Interesting Find: Very Early Chief Special

[ewrski]

I was perusing a LGS on line inventory and they have a what they call a Baby Chief with Serial # 588. They want $1999 for it. I am not in the market for it but curious if their price is out of the ball park.

Here is a link to it because without pictures, it didn't happen.

http://www.northeasternfirearms.com/2012/02/baby-cheif-38sp/

 

[rcmodel]

Well, it does appear to be what they say it is, and it is in very nice condition with a very low serial number.

I collect a few S&W's, but I don't need one that bad.

But lots of more serious S&W collectors probably do.

rc

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Several years ago, I saw a similar one, and if I remember correctly, it was #3. Identical to the one shown, the one I saw had "J.Edgar Hoover" engraved on the right sideplate, and was otherwise unadorned, but in the box. It had become the property of one of J Edgar's assistants, and was subsequently sold to a collector in the Washington DC area, and later sold to the collector I came to know, who specialized in J-frames. S&W's Carl Helstrom was presented with Serial #1. I forget who got #2. Only the first year or two had the half moon sights, and of course, the slightly shorter grip frame and grips. I do not believe that an early one commands THAT much money, but who knows? I think it might be more realistic at $1200-$1500, but a hardcore collector might HAVE to have it.

 

[Jaymo]

cough, cough, RIPOFF, cough, cough.
And I love J frames.

 

[316SS]

cough, cough, RIPOFF, cough, cough.

I'm fond of saying, something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

 

[Jaymo]

Only to the person who will pay it.
If you find an idiot who will give you $200 for an RG, that does NOT make it worth it.
The only people who believe that something is worth whatever someone will pay for it, are the people trying to sell something for more than it's worth.

 

[PlayTheAces]

Nice looking gun, at least from the photos. The half moon sight and S/N make it one of the early Baby Chiefs. And yeah, as far as I'm concerned the price is out of the ball park.

But then again, you wouldn't believe what some serious S&W collectors pay just for empty boxes from that time period. So who knows?

 

[bannockburn]

Nice find for some collector but way out of my comfort zone when it comes to S&W J frames.

 

[SleazyRider]

I'm fond of saying, something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Or, as they say in the world of automobile sales, "There's an a$$ for every seat."

 

[Otony]

It has an I-frame style "round" trigger guard as well, rather than the later oval/egg guards of the J series.

Very cute, but you can buy a clean Terrier so configured for quite a bit less than 1/2 that price. Who cares if it is a .38 S&W, it would look the same....almost.

 

[PabloJ]

I was perusing a LGS on line inventory and they have a what they call a Baby Chief with Serial # 588. They want $1999 for it. I am not in the market for it but curious if their price is out of the ball park.

Here is a link to it because without pictures, it didn't happen.

http://www.northeasternfirearms.com/2012/02/baby-cheif-38sp/

I have seen I-frame .38S&W revolvers in top shape sell for $500-$600. The old S&W pricing scheme which collectors use that goes the larger the more expensive makes ZERO sense to me. The price tag is very high, but some out there pay well over 2K for WWII vintage 1911 pistols (like Rand) which in reality are rather crudely finished parts bin guns.