What Model do I have?????

[SGTHARDCORE9715]

I have a stainless snubby .38. There is no model number stamped on the frame. With the cylinder open the numbers are 74911, and the serial number on the butt is 22123. It has a 4 screw side plate and a screw infront of the trigger to hold the cylinder stop in place. Any info on this gun and its value would be greatly appriciated...rich

 

[scha]

It looks like an early Chief's Special from around 1952. These were not made in stainless and it is likely nickel plated steel. There are many on this site who will have lots more details.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[SGTHARDCORE9715]

Thank You for the info

 

[murphydog]

It is an early Chiefs Special, called the "baby" due to the smaller trigger guard and grip frame compared to the later J frame. It likely shipped in 1952 and appears to have been refinished; the hammer and trigger are not case colored, and the sideplate seam is wider than normal, usually from polishing the sideplate and frame separately.

 

[gordonrick]

I agree. There were no model numbers for S&W until around 1957. Prior to that they had names. This would become the model 36.
This looks like the early "Baby" Chief's Special to me, so technically it wouldn't even be a "pre-model 36" in collectorspeak, since there some significant changes made over the next few years before model numbers began.

 

[SGTHARDCORE9715]

ok, thank you both

 

[George_in_SD]

Indeed, a pre-36 'baby' chiefs special; note the small trigger guard and five screw frame. From the SN it should have a serrated front ramp sight.

It looks to have been chrome plated, fortunately/unfortunately. It is a great carry gun that is diminutive and long-lasting (Thanks hard chrome!). Unfortunately, the refinish certainly hurt the collector value.

A pristine example with these features can be 700-850+ without a box.

 

[SGTHARDCORE9715]

It does have the serrated front sight ramp. thanks

 

[SGTHARDCORE9715]

So is this an "I" frame or a J frame? I called Smith and Wesson for some parts for it and they could not help me identify it. I needed a main spring "coil", they are sending me one for a J frame, is that correct???

 

[murphydog]

It is a J frame; don't know if the main spring is the same as later ones, as the grip frame is about 1/8" shorter than a later J frame.

 

[DWalt]

I'd say it probably shipped in 1953, but late 1952 is possible. Unless someone has a dated example with a very close serial number, only a factory letter is reliable for dating. As previously stated, it's what collectors would call a "Baby Chief" pre-Model 36 due to some changes made to the frame in 1954. It's probably nickeled, not stainless. Those didn't exist until 1965.

 

[JSR III]

As others have stated, it is in fact a J frame. The J frame was designed with a longer cylinder and cylinder window to shoot the .38 S&W Special cartridge. The first group of J frame guns had the smaller grip and trigger guard like the I frame. This was later changed after the company received comments that both need to be larger. So later guns could probably be referred to as Improved J frames following along the lines of the I frame and the Improved I frame. Collectors refer to these smaller J frames as baby chiefs and very early guns also had a half moon front sight.

Unfortunately, my parts list collection doesn't start until 1960 and the Model 36 shown has a ramp front sight. It does however show a ball top mainspring rod that in the 1967 parts lists is changed to a fork top and is called the mainspring stirrup. In 1960 it was part number 5309 and cost $1.60 and in 1967 it was part number 5486 and cost $1.75. The coil spring in both lists is part number 5749 and was $.60 in 1960 and $.65 in 1967. I would think that therefore both springs are the same.

FWIW, the 1960 parts list for the model 30 and 31 smaller I frame revolvers shows the same spring 5749 and rod 5309.

Hope that helps.

PS: I own 20768 that shipped 10/14/1952

 

[SGTHARDCORE9715]

That helps. Thank you for the information..rich

 

[Hondo44]

Official Model name: ".38 Chiefs Special", built on the 1st J frame configuration; collector nickname: 'Baby Chief' as was noted above. I don't know if you have stocks for your gun but based on its vintage, correct stocks would be the 'Mini' Magnas, also indicated by the one upper rear flat head screw in the sideplate.

Was replaced by the Model of 1953 J frame ".38 Chiefs Special" (AKA pre model 36).
Was ordered to be designated the "Model 36" in mid 1957.
Simplified Chronology - "Model .38 Chiefs Special" - Smith & Wesson Forum

As James indicated above, the J frame mainspring you ordered is correct. The spring is the same as the I frame spring and did not change due to the lengthening of the grip frame in 1953.

 

[Maximumbob54]

This is just a guess from the condition of the finish but I would think that is a hard chrome plating. Nickel done back then would usually be flaking up in at least a small spot or two but chrome is like locking the gun in a time capsule. An example:

Hard Chrome Plating & Electroless Nickel Plating, Armalloy & Gun Bluing by Mahovsky's Metalife

There are several people I've seen post S&W's that are decades old and still look brand new thanks to that hard chrome plating. Often times people post they think they have a stainless M28 only to find someone in the past had it hard chomed. I even thought my Browning Hi Power was stainless only to be told they never made such an animal but they did offer them plated... Silly me...

 

[Hondo44]

Unfortunately, my parts list collection doesn't start until 1960 and the Model 36 shown has a ramp front sight. It does however show a ball top mainspring rod that in the 1967 parts lists is changed to a fork top and is called the mainspring stirrup. In 1960 it was part number 5309 and cost $1.60 and in 1967 it was part number 5486 and cost $1.75. The coil spring in both lists is part number 5749 and was $.60 in 1960 and $.65 in 1967. I would think that therefore both springs are the same.

FWIW, the 1960 parts list for the model 30 and 31 smaller I frame revolvers shows the same spring 5749 and rod 5309.

Hope that helps.

The ball & socket 'mainspring rod' started transitioning to the 'mainspring stirrup' c. 1962, (# 295XXX for the Mod 36) over a period as is usual with S&W changes. The 1964 parts list also shows the round rod 'mainspring stirrup' as in the '67 list. Not sure when they went to the flat stirrup.

And as usual, parts list updates lagged behind the changes until old inventory was used up.