So I was assaulted by a Pre-36 Chief's Special the other day that held me down and forced me promise I'd take it home with me. It says I'll need to feed it and clean it and exercise it and get it annual check ups and take it out to play day every week. It claims it was born in 1955 or 1956 but seems pretty spry for someone collecting SSI.
First thing I'll need to do is clean up those grips. They are original and show it but hopefully I can bring back the walnut appearance. It should get here by early next week and we will begin with checkup and cleaning.
The Chief's Special was introduced in 1950 and the model number designation started in 1957. Once I get it cleaned up and check timing and lockup I'll do a run against a modern "J" series as well as a Detective Special, the handgun that was its competitor and predecessor.
Colt had jumped way ahead of Smith & Wesson with the Detective Special introduced back in 1927. Smith & Wesson already had small guns like the Double Action top break I frame models but they were not up to handling the 38 Special loads of the day. And Smith & Wesson were doing really well selling Police & Military full size service revolvers so for two decades they didn't really offer any small frame modern handgun that competed directly with the Colt Detective and Banker Specials. There were the larger "K" frame Military and Police 4" and longer barreled revolvers and the smaller top brake "I" frame revolvers but the big gap with no 2" & 3" small frame swing out cylinder models.
The "J" frame though made up for its late start with probably more variations and models over the decades than the "K", "L" and "N" frames combined. I'll leave to someone younger to actually do the math.
The Chief's Special was introduced in 1950 and the model number designation started in 1957. Once I get it cleaned up and check timing and lockup I'll do a run against a modern "J" series as well as a Detective Special, the handgun that was its competitor and predecessor.
Colt had jumped way ahead of Smith & Wesson with the Detective Special introduced back in 1927. Smith & Wesson already had small guns like the Double Action top break I frame models but they were not up to handling the 38 Special loads of the day. And Smith & Wesson were doing really well selling Police & Military full size service revolvers so for two decades they didn't really offer any small frame modern handgun that competed directly with the Colt Detective and Banker Specials. There were the larger "K" frame Military and Police 4" and longer barreled revolvers and the smaller top brake "I" frame revolvers but the big gap with no 2" & 3" small frame swing out cylinder models.
The "J" frame though made up for its late start with probably more variations and models over the decades than the "K", "L" and "N" frames combined. I'll leave to someone younger to actually do the math.