Leave it alone - it looks beautiful. It's quite valuable just the way it is. It's very cool to have a gun in the family passed down from one gereration to the next.
The Really Old Chief's Special Thread
- Thread starter bmcgilvray
- Start date
Leave it alone - it looks beautiful. It's quite valuable just the way it is. It's very cool to have a gun in the family passed down from one gereration to the next.
animalmother
Member
Love the old school CS guns.
handejector
Staff member
- Joined
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Always something to learn-
In a recent thread- early pre-36 Chief Special I learned that later Baby Chiefs came with the "Ramped" flat latch. I think I had noticed that on some before and wondered if they were replaced or natural. (I forget)
It is so hard to get a bunch of them in one place for comparison!
Anyway, a few days ago, I picked up another-
Top gun is 7755, early latch, smooth ramp sight.
Bottom is 42037, Ramped latch, serrated ramp sight.
There are THREE sight varieties on Baby Chiefs-
Half Moon
Smooth Ramp
Serrated Ramp
In a recent thread- early pre-36 Chief Special I learned that later Baby Chiefs came with the "Ramped" flat latch. I think I had noticed that on some before and wondered if they were replaced or natural. (I forget)
It is so hard to get a bunch of them in one place for comparison!
Anyway, a few days ago, I picked up another-
Top gun is 7755, early latch, smooth ramp sight.
Bottom is 42037, Ramped latch, serrated ramp sight.
There are THREE sight varieties on Baby Chiefs-
Half Moon
Smooth Ramp
Serrated Ramp
SASABERANGER
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Somehow I have overlooked this thread. These are the first S&Ws that I actually started to collect. The others I just had. In the past 14 years I have had about two dozen of these beauties. Twelve still reside with me in WY. MY two with the half moon sight are #99 (Aug 1951) and #1807. I have several more below 10,000 but all are ramp sights.
Right now I could not post pics, even if I wanted to as I am in Cocoa Beach, FL and the guns are in WY.
As Lee has pointed out there are several variations of the "flat latch" and the ramped sight. All of the ramps were serrated, but some were buffed flat before bluing, for unknown reasons. Also these could be ordered in hi polish blue, matte (standard) or nickle.
The trigger guard and grip frame were changed at the same time, sometime after S/N 41,000 (approximate). It would seem that the change also happened when the frame changed from five screw to three screw. I have not observed any four screw variations, but I know I have not seen everything...yet.
I have accumulated some data from Roy and other SWCA and forum members on the Chief Specials and would be happy to share anything I have with fellow members when I get home...about June 28, 2010.
eamil me any time at: [email protected]
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
Right now I could not post pics, even if I wanted to as I am in Cocoa Beach, FL and the guns are in WY.
As Lee has pointed out there are several variations of the "flat latch" and the ramped sight. All of the ramps were serrated, but some were buffed flat before bluing, for unknown reasons. Also these could be ordered in hi polish blue, matte (standard) or nickle.
The trigger guard and grip frame were changed at the same time, sometime after S/N 41,000 (approximate). It would seem that the change also happened when the frame changed from five screw to three screw. I have not observed any four screw variations, but I know I have not seen everything...yet.
I have accumulated some data from Roy and other SWCA and forum members on the Chief Specials and would be happy to share anything I have with fellow members when I get home...about June 28, 2010.
eamil me any time at: [email protected]
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
handejector
Staff member
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Thom,
I don't agree about all the ramps being serrated, and some polished off again!
The smooth ramps seemed to appear first in my observations over the years. Then, soon after, serrated ramps appeared, and they are intermingled heavily among serial numbers for a time, then the smooth fades away.
The smooth ramps I have had are fully as tall as the serrated ramps. If serrations had been polished off, they would have to shorter.
There are DEFINITELY Chiefs with 4 screw sideplates after the conversion to the large guard and long grips.
I don't agree about all the ramps being serrated, and some polished off again!
The smooth ramps seemed to appear first in my observations over the years. Then, soon after, serrated ramps appeared, and they are intermingled heavily among serial numbers for a time, then the smooth fades away.
The smooth ramps I have had are fully as tall as the serrated ramps. If serrations had been polished off, they would have to shorter.
There are DEFINITELY Chiefs with 4 screw sideplates after the conversion to the large guard and long grips.
bmg60
Member
Chiefs Special (Baby Chief)
Hi
Here are the Varations of the Baby Chief in 4 Guns.
1. Half moon front sight in (Nickel) Serial Number 1406 all orginal with
Matching grips.
2. Half moon front sight in (blued) serial Number 3729 all orginal with
Matching grips.
3. Ramped fron sight (smooth) serial number 6362 all orginal with
Matching grips
4. Ramped front sight (serrated) serial number 45962 all orginal with
matching grips. in the Rare (3 inch) Barrel length.
