Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chiefs Special (No Dash) .38 Special, 2-inch Blued J-Frame Revolver - Late 1960s
This late-1960s Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chiefs Special (no dash) is a classic 2-inch, five-shot J-frame in blued carbon steel with a pinned barrel. It features its correct "MOD. 36" marking in the yoke cut, checkered walnut Magna stocks with S&W medallions, and fixed sights. A tight action and period-correct details make this a collectible example of the iconic Chiefs Special.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The action remains tight, and the hammer drops with force. Pitting is present across the blued finish.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chiefs Special (no-dash) revolver
This no-dash Model 36 presents the hallmark configuration that made the Chiefs Special a staple carry revolver: a 2-inch pinned barrel, five-shot fluted cylinder, and blued carbon-steel J-frame construction. The ejector rod is unshrouded with a knurled tip, and the yoke cut is correctly stamped "MOD. 36."
The revolver operates in double-action/single-action and uses a smooth, narrow trigger. It retains an exposed hammer with a checkered spur and a hammer-mounted firing pin. The cylinder release is the standard raised, checkered latch (not the flat-latch).
Sighting is straightforward and rugged with a serrated ramp front and a fixed top-strap groove rear. The checkered walnut Magna-type stocks with inset S&W medallions provide a secure hold consistent with the model’s era.
Factory markings include the S&W circular Trade Mark logo on the left sideplate and "MADE IN U.S.A. MARCAS REGISTRADAS SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD, MASS." on the right frame. The serial number is present on the butt, with an assembly/fitment number on the crane/yoke. Manufactured in the United States in the late 1960s (approximately 1968), this Chiefs Special aligns with the features collectors look for in an early J-frame.