Triple-nickel: three early Chiefs

[two-bit cowboy]

It's round-up season so while the Cowboys counted heads and trailed the herds from up here in the high country down to their winter pastures I took my own inventory and started polishing these three.

I'd been searching for a nickel 3" Chiefs Special for quite a long spell, and this stray wondered into camp several weeks ago. I've seen only two that precede it in the model's evolution: a 5-screw Baby Chiefs Special s/n 3794x from late '53 and a 4-screw Model of 1953 Chiefs Special 7846x from early '56, both of which belong to forum members. Mine is Model 36 s/n 180475, and it shipped in February '61.

The middle one in the photo is Model of 1953 s/n 63331, which shipped in May '55. It has the first flat latch of this design I've seen on a nickel Chiefs Special. The early nickel Model of 1953 Chiefs (and one 22/32 Kit Gun I've seen) had a flat latch with seven ridges (see the 2nd photo, s/n 47475, shipped in August '54); this one has 11 ridges.

The Baby Chiefs Special is s/n 14560, and it shipped in September '52. The first known nickel Baby Chiefs is s/n 84, and there aren't a whole bunch of nickel ones between it and mine, I list only eight in my database. (See my second post in this thread for this one's nickel and s/n stampings.)

My '62 Chiefs Special is my only square butt nickel one, and the '59 couldn't decide if it wanted to be blue or nickel so it's both.

Thanks for dropping by to gaze upon the herd's shiny stars. How 'bout showin' off some of yours?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Baby Chiefs Special s/n 14560 photos.

 

[quinn]

I did not recollect that they had silver mines in Wyoming, Bob... stunning! Will you start panning for gold now?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Thanks Randy.

No gold for this guy. I've seen gold Chiefs from the mid-to-late '60s. Not my cuppa.

 

[mh51]

NICE!! Great way to spend a day....polishing stuff that all of us would be proud to own, Bob.

 

[Ruger 13]

Very nice!

 

[Goblin]

Great set. Thanks for sharing.

 

[LPD256]

It's round-up season so while the Cowboys counted heads and trailed the herds from up here in the high country down to their winter pastures I took my own inventory and started polishing these three.

I'd been searching for a nickel 3" Chiefs Special for quite a long spell, and this stray wondered into camp several weeks ago. I've seen only two that precede it in the model's evolution: a 5-screw Baby Chiefs Special s/n 3794x from late '53 and a 4-screw Model of 1953 Chiefs Special 7846x from early '56, both of which belong to forum members. Mine is Model 36 s/n 180475, and it shipped in February '61.

The middle one in the photo is Model of 1953 s/n 63331, which shipped in May '55. It has the first flat latch of this design I've seen on a nickel Chiefs Special. The early nickel Model of 1953 Chiefs (and one 22/32 Kit Gun I've seen) had a flat latch with seven ridges (see the 2nd photo, s/n 47475, shipped in August '54); this one has 11 ridges.

The Baby Chiefs Special is s/n 14560, and it shipped in September '52. The first known nickel Baby Chiefs is s/n 84, and there aren't a whole bunch of nickel ones between it and mine, I list only eight in my database. (See my second post in this thread for this one's nickel and s/n stampings.)

My '62 Chiefs Special is my only square butt nickel one, and the '59 couldn't decide if it wanted to be blue or nickel so it's both.

Thanks for dropping by to gaze upon the herd's shiny stars.

I'm the caretaker of a "new" (1974) nickel 3 inch. One of my favorites. Thanks for sharing yours.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I'm the caretaker of a "new" (1974) nickel 3 inch. One of my favorites.

Please let us have a look.

 

[JH1951]

That's a stunning trio, Bob! Thanks for sharing. Your polishing efforts paid off quite well.

 

[merl67]

Bob I think we shall dub you "King Of The Chiefs"...

 

[LPD256]

Please let us have a look.

Here you go. J173213. Shipped February 1974.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Bob I think we shall dub you "King Of The Chiefs"...

Hmmm. Thank you, but I'm not sure I'm worthy. I've had great mentors on this forum who might be better suited to the title.

Here you go. J173213. Shipped February 1974.

Ah, yes, I remember it, now. Those bananas are a perfect compliment to a 3" Chiefs Special. Symmetry at its best. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[LPD256]

Two bit cowboy-My sister and her daughter live in Cheyenne. We had tickets for Garth at CFD then one of our people got covid so we cancelled. We came out a couple weeks later. Love it out there but the altitude messed with me a little this time.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Ah, CFD, too bad you missed it. Great times.

Cheyenne's at about 6,500'. I'm about 285 miles northwest of there. My cabin crosses the 7,880' line on a topo map. Yarrow grows wild and rampant here; folks eat its white petals to help with altitude sickness. There's only one problem -- you have to be here when it's in bloom.

 

[LPD256]

Ah, CFD, too bad you missed it. Great times.

Cheyenne's at about 6,500'. I'm about 285 miles northwest of there. My cabin crosses the 7,880' line on a topo map. Yarrow grows wild and rampant here; folks eat its white petals to help with altitude sickness. There's only one problem -- you have to be here when it's in bloom.

I breathe much better now. I had bypass surgery in September. So I hope to hit CFD next year.

 

[MoBigAl]

Nice collection.

Here's my early chief. Little bit rough but I don't leave home without it. Serial number 152201. Is this in your database?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Doesn't appear too rough. I have a few that make yours look like the prom queen.

Thanks for sharing it. I didn't have it in the list till now. Thanks! Does the right grip number to the gun?

Based on others that bracket it, I'd guess it S&W shipped it in spring or summer 1959.

 

[usm1rifle]

Bob,

The top Chiefs is s/n 48403, is it in your list?

Ignore the Model 33 on the bottom...

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Yes, it sure is. Thanks for showing it. Other than my 47475, your Chiefs Special is the one I mentioned in my OP that's the only other one I've seen with that 7-ridge flat latch.

I could never ignore that Regulation Police. It's handsome, too.