I also have the orginal boxes for all 4.
the rarest two guns are the nickeled half moon sighted gun and the
3 inch gun. this is the only 3 inch gun in the Baby chief I have seen.
If any body has a early nickel gun that is orginal or a 3 inch i would
like to see pictures and serial numbers.
I hope this helps.
Jim Fisher
Hi
Here are the Varations of the Baby Chief in 4 Guns.
1. Half moon front sight in (Nickel) Serial Number 1406 all orginal with
Matching grips.
2. Half moon front sight in (blued) serial Number 3729 all orginal with
Matching grips.
3. Ramped fron sight (smooth) serial number 6362 all orginal with
Matching grips
4. Ramped front sight (serrated) serial number 45962 all orginal with
matching grips. in the Rare (3 inch) Barrel length.
I also have the orginal boxes for all 4.
the rarest two guns are the nickeled half moon sighted gun and the
3 inch gun. this is the only 3 inch gun in the Baby chief I have seen.
If any body has a early nickel gun that is orginal or a 3 inch i would
like to see pictures and serial numbers.
I hope this helps.
Jim Fisher
Pilgrim
US Veteran
from 1955 sn 716XX
I used one of these in the Air Force
We did a lot of traveling where we were armed, when I first started it was with an old 45 automatic. When our group got the "Chief Special" it was a great day for us. A lot easier on the body to carry it on an airplane all day
We did a lot of traveling where we were armed, when I first started it was with an old 45 automatic. When our group got the "Chief Special" it was a great day for us. A lot easier on the body to carry it on an airplane all day
Texas Star
US Veteran
DHENRY
Member
Got this 1956 from its original owner.
Both the gun and its box are like a time capsule.
Don
Both the gun and its box are like a time capsule.
Don
Rikkn
US Veteran
Here is one I dug out, this has me stumped - I cannot date it as the SCS&W book does not tell of one in the gray box, and the s/n 98J839 is not there either. This one is unfired, 36 no dash, I am guessing mid 60's. Anyone have a clue ? What is value of one like this nowadays ?
Thanks,
Rick
Thanks,
Rick
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bmcgilvray
Member
"Half moon front sight in (blued) serial Number 3729 all orginal with
Matching grips."
Haven't gotten to review the thread to see if there is a half-moon front sight variation with a later serial number than this because I'm called away to supper.
What is the latest half-moon sight model seen by the Forum? Does anyone have a notion of when the last barrel with the half-moon front sight was screwed into a frame?
Matching grips."
Haven't gotten to review the thread to see if there is a half-moon front sight variation with a later serial number than this because I'm called away to supper.
What is the latest half-moon sight model seen by the Forum? Does anyone have a notion of when the last barrel with the half-moon front sight was screwed into a frame?
GentleG
Member
Proud owner of sn#37852. Baby Chief/serrated ramp/larger latch. I paid $125 for it in '97. Was well used but she can still put 5 rounds into the head of a B-27 target at 15 yards. Trigger is smooth as glass.
mkk41
US Veteran
So would we be incorrect to call these SIX screw guns?
No, it's a 5-screw. I don't have my guns at home right now, but I believe it lacks the screw in front of the trigger guard.
Hope it isn't getting too far afield to remember these variations of the Chief Special...the hammerless. These two shipped in '53 and '54.
Their box labels clearly show their linage to the Chief Special before the sobriquet of "Centennial" was applied. Two versions of the flat latch also shown here.
Bob
Their box labels clearly show their linage to the Chief Special before the sobriquet of "Centennial" was applied. Two versions of the flat latch also shown here.
Bob
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bmcgilvray
Member
Hi Bob;
Love the little revolvers and seeing the two different style latches side by side. Also love the look of the "high-horn" grips (stocks for the Picky-Euniced). I'd even be willing to put a pair of those grips on my Model 642 if I could locate some.
I once had a mid-1960s Chief's Special like the one Palmetto Sharpshooter is featuring. I was a rank S&W novice and despised the look of the cylinder latch on it which appeared to me to be some aftermarket abomination. Love seeing the little Chief's with the early style latches now. Funny how one's tastes change.
Love the little revolvers and seeing the two different style latches side by side. Also love the look of the "high-horn" grips (stocks for the Picky-Euniced). I'd even be willing to put a pair of those grips on my Model 642 if I could locate some.
I once had a mid-1960s Chief's Special like the one Palmetto Sharpshooter is featuring. I was a rank S&W novice and despised the look of the cylinder latch on it which appeared to me to be some aftermarket abomination. Love seeing the little Chief's with the early style latches now. Funny how one's tastes change.
Walter Rego
Member
Wow, there are almost 15,000 views on this thread now. I guess I should join in the festivities. This was one of the last non-model marked Chiefs Specials. The Gibbs holster is later, probably 1970's but for $5.00 I couldn't resist.
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