very earliest baby chiefs

[ar15ed]

alright, sebago son has lit a fire under my tail! does anyone have a VERY early baby chief? i am talking about the very first serial numbers: 1-61, with the standard cylinder latch (before the flat latch), the small service stocks (before the magnas), and the half-moon front sight. as pictured and described on page 150 of the scosw 3rd.

i went through all 15 pages of the "old chief special" thread, and serial number 160 was the earliest one i saw. (it had the flat latch, and no grips.)

i know there are a lot of SERIOUS s&w collectors on here. does anyone have one of the first 61???? anyone ever seen one? seen one change hands? know anyone who owns one?

i know they are extremely rare, but i wonder what the going price would be for one.

talk to me!!!!

 

[bushmaster1313]

Why 1-61?
What's special about 61

 

[ar15ed]

the first 61 had the standard sculpted latch. after that, they went to the first iteration of the "flat-latch".

the first 61 serial numbers are the very first generation of the chiefs' special. they basically have all the pre-war i-frame features, with only the cylinder elongated for the 38 special cartridge, the coil mainspring, which led the way for the coil spring in the "improved i-frame" (in other calibers), and the 4-line address.

the "pre-war" features are the aforementioned sculpted latch, half-moon front sight, small "service" grips, and 5-screw frame.

 

[tops]

This is a 2 digit number but it is more than 61. Larry

 

[Hondo44]

the first 61 had the standard sculpted latch. after that, they went to the first iteration of the "flat-latch".

the first 61 serial numbers are the very first generation of the chiefs' special. they basically have all the pre-war i-frame features, with only the cylinder elongated for the 38 special cartridge, the coil mainspring, which led the way for the coil spring in the "improved i-frame" (in other calibers), and the 4-line address.

the "pre-war" features are the aforementioned sculpted latch, half-moon front sight, small "service" grips, and 5-screw frame.

Even the earliest (1 - 61) chiefs are baby J frames as shown on Larry's above, not just an elongated cylinder but also the frame window.

 

[VM]

Tops - NICE Baby Chief!

I can't contribute with an early example but if anyone owns # 317, please send me a PM!

Thanks

 

[ar15ed]

wow, tops! that is spectacular! so, the earliest features must have went past the first 61, somewhat. that is good to know. i know that in this time frame, s&w was using stuff "off the shelf", and producing new stuff, and developing even "newer" stuff. i see your gun has the "post-war" checkering pattern on the grips. sometimes you see terriers, or 32s, with the post-war checkering, or the earlier pattern. i am sure the cylinder latches probably experienced some overlap, too. i don't think i have ever seen one of these "in person". as a matter of fact, yours is probably the first one i have seen a picture of, except the one in the scosw 3rd.

it is even in wonderful condition! thank you very much for the pic!
ed

 

[Sebago Son]

No.1 ....

Baby Chief No.1 is at S&W. Last time I looked it was in the Confrence Room upstairs by the engraving shop. From the collection of Mr. Roy Jinks.

 

[ar15ed]

thanks, hondo. i realized that the cylinder window was elongated for the elongated cylinder. sorry i didn't mention it in my haste!

another thing i didn't mention is the small trigger guard! all the earliest ones would have the small "round" trigger guard as seen on tops' fine example. it is actually more "noticeable" on the "new" long frame.


thanks for the help!!!

anybody else got an old one???

 

[Engine49guy]

Wow...thats a beautiful early Baby Chief Tops...thanks for sharing it.

Ed, I am also a huge fan and am on a mission to find an early round blade model.
The only one I have is a 5 screw in serial range 38,000, small trigger guard but already into the serrated front ramps.

I do have a friend that doesnt have a computer and I believe he has an early one ... will ask next time I see him .

 

[BlackAgnes]

This "Baby Chief" is somewhat later, with a flat latch and a ramp sight--but it still has the small trigger guard and upper sideplate screw.

Tim

 

[Muddyboot]

Serial #178 is for sale right now on Auction Arms. I have no conection to the revolver.

 

[Sebago Son]

YIKES!

Serial #178 is for sale right now on Auction Arms. I have no conection to the revolver.

$1000 bucks... reblued and wrong stocks.

I guess I'm glad that I turned down that offer of $300 that was PM'd me last week by the generous soul that wanted to know if he could "take that beater of my hands..."....

 

[ar15ed]

ha! i hear you! i think i would have passed on that deal, too! yours is a jewel.

i wonder what #178 looked like when he decided to have it redone.

 

[Engine49guy]

I will have to check my records but I am almost certain I saw that Baby Chief on GB about 6 months ago but it had terrible grips and splotchy blueing.
Price was $300 I believe.....Again this is from memory but Im almost certain that it was # 178

Incidentally my buddys early Baby Chief serial number is 8318, has smooth ramp front site and Magna grips.

Also not to stretch the topic but as we are on early Chiefs I saw a second style no letter prefix serial 490,xxx (1966) Stainless Chiefs Special with diamond grips and (correct) case colored hammer trigger for sale today unfired in box,
The ask was $695 but owner offered it at $600 rock bottom.
It was SUPER NICE but couldnt muster the cash..

 

[CITYREPO61]

Here's mine a 4 digit 23xx

regards,
Steve 'Cityrepo61'

 

[Hondo44]

This "Baby Chief" is somewhat later, with a flat latch and a ramp sight--but it still has the small trigger guard and upper sideplate screw.

Tim

Hi Tim,

That's gorgeous!
Please pardon me in advance if this is already common knowledge. All Baby Js were five screws. The 5th screw, the one in front of the trigger guard, wasn't eliminated until the same time that they became 'full' J frames with egg shaped trigger guard and J size grip. The upper sideplate screw (4th screw) was second to go c. 1956 when other frame sizes lost their 5th screw, the upper sideplate screw, was the 1st to go.

 

[Hondo44]

My only 3 Chiefs on the right:
Baby J with serrated ramp and a 3" and 2", both M36 no dash.

 

[labocca]

alright, sebago son has lit a fire under my tail! does anyone have a VERY early baby chief? i am talking about the very first serial numbers: 1-61, with the standard cylinder latch (before the flat latch), the small service stocks (before the magnas), and the half-moon front sight. as pictured and described on page 150 of the scosw 3rd.

i went through all 15 pages of the "old chief special" thread, and serial number 160 was the earliest one i saw. (it had the flat latch, and no grips.)

i know there are a lot of SERIOUS s&w collectors on here. does anyone have one of the first 61???? anyone ever seen one? seen one change hands? know anyone who owns one?

i know they are extremely rare, but i wonder what the going price would be for one.

talk to me!!!!

 

[Engine49guy]

Wow, 2011,
Holy Lazarus post Batman.
I saw one posted once on the forum with the old style pre flat latch and service stocks , don't recall who's it was though.
My lowest is Pre 36 "Baby" Chiefs special, satin blue, Serial 1025 ,
shipped December 1951
( 12 O'clock in this photo).
The center one is a Terrier in .38 S&W from 1950 and has those same early Chiefs features you are seeking.