Three Chiefs - I Just Couldn't Help Myself

[RKmesa]

I was in my local gun store picking up a transfer of an engraved 357. While there, I asked if they had any used Smiths that I may be interested in. The answer, "we just might...", whereupon he produced a beautiful little round butt nickeled model 36... followed by a blue round butt... followed by a blue square butt. After thinking for a minute or two which one to take home with me, I looked at the price (each appeared to be reasonable) decided to take the the nickel one... and the blue one... and the other blue one. Motto of the day - "no Chief left behind!"

After cleaning and waxing them, I found each of them to be in great shape and nice additions to my growing collection of the little 38 Special J-Frames.

Here are a few photos...







I also had a few empty CS boxes sitting around, and although a couple of the boxes are probably not period correct (boxes are older than the guns), for convenience, they are their temporary homes, until I round up the period correct boxes...





So... would you have had the will power to leave any one of the three at the store??? Enquiring minds want to know.

Thanks for letting me share,

 

[IWK2HT]

Beautiful, amazing to fine all three in the same place
Ted

 

[Farmer17]

Excellent photos, I love seeing an old nickle Smith in new condition but the square butt gun is my favorite.

 

[LEO918]

You did the right thing. When in doubt - BUY!

 

[robertrwalsh]

They probably would have been lonely if you had separated them. Kind of like litter-mates.

 

[JP@AK]

I was in my local gun store picking up a transfer of an engraved 357.

Of course, Richard, why else would you have been there???
Your wonderful collection of engraved S&W revolvers is second to none. It always causes my head to shake, if not explode.

Motto of the day - "no Chief left behind!"

Indeed. Great motto. But you should apologize to that Texan from Arlington for twisting his aphorism.

would you have had the will power to leave any one of the three at the store??? Enquiring minds want to know.

No. Of course not.

Next time I'm in Arizona, will you take me to that gun store?

 

[murphydog]

They appear to only have the standard factory engraving. What gives?

 

[leonardocarrillo]

Congratulations!!!
Nice weapons, nice photos, thanks for sharing.

 

[Dino44]

Wow...now that's what I would call winning the trifecta! I too, don't think I would have been able to resist keeping such a nice group together. Even if it meant, getting some plastic involved in the purchase.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

So... would you have had the will power to leave any one of the three at the store???

Here I am to answer your question with a question.

What do you believe my answer would be?

Great little trio, Richard. Congratulations.
(We need a "green with envy" smiley face.)

The square butt is my favorite, too, but that blue round butt has
the most hard-to-find stocks. Probably 1968 (late 5xxxxx or
early 6xxxxx serial number?)--same checkering pattern as the
diamond magnas sans diamond. The nickel one has the smaller
pattern, which began in 1968 or '9 and carried on till S&W quit
using magnas.

Also, the blue round butt probably needs a box that says "of Bangor Punta".
The nickel one's box should say "© A Bangor Punta Company".

 

[RKmesa]

What do you believe my answer would be?

I actually had that EXACT thought while standing at the counter "What would Bob do in this situation?" That is when I heard your voice in my mind: "No Chief left behind!" ... or maybe it was ... "No Chiefs left behind!". Regardless, that is when I said - "add them to the form, I'm taking all three."

The square butt is my favorite, too, but that blue round butt has the most hard-to-find stocks. Probably 1968 (late 5xxxxx or early 6xxxxx serial number?)--same checkering pattern as the diamond magnas sans diamond. The nickel one has the smaller pattern, which began in 1968 or '9 and carried on till S&W quit using magnas.

I noticed the same thing about the checkering patterns. I sure like the larger pattern better than the smaller later pattern. All of the grips number to the guns. Here are the SNs - any help with approximate shipping dates would be appreciated:

Model 36, RB, Blue SN 609867 (condition is almost mint):





Model 36, SB, Blue, SN 524574 (condition: turn line and very slight silvering on barrel tip):





Model 36, RB, Nickel SN J826510 (condition - almost mint):

Also, the blue round butt probably needs a box that says "of Bangor Punta". The nickel one's box should say "© A Bangor Punta Company".

Very helpful. I don't know a lot about the Chiefs and their boxes. I do know that the boxes photographed above are certainly too old for the nickel one. I assume that the nickel one would have shipped in a silver box with the blue hashed border? I am always on the look out for the "right" box and with the above SNs hope you can continue to point me in the right box direction.

Thank you Bob!!! Now if I could only point you in the direction of that third Dragnet gun...

 

[Retired W4]

I must be going to the wrong gun shops. Maybe it's the low humidity environment you have out in AZ that leaves them so well preserved.

 

[sophie]

Very nice and congratulations on the purchase of those 3 Chiefs, the “Three Amigos”.
I can understand not wanting to split them up.

 

[Rudi]

Those are sweet! Like me going to adopt a cat, I want them all.

 

[ameridaddy]

Well, I don't own a single nickel gun, so I'd pass on the trio and go for the mint round butt.
In your case, you now have the ultimate New York reload - one for each sock and one for the pocket where your wallet and keys aren't.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

It's increasingly rare to find guns like these for sale at a shop anymore. Usually they go right onto Gunjoker to sell quickly and for a premium.

The square butt 2" is a dime a dozen in my old haunts - that was a common NYPD model for a long while.

The nickel 2"... now that is a looker!

 

[Buford57]

Will power wouldn't have been as much a consideration as wherewithal. Very nice.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Will power wouldn't have been as much a consideration as wherewithal. Very nice.

There is that problem for sure!

 

[Seven High]

Are you going to shoot them at some future date? They look to nice to actually shoot them.

 

[dobegrant]

Congratulations, very nice find