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S & W 38 snub nose model 36

Ralph Fletcher
There is one advertised, but the ad says it is a chief.
The price is around 550-600, what makes it a chief, are all model 36's called chief?

Also, I have a Marlin 12ga pump shotgun, its got to be an
antique? Would it have an antique value? It is in good
condition, on the barrel it says smokeless steel
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Pearyw
    The model 36 is called a chief. That prices is high unless it is one of the newer custom S&W models.
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  • Robin
    Model 36 and model 60 S&W's are both J frames (5 shot) and both are referred to as "Chief's Special". Whether that is the offical name or not, I am not sure. They come in both round butt and square butt versions. Unless you have something very special, $550-$600 is a very high price. Your Marlin might be a nice gun but I doubt if it would be in the collector category. Make sure of the chamber length before shooting it. It may be 2 9/16" chamber.
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  • Colt Super
    Check the GunBroker auction side. You should be a nice Model 36 in the $300 to $400 range.

    S&W denotes these guns as being "Chief's Special".

    They are sweet to carry, but a bitch to shoot.

    Doug
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  • beantownshootah
    "Chief's special" was the name given to the small 5-shot J frame .38 special revolver introduced by Smith and Wesson at the International association of Police Chiefs meeting in 1950.

    (In contrast, for example, to Colt's competing .38 special snubnose revolver, the "Detective special").

    I believe that name was introduced before Smith started using the numbering system for its guns. It was a good marketing move, and the name stuck.

    Nowadays, all of the Smith .38 special J-frames with a hammer get called the "Chief special". That includes both the all steel model 36, as well as the lighter weight Aluminum alloy frame 637 "Airweight" versioin.


    The hammerless ones are called the "Centennial", and the ones with the shrouded hammer are the "Bodyguard".

    As mentioned, $600 is a high price for one of these guns, unless its a rare collectors version. For example, one brand new in the box, and an early production year (like the early 1950s).

    If you just want a gun to shoot, used Smith model 36 revolvers can be had for around $350 on the auction site, give or take a bit depending on condition. Considering that lots of people put these guns in drawers and rarely shoot them, there are lots of used examples in really good shape out there. Also, considering that many others carry them a lot, but shoot them very little, you can often find ones in great functional shape at reasonable prices. EG, here is a square butt I got at a good price on the auction site:

    pix226745796.jpg


    In terms of shootability, I have a lot of experience with these guns, and I've found that proper grips make a HUGE difference in comfort shooting. The narrow stock grips are great for concealment, but absolutely terrible to control the gun when shooting. Boot grips are MUCH better, and full "three finger" grips are much better yet, though the latter can considerably decrease concealability of the gun.

    On your shotgun, you'll need to post a LOT more information before anyone can tell you what you have or what its worth. A number of good pictures would be the best way to do that. See the "sticky" at the top of the "Ask the Experts" thread to find out how to post pictures in threads.
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  • nmyers
    An early one with diamond grips & NIB could be worth that much. Also, one with adjustable sights, a rare barrel length, or some other special feature.

    It all depends.

    Neal
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  • wundudnee
    Here are a couple "Chief's Specials", the top one is an unfired?, early model with the round trigger guard and the smaller I frame grips. These revolvers are commonly called Pre 36s now. There were several small production changes in the early chief's, such as the grips, trigger guard, front sights and cylinder release latches. The early one is sometimes referred to as a "baby chief,"
    picture.JPG
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