eye out for you. When .32 revolvers come through the local LE supply store they tend to sit, while a semi auto pistol will sail out the door within hours. Most new, young lawmen can't even spell "revolver", much less have any appreciation for one.

If you are not near Atlanta, GA you will need to consider FFL and shipping fees.

[email protected]

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I did have one of these listed for sale a few months back, but have since come to my senses. If you want to email me your contact info and price and condition requirements I will keep an eye out for you. When .32 revolvers come through the local LE supply store they tend to sit, while a semi auto pistol will sail out the door within hours. Most new, young lawmen can't even spell "revolver", much less have any appreciation for one.

If you are not near Atlanta, GA you will need to consider FFL and shipping fees.

[email protected]

Thanks. That's real nice of you, but that was my lame attempt at being funny. Although they are very nice revolvers, I'm not in the market for one right now.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Thanks. That's real nice of you, I'm not in the market for one right now.

I will remember this the next time I run into a S&W .32 for $150.00, LOL!!

 

[colt_saa]

This one is a 1971 that I found in one of the Pawn Shops that I pop my head into from time to time

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

This one is a 1971 that I found in one of the Pawn Shops that I pop my head into from time to time

Nice. The pawn shop near me, when it gets in any old S&W revolvers, only has pure junk. That there's a treasure.