The Really Old Chief's Special Thread
- Thread starter bmcgilvray
- Start date
Been told this is a 1956 Chief's J-Frame
Has a round butt, 5 shot flat latch, 3 screws S/N 968xx stamped on butt, stamped on interior of wood handles number 19 below that number 311. On the metal of the handles under grips letter H stamped. Has been my CC for years, shoots well. Am on waitlist for 9mm Shield, will then retire Chief to a HP and range gun after installing Pachmyer boot grip. Also, wife is more at ease with a revolver then a semi. No worry about safeties, no racking, just hammer back and squeeze.
In a way I hate to do it, but I think the Shield will be a lighter and easier carry in my old age.
Has a round butt, 5 shot flat latch, 3 screws S/N 968xx stamped on butt, stamped on interior of wood handles number 19 below that number 311. On the metal of the handles under grips letter H stamped. Has been my CC for years, shoots well. Am on waitlist for 9mm Shield, will then retire Chief to a HP and range gun after installing Pachmyer boot grip. Also, wife is more at ease with a revolver then a semi. No worry about safeties, no racking, just hammer back and squeeze.
In a way I hate to do it, but I think the Shield will be a lighter and easier carry in my old age.
Attachments
Victor,
That's a nice one anybody would like to have. The 19/311 stamped on tha stocks is interesting. If the stocks are original the serial number is almost always stamped on the backside of the right side stock.
That # doesn't by chance match the assembly numbers on the yoke and frame in the yoke hinge with the cylinder open, does it?
That's a nice one anybody would like to have. The 19/311 stamped on tha stocks is interesting. If the stocks are original the serial number is almost always stamped on the backside of the right side stock.
That # doesn't by chance match the assembly numbers on the yoke and frame in the yoke hinge with the cylinder open, does it?
66Park
Member
Here's my 1959 M36:
jsfricks
Member
My c. 1958.
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hotrod150
Member
Excellent photo, smithnut!! Did yu buy that toy truck that way or did you have to add the S&W graphics yourself?
Oh, nice baby Chief too.
Oh, nice baby Chief too.
SgtLumpy
Member
1956 pre-36 Chief. Round butt, 3 screw, type 3 cyl release latch, serrated ramp front sight. My LEO hide out gun for years. Presented, but never fired in anger. I made both sets of the smooth grips out of the same piece of walnut. It wore the smaller grips when I carried it as a hide out. Today I civilian carry it open with the larger grips. It's seen a LOT of holsters, pockets, Mexican carry, rain/snow/mud. Still shoots just fabulous.
Sgt Lumpy
Sgt Lumpy
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Sarge,
Looks like you know how to shoot that puppy! My dad has the exact set of round to square butt adapter grips.
Looks like you know how to shoot that puppy! My dad has the exact set of round to square butt adapter grips.
SgtLumpy
Member
Thanks Hondo - You just clued me in to an err in my description. It is indeed a round butt, not square as I had originally posted. I edited my orig post.
I'm a really good shot with it but I actually don't shoot it all that much. I shoot my model 66 all the time. I've got 100k rounds through it, nearly all of them serious practice/train/study. The chief only has a couple thousand through it. Perhaps the skill set carries over from one kind of sights/gun to the other.
I can't hit diddly squat with a rifle, even with a scope. But with a revolver, I can "put yer eye out".
Sgt Lumpy
I'm a really good shot with it but I actually don't shoot it all that much. I shoot my model 66 all the time. I've got 100k rounds through it, nearly all of them serious practice/train/study. The chief only has a couple thousand through it. Perhaps the skill set carries over from one kind of sights/gun to the other.
I can't hit diddly squat with a rifle, even with a scope. But with a revolver, I can "put yer eye out".
Sgt Lumpy
PlaytheAces
Member
Here's another Baby for the thread. Probably not too appealing to the collectors since she was refinished several decades back, but I kinda like her. The action is amazingly smooth and tight, and she came off the assembly line in '52. Same as me. 
hotrod150
Member
Very nice baby chief Bent-Twig. Given the serial number I wouldn't think the sight would be a smooth ramped variation, but it sure looks like it in the photo. Can you clarify please sir?
Here is my baby chief w/ serrated ramp:
George,
Mine is the serrated front also. Yours is a dandy and with the box to boot. Very nice.
Twig.
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Twig, yours is rather nice as well. The early ones are quite tough to find in any sort of decent condition.
Malysh
Member
I might as well stick my old one in this thread, even though I recently posted it.
SN 38953, probably late 1953 or 1954.
SN 38953, probably late 1953 or 1954.
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DBWesson
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Has anybody seen the pre model 36 3" Nickel with a red box in
Carol Watson's Orange Coast Auction?
DB
Carol Watson's Orange Coast Auction?
DB
DBWesson
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Hammer Price $1700 plus juice.
DB
DB
Yes. It was mis-labeled as a Pre-Model 36. It's not, it's a Baby J (pre Model of 1953); very scarce in a 3" and nickel to boot! Therefore the selling price estimate was way underpriced.
http://www.auctionzip.com/aflive.html?method=getCatalogLots&catalogref=PT4OCXTMH4&page=7&orderby=1
But whoever won it at $1700 knew exactly what it was.
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05CarbonDRZ
Member
Here is my Baby:
OldDominion
Member
The recent acquisition of the half moon January '52 Baby (factory re-finish) filled out the Chiefs Special section of my Centennial Catalog collection. The other Chief is a smooth ramp model, and the Airweight is a '53 with the aluminum cylinder.
Jan. '52
May '52
Pre37 Sept. '53
Jan. '52
May '52
Pre37 Sept. '53
Old Dominion, I'm noticing the sight blade looks taller on the early Pre 37, as compared to the baby chiefs. I have not noticed this before now; anyone care to comment? I'd hate to think I'm being fooled by camera angles.
Here is a pre 37 with an alloy cylinder that I owned at one time:
Here is a pre 37 with an alloy cylinder that I owned at one time:
OldDominion
Member
The blade definitely looks taller on both AWs George. May have something to do with the light weight and recoil affecting point of aim- impact. But then at the distances these were designed to be used, I can't imagine it would matter too much. Lee
05CarbonDRZ
Member
Good Eye George.....My Pre 37(steel Cylinder) also has a taller ramp as compared to my Baby Chiefs and my 36 no dash.
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