The Really Old Chief's Special Thread

[bmcgilvray]

Doohickey works and is always appropriate for any little appendage, protuberance, appurtenance, attachment, thingy or indeed, thingamabob.

Bug is shorter though.

 

[bettis1]

I think we're finally getting to the bottom of this dilemma. It is called, or they are called "Bug screws" because they BUG people!

I propose calling the smaller screw the "Locking Screw" and the larger screw the "Screw that is locked". Anyone confused there???

Bob

 

[bmcgilvray]

Hi Bob and Merry Christmas to you.

Of course you know that we will now have to call all the other screws the "screws that are not locked."

I'm still trying to hang with all these technical terms.

 

[Oyeboteb]

#1 is on display at the S&W factory museum IIRC. 2 & 3 were shipped out of the country, # 4 was being chased by a friend of mine and #5 was shipped to a writer at one of the gun magazines.

I would guess that most of the first 100 are buried deep in private collections and won't see the light of day for years to come.

I started a thread about them a while back asking for photos of early Chief Specials and there were several 5 digit, a couple 4 digit and maybe one three digit. IIRC one member posted about 2 from the first 100 but that was all.

Thanks JSR III, good to know the first few are sort of accounted for.


Seems like as is so often the case, the earlier or earliest designs of a given production model are often the most charming.

I always liked the Chief's Special, but like the half-Round Front Sight ones best of all.

 

[Hondo44]

There's NO doubt the little locking screw is a bug screw.
It is.
That's a fact.

My post was to explain that Roy and factory workers considered the upper sideplate screw a bug screw, and it fits the locking definition of a bug screw.

I don't see much to disagree about. If they used the term, they have to be right- they made the gun and they made the screw. If they had called it a doohickey, it would be a doohickey, no matter what we called it.

No, I don't disagree that they have the right to call it anything they want including a "doohickey" since they made it and thank you for that historical perspective and technically correctness.

But that the upper side plate screw "fits the locking definition of a bug screw" which is a screw that locks in place a larger screw...can we agree to disagree there?

I admit I'd rather err on the side of clarity to my reader by using the SCSW explanation and hope you won't begrudge me that with the qualifier that Lee's official 'call' is "a bug screw that has a bug screw".

Peace?

 

[donniedee]

love the ol chiefs

 

[deserttrans]

Need Info On Chief's Special

Picked this up today and was needing help on it's Birthday? Excellent condition, hardly a mark on it. Ser# 69J88.

 

[JSR III]

Just a guesstimate but I would think late 60's or early 70's.

 

[Hondo44]

Very nice acquisition! I agree with JSR III. If the stocks are numbered to the gun which I have no doubt, it's no earlier than c. '68 when the diamond stocks ended.

When it was made and when it was shipped will most likely differ somewhat. The 1st can't be verified but of course a letter can confirm the latter.

 

[deserttrans]

Thanks for the great info. The stocks are numbered to the revolver. The manual is date 3-67. Is the 3 inch barrel a lower production for the most part? I have not seen many with the 3 inch barrel. Your help and comments are greatly appreciated.

 

[Goony]

Serial number 69J88 should've shipped in 1971.

 

[deserttrans]

Thanks again!!

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks for the great info. The stocks are numbered to the revolver. The manual is date 3-67. Is the 3 inch barrel a lower production for the most part? I have not seen many with the 3 inch barrel. Your help and comments are greatly appreciated.

Although the tapered barrel 3" guns showed up early Dec. 1950, 2nd month of production, they are far outnumbered by the 2". But with their c. 15 year longer production, they in turn outnumber the 3" heavy barrel introduced in '67 as the 36-1, at least in my experience. However the rare 3" targets are Mod 36-1s w/HB.

 

[handejector]

But that the upper side plate screw "fits the locking definition of a bug screw" which is a screw that locks in place a larger screw...can we agree to disagree there?

Peace?

We can.
Bug screws do lock other screws. They also lock other parts. Apparently, S&W's personnel thought they locked the upper sideplate corner.
I was surprised the Machinist's Handbook did not define the term.

 

[handejector]

Today I stumbled across something I had forgotten about.
While looking for another Engineering order, I saw this one.
From Neal & Jinks, Rev. Ed., page 237.

Remember, the Engineering orders in N&J are from a factory engineer's notebook, and were recorded at the time. So, we know that the factory called the upper sideplate screw a "bug screw" at least back to 1943.

 

[Hondo44]

Today I stumbled across something I had forgotten about.
While looking for another Engineering order, I saw this one.
From Neal & Jinks, Rev. Ed., page 237.

Remember, the Engineering orders in N&J are from a factory engineer's notebook, and were recorded at the time. So, we know that the factory called the upper sideplate screw a "bug screw" at least back to 1943.

HE, thanks for that although I took your word for it. Did you happen to find any Engineering orders in N&J referring to what the factory called the "bug screw" that locks the "bug screw"?

Thanks,

 

[handejector]

Did you happen to find any Engineering orders in N&J referring to what the factory called the "bug screw" that locks the "bug screw"?

nope.
They stop at 48-49 except for a few grip notations for 51.

I'm not going to let this bug me or screw with my mind.
Could it be the "bug screw's bug screw"?

 

[Hondo44]

nope.
They stop at 48-49 except for a few grip notations for 51.

I'm not going to let this bug me or screw with my mind.
Could it be the "bug screw's bug screw"?

That's too bad, I wonder if Roy has more insight on post '51 or post "airweight" factory inside nomenclature. As I said earlier I'm happy to use your "bug screw that locks the bug screw". I don't think we'll hear different. I won't let it "bug" me either, in fact I find it to be one of many of those interesting S&W collecting sidebars to 'kick around'.

 

[Elroy]

What hand is the ejector thread??

Would this pre-36 Chief Special have RIGHT HAND ejector rod thread??

Serial #484xx would date to what ?? '54 ??

A 4 screw Chief Special. Serrated ramp with the long guard.

The ejector needs to come apart and I need confirmation on what hand thread. I'm thinking it's RIGHT HAND but boy is it tight. Before I get real serious with it I want to make sure I'm turning it in the correct direction.

Surely one of you guys can confirm thread hand. Thank you kindly in advance

 

[mbliss57]

While we are at it . Baby Chief value?

I picked one up at a show yesterday.. 5 screw with round trigger guard but ramp sight and raised cylinder release. '52-'53