SMITH & WESSON .38 CHIEFS SPECIAL "PRE-MODEL 36" Description
.38 Spl. cal., round or square butt steel J frame, coiled mainspring, 5 shot fluted cylinder, 2 in. round pinned or 3 in. barrel, blue or nickel finish, early production had round blade front sight on five screw round butt frame with standard thumbpiece, smooth backstrap and rounded trigger guard, can be found with five, four, or three screw frames with ramp front sight, checkered walnut grips, later production had longer trigger guard with serrated ramped front sight, ser. no. range 1-786544. Mfg. began in 1950, by 1957 this model became known as the Model 36.