Dating my 38 Chiefs Special

[IowaTractorLife]

Hello - I recently acquired this 38 Chiefs Special and was wondering if you could help me date it. I found out that the diamond grips were banned in 1968 by the ATF with the 1968 Gun Control Act. So that sort of narrows it down. Serial number on the butt is 5172XX. Thanks for your time.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Good morning! Welcome to the Forum, from Pittsburgh.
If there is no letter before the serial number, it looks like between 1962-69.
The smart guys should be waking up soon with better help than me!
Does it have a model number on the crane? Ex. MOD36

 

[s&wchad]

S&W discontinued non-checkered diamonds around the escutcheons in the late 1960's as a cost cutting move. It had nothing to do with the 1968 Gun Control Act and checkering patterns were not addressed in the legislation.

The '68 GCA did require that guns have a unique serial number, which is why S&W added a "J" serial number prefix to Chiefs Special and Bodyguard revolvers in 1969. The stainless Chiefs Special (model 60) was assigned an "R" prefix.

Your square butt Model 36 probably shipped in 1967.

 

[RKmesa]

Welcome to the forum from here in the AZ. Chad gave you great info on the fun little Chiefs Special.

 

[demkofour]

As the two-bit cowboy will often reiterate, S&W did not generally build and ship guns in specific serial number order.
As per the excellent data base Bob maintains over at the SWCA forum, Model 60 with serial number 517008 shipped in February of ‘68. That should put you in the ballpark. If you want a specific date, get a Letter.
And, welcome! https://swhistoricalfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SWHF-Letter-of-Authenticity-Form.pdf

 

[IowaTractorLife]

Hello and thanks for the warm welcome!

The stamp on the crane looks like 0D.36
And thanks for all the great info. I'll think I'll try and get a letter of authenticity for it!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I found out that the diamond grips were banned in 1968 by the AFT with the 1968 Gun Control Act.

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

Whoever said what you "found out" was either jerking your chain
or should write fantasy novels.

Smith & Wesson issued Engineering Change order No. 944 to
eliminate the diamond on most stocks on January 11, 1966. It
took more than two years for the company to exhaust its
diamond stock inventory for most models.

If you remove your stocks you should find a serial number
stamped on the inside of the right one. If it matches the serial
number on the butt, that's a big plus.

Based on others that bracket yours in the database, Smith &
Wesson likely shipped your Chiefs Special in spring 1967. The
Model 60 serial range demkofour mentions usually shipped much
later than the Model 36s in the nearby range.

Also, Smith & Wesson calls the hinge that holds the cylinder the
yoke, not the crane (that's the term used by the four-letter
company beginning with a C) so the MOD. 36 stamp is on the
frame in the yoke cut.

 

[BullyTx]

Based on others that bracket yours in the database, Smith &
Wesson likely shipped your Chiefs Special in spring 1967.

[/U].

Good morning @two bit cowboy!
Where is this database you reference and how do I access it?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Where is this database you reference and how do I access it?

Join the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association; the database is
included along with many other models' databases at the bottom
of the forums page of the organization's website, Smith & Wesson Collectors Association.

The organization has a members-only forum, publishes a full-color
Journal three times a year, and hosts an annual symposium
with members displaying the best of the best Smith & Wesson
ever produced. At $50 a year ($60 the first year) it's a steal.

 

[IowaTractorLife]

Hi two-bit cowboy...

Yes the serial number on the inside of the right grip matches the one on the butt. Would this be ok to use as an edc, or is it more of a collectors piece?

 

[IowaTractorLife]

What do you recommend for ammo? I just bought some Hornady Critical Defense 110gr FTX... don't want to shoot +p out of it. It doesn't look like it's been shot much, as the cylinder and bore look really clean.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Serial numbers started at 1 about 17 years before yours was
made. Smith & Wesson had made more than a half million Chiefs
Specials and Bodyguards by then.

Collect or carry? It's a personal choice. If it were serial number 1,
I wouldn't carry it, but I would have no trouble carrying that one
with the understanding it's probably going to start showing
some holster wear at least at the muzzle and on the cylinder.
Keep it clean and put a good coat of wax on it after cleaning--it'll
last you a lifetime. A little character never hurt one that's been
well cared for.

Ammo? I applaud your choice not to use +P. Waste of money!
Try a bunch of different stuff, from wadcutters up to the one you
already bought. If you're going to carry it, load it with the one
you shoot the best. It's all about shot placement, if you need it.
When I carry one of my Chiefs, I fill it with wadcutters.