Here're some Chiefs Special variations you won't routinely see.
First up, a pretty early Chiefs Special - this one has a three digit serial number and the half moon front sight, which pretty quickly evolved into a smooth and then serrated ramp type. However, regardless of the configuration of the front sight, all that have the small trigger guard and I-frame sized butt and stocks like this one are known to collectors as "Baby" Chiefs.
Next, an early Airweight sporting its original alloy cylinder. These reputedly didn't hold up well, especially if shot with heavier loads, so if S&W got its hands on one for any sort of service, a steel cylinder was substituted as a matter of course. Also, the anodized finish of the frame and cylinder readily wore away if carried much. So with just 3,777 ever made, a nice, unaltered example isn't too common.
On to a Chiefs Special Target, this example numbered towards the upper end of the 57000 range being one of the first batch of 100 manufactured in 1955.
Finally, a Chiefs Special Stainless, better known as the Model 60. This gun is one of the first 39 made up in a pilot production run in 1965 (serial numbers 401754 through 401792), my understanding being that these were utilized for promotional purposes and as saleman's samples. This initial batch of Model 60's were highly polished, with a distinctive bright stainless hammer and trigger. Although accompanied by its box, you could not describe this revolver as "new" - while the grips are mint, upon close examination it exhibits a lot of fine surface scratches, a spot at the top of the backstrap that is cavitated (from being dropped?) and then apparently repolished, and a peculiar long (and pretty wide) shallow gouge in the sideplate as well. If it was ever shot, however, it was so expertly cleaned afterwards that I can't tell.
First up, a pretty early Chiefs Special - this one has a three digit serial number and the half moon front sight, which pretty quickly evolved into a smooth and then serrated ramp type. However, regardless of the configuration of the front sight, all that have the small trigger guard and I-frame sized butt and stocks like this one are known to collectors as "Baby" Chiefs.
Next, an early Airweight sporting its original alloy cylinder. These reputedly didn't hold up well, especially if shot with heavier loads, so if S&W got its hands on one for any sort of service, a steel cylinder was substituted as a matter of course. Also, the anodized finish of the frame and cylinder readily wore away if carried much. So with just 3,777 ever made, a nice, unaltered example isn't too common.
On to a Chiefs Special Target, this example numbered towards the upper end of the 57000 range being one of the first batch of 100 manufactured in 1955.
Finally, a Chiefs Special Stainless, better known as the Model 60. This gun is one of the first 39 made up in a pilot production run in 1965 (serial numbers 401754 through 401792), my understanding being that these were utilized for promotional purposes and as saleman's samples. This initial batch of Model 60's were highly polished, with a distinctive bright stainless hammer and trigger. Although accompanied by its box, you could not describe this revolver as "new" - while the grips are mint, upon close examination it exhibits a lot of fine surface scratches, a spot at the top of the backstrap that is cavitated (from being dropped?) and then apparently repolished, and a peculiar long (and pretty wide) shallow gouge in the sideplate as well. If it was ever shot, however, it was so expertly cleaned afterwards that I can't tell.
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