Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Smith Chiefs special

Five shot, two inch barrel in excellent shape. Bore is clean and timing is very good and shows no sign of wear. Without pictures what would one like this go for. I know its hard to judge without pictures but believe me this is a very nice unit.

These days? Could be $700, $800, $900....

What's the dash after the model number on the frame under the crane?

Based on actual sales over the last two weeks on gunbroker Model 36's and 60's in good to excellent shape have sold for anywhere from just over $500 to $699. Lots of asking prices over $700 but those don't seem to be selling.

https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search/completed?Keywords=smith%20chief%27s%20special&Timeframe=11&Sort=5&PageSize=96

maybe 600

The serial number is 37677 and just the model number on the crane

So, I'm assuming the barrel is pinned. If no dash, it's pre-1967.

Based on the serial number, it was made in 1954.

In very nice shape, it's collectable, so there will be a premium on the price over a mere shooter. Could be worth $750-$900, depending on how close to perfect it is.

I generally see ones like that in 500 range

A lot of old blue model 36’s . They have spent their whole life in a bed side drawer. Shot very little. Hasbeen

That is about right. Max would be about $600. Naturally Boomer will pay more for 1950s five screw flat latch with original box. Less common variations like 3" with banana grips will obviously bring nice premium. The gold standard in this category is Performance Center
Pro Series Magnum J-frame without lock. Used samples in excellent condition can be found in $550-$600 range, that is where the game is at.

A question or two.

Is the 37677 on the yoke cut out and yoke? or on the bottom of the butt?

If it's on the yoke and yoke cutout, the number 37677 is an assembly number S&W used to keep fitted yokes and frames together.

The reason I ask is if 37677 is the SN stamped on the butt, it's not a model 36 but a pre model Chiefs Special of about 54-55 vintage built on an early J frame. Model numbered Chief's Specials weren't made until about 1957.

S&W stamped frames prior to assembly and the assembler just grabbed a frame/yoke from a parts bin in no sequential order, then finished assembling the revolver. That one of the reasons a factory letter is the only sure way to see when a revolver was actually made and shipped.

The serial number is on the bottom butt but on the yoke it says model 36. Anyway, got it for my wife as a birthday present and she really likes it. She is not a gun person but wanted something to have when I am out chasing Deer, Turkeys, hogs and Elk

By the way, my neighbor charged me 200 for it as I helped her out during an extended power outage. Great to have neighbors like this.

Good catch.

Good on you.

Pretty interesting, S&W didn't start the stamping of Model numbers on the 36 until serial number 125,000. I first thought you might have missed a digit, 370,000 serial number range is about right for a 60's era Model 36. If it's a 37,000 number without the J prefix, I'd sure get it factory lettered. Great score regardless.....

Correction the serial number is 376778, got it in better light

1962 - 1964. Likely somewhere in that interval. Definitely post 1961. Still desirable and collectable in very clean condition.

My local pawn/gun shop is selling someone's life long S&W collection. It's a gigantic collection, consisting of about a hundred classic S&W handguns. I think the guy's collecting was mostly done in the 1960s and 1970s, as that's when most of his guns were made. Seems like his purpose was to collect every model S&W offered, in all variations of finish, barrel length, etc.. All his stuff is mint in box, never fired. I checked out his blued Model 36, and it's priced at $1,100.00. He has an early Model 60 (pinned barrel) that's priced at $1,500.00. He has some stuff that's made before the 1960s, too, also mint in box, never fired.

Checked with smith and wesson and it was made in 1954