As I have aged I have really appreciated the older Smiths (and Colts for that matter) from the era of beautiful blued steel and wood, when craftsmanship and hand-fitting was the only way. I appreciate CNC manufacturing and today’s methods are better in many ways though some of these old hand-fitted revolvers are just simply works or art and the build quality is usually outstanding—many times rivaling those of today.

Years ago, I had a model 19 that had some moderate wear, but was a nice functional shooter and still pretty enough to look at, but foolishly I sold it. I added a Smith model 10 a few years back, a 1968 4” pencil barrel round butt that has been a real gem both to look at and to shoot, and this one I will NOT sell. I have been on the lookout for a Smith 27–2 or possibly even a model 28 Highway Patrolman, though have not found any for sale recently in person. Based on recent posts by others on Sigforum though I know that there are some out there.

This last weekend I went to a local gun show and wasn’t really expecting much, but on the table one of the vendors had a Smith model 36 Chief’s Special at a very good price so after a quick inspection and a little haggling, it was coming home with me. The bluing is excellent from this era and the fit is very similar to what I’ve seen on performance center guns of today. Lock up and alignment are both spectacular, and overall condition I would rate it at 95 to 98%. It looks like it was hardly shot if ever when looking at the internals. It has only the very slightest amount of carry wear on the exterior so perhaps it was a civilian’s carry piece or a short-term police backup. I have to do a little more research but per the serial number on the bottom of the butt of the grip suggests that it is a ‘63 or ‘64 year production. It has the flat latch cylinder release, which apparently was put on during this era of Smith and Wesson model 36’s to allow less chance of snag for smoother drawing from the holster or pocket, which I thought was kind of cool as I had not been familiar with the flat latch before.

Great find for your collection. The craftsman ship of a bygone era exhibited in detail.

That's a pretty little shooter you got there, and in great shape. I have a thing for J-Frames but don't have a model 36 yet...maybe someday.

Looks very similar to my 36. It was my grandmother's, so it'll never get sold.
Mine has Pachmayr grips, but I have the slim wood grips in a box somewhere.

Efit: Looked this morning & mine is a 36-7 which seems to indicate around 1990 era

This message has been edited. Last edited by: P250UA5, December 07, 2024 07:33 AM

One of several guns I regret selling is a 36 I bought new in the late-1970's or early 1980's. I didn't shoot it much, and only with target reloads, but I could do a 3" or so group at 75 feet easily, the gun was that accurate. Great trigger, right out of the box, too!

That’s an excellent find! A Model 36 was my father’s plainclothes / off-duty gun during his days in LE in the ‘70s.

Beautiful find! She looks exactly like mine, which is a ‘62 or ‘63 flat latch.

The only thing I will say is that the flat latch design is kinda of a pain in the ass when it comes to speed loader usage. The bottom of the latch sits lower than the more modern designs and interferes with speed loader clearance. If you’re using strips, it’s not a big deal.

Nice find, I don't think those are the original grips. An original flat latch would have diamond grips.

From that wear pattern around the cylinder latch I highly suspect it had the more modern standard style latch and someone put the flat on it. What is the serial number? Don’t forget to include any letters.

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:
From that wear pattern around the cylinder latch I highly suspect it had the more modern standard style latch and someone put the flat on it. What is the serial number? Don’t forget to include any letters.

I think it just looks like that because I wiped it down with some CLP and didn’t go tight along the edges of the cylinder lever. In some of my other pics before wiping down, there is no wear. Here is one below that illustrates.


Serial is in 388XXX range, which I thought puts it ‘63/‘64 range, and thus the flat latch should be original as it went to 1966. I will note I think the grips should be diamond patterned around the screw through so maybe they were changed. I’ll have to pop them off and look at the number on the inside of them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LincolnSixEcho, December 05, 2024 12:16 AM

I have the same revolver. Mine is a little older and in a little worse condition than yours. I bought it on a bit of a whim w/o knowing much about it. The flat latch stuck out to me as something I had never seen before.

It's a keeper, and I think it's cool that it's old enough to qualify as C&R, and pretty soon yours will too if it doesn't already.

Congratulations on a wonderful addition to the family

That revolver is in beautiful condition

The flat latch was a slight reshaping of S&Ws cylinder latch that came into use on the Chief's Special and the other J-Frames back around 1950. This was done to improve pocket carry.




The flat latch went away around 1966 when the Factory changed to the dished style


And of course staib is correct your revolver would have originally left the Factory with diamond grips

Thanks for the comments and info as usual guys. I like seeing pics of other flat latch guns as I had not seen many before finding mine. Since it appears the grips are the only thing that is not original then perhaps I would try and find a set (even though technically they still won’t match numerically) to get it full period correct. I like the grips that are on it now, but I have no qualms changing them now.

Where would be a good spot to find those diamond grips? Usually I look at eBay, though it’s hit and miss.

Congrats on a great classic wheel gun.......they don't get any better than these old S&Ws.

Nice little snubby.
Nice vintage model 36s are getting harder to come by.
Great score.
Rogers gun and grips may have some diamonds.

https://rogersgunsandgrips.com...uct_cat=smith-wesson

Kinda expensive.

Or ebay.

.

Working in a gun shop has its advantages. I picked up a Model 36 Chief’s Special a couple of years ago that came in as a purchase. One of my coworkers was looking at it, a couple bare spots in the bluing but a flat latch and what turned out to be matching numbered Diamond grips. He said “I’d Cerakote it!” to which I said “Heretic!”

Six digit serial number, 1959 ship date.

I did tune it with Wolff Springs, a big improvement over the factory trigger.

I’m going to retire it from carry duties once my Classic Series 36 arrives though.

That additional picture made a big difference! I stand corrected. A six digit no letter prefix would be early 60’s as you suspect. Nice looking wheel gun

Here's a poor photo (for insurance purposes only) of my Model 36 serial number 303463, approximately 1963 production.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Here's a poor photo (for insurance purposes only) of my Model 36 serial number 303463, approximately 1963 production.

Thank you for sharing that. I’ve had a hard time confirming the exact year of mine, but my assumption of 1962-1963 based on a 301465 serial number lines up with your example.

According to Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition 1962 production started with 295000 for what that’s worth. The book then jumps ahead and the next year listed is 1969, production starting with 786544.