Early S&W Chief's Special(AKA Baby Chief)

SteveM · 02-20-2015, 05:56 PM

Walked in my LGS the other day, the same one where I found the 1917 S&W Commercial, and saw what looked like a Nickel 36. Looked a little closer and saw the flat latch and asked my friend if I could PLEASE take a look. Sure enough it was a pre-36. The grips were a real turn off to me but I thought I could overlook them and keep an eye out for the correct ones later down the road.

I ask "do all of the numbers match, can we take off the grips" and he says sure and off come the grips. "N" on the frame, serial number matches the cylinder and barrel flat, "N" under the star and on the barrel flat.(N denotes nickel)

But those grips! I ask do you think he has the originals? He says "No, probably not" as he heads down to the other end of the counter. I know where he is going, there is a plastic bin down there that has 3 or 4 sets of S&W grips. I know there are a pair of J frame grips in there, I have looked at them in the past but didn't want to pay the 50 bucks for them. Those are the ones he brings back, he separates them from the string tag that has them bound together and sure enough they fit! He's looking at them and say "your not going to believe this, they match" and I look at him and say it appears they do. No he says, the serial number matches the pistol. I look at him and say your bs'n me and I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn't.

Here she is with her original shoes, less the screw. All I need now is the correct screw and to spend some time polishing her up. There aren't any pits or scratches but there is quite a bit of oxidation. I tried a small amount of flitz in a couple places and that looks promising.

"Baby Chief" is a S&W collectors term, these are revolvers that exhibit some I-frame characteristics but are still a j-frame. There are about a dozen variations of these with the nickel plated models being the rarest. I guess I am a S&W collector now since I have a few...

rhuff · 02-21-2015, 04:35 PM

What a nice find!! The grips from a box matching the gun is unbelievable to me. I so enjoy these older S&W revolvers, and it looks like you found a prize.

02-20-2015, 05:56 PM	#1
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	Early S&W Chief's Special(AKA Baby Chief) Walked in my LGS the other day, the same one where I found the 1917 S&W Commercial, and saw what looked like a Nickel 36. Looked a little closer and saw the flat latch and asked my friend if I could PLEASE take a look. Sure enough it was a pre-36. The grips were a real turn off to me but I thought I could overlook them and keep an eye out for the correct ones later down the road. I ask "do all of the numbers match, can we take off the grips" and he says sure and off come the grips. "N" on the frame, serial number matches the cylinder and barrel flat, "N" under the star and on the barrel flat.(N denotes nickel) But those grips! I ask do you think he has the originals? He says "No, probably not" as he heads down to the other end of the counter. I know where he is going, there is a plastic bin down there that has 3 or 4 sets of S&W grips. I know there are a pair of J frame grips in there, I have looked at them in the past but didn't want to pay the 50 bucks for them. Those are the ones he brings back, he separates them from the string tag that has them bound together and sure enough they fit! He's looking at them and say "your not going to believe this, they match" and I look at him and say it appears they do. No he says, the serial number matches the pistol. I look at him and say your bs'n me and I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn't. Here she is with her original shoes, less the screw. All I need now is the correct screw and to spend some time polishing her up. There aren't any pits or scratches but there is quite a bit of oxidation. I tried a small amount of flitz in a couple places and that looks promising. "Baby Chief" is a S&W collectors term, these are revolvers that exhibit some I-frame characteristics but are still a j-frame. There are about a dozen variations of these with the nickel plated models being the rarest. I guess I am a S&W collector now since I have a few...

02-21-2015, 04:35 PM	#2
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,308 Thanks: 2,737 Thanked 993 Times in 729 Posts	What a nice find!! The grips from a box matching the gun is unbelievable to me. I so enjoy these older S&W revolvers, and it looks like you found a prize.