Mike Irwin, you were........

[JB3rd]

correct......about the S&W model 33-1 that was discussed Wednesday and Thursday not being .38 special. It was indeed a .38 S&W. Still looked nice, though. I had a chance to go the shop today and took another look.

Also looked at a model 36, sn J327XX 3" .38 special in good shape. Had some holster wear but had not been shot much. Any idea on when it was made & if it would be able to handle +p ammo? The barrel appeared to have a slight taper. I compared it to a 36-1 and the 36-1 had a heavier barrel, although both were 3". Do you know if the 36-1 was intended to handle the +p cartridge? ( it did not have a pinned barrel, so must've been made more recently. Didn't S&W stop pinning the barrels around 1982?)

Did S&W change the metallurgy of the revolvers between the 36 and 36-1?

I'd appreciate any info you ( or anyone else) could provide about these.

Thanks.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Not to be a total prick, but....

I told you so.

Didn't disbelieve you, as you can find a lot of oddities when it comes to S&W revolvers.

Had one guy here earlier this year just about break my heart when he started describing a Model 36, but with adjustable sights...

Just about broke my heart when I realized that he was talking about a 36-1 Chief's Special Target, of which about 1,500 to 1,700 were made, and that the gunshop that had it had NO clue what it was.

I think he bought it, and ended up getting a very collectible, and rather valuable revolver, for about what you'd pay for a decent condition 36 2" with fixed sights...


Anyway...

J327XX would have been made probably in 1969. It is not factory rated for +P ammo, but will handle a LIMITED amount before it starts taking a toll. With that serial number it SHOULD be marked 36-1 according to Supica and Nahaus.

36-1s were made for a long time, from 1967 to 1988. Anything after 1982/83 won't have the pinned barrel.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Reminder to self...

Don't be so cocky...

I just really screwed the pooch with an "answer" on a Savage 99 in another thread!

But I'm pretty sure that my information in this thread is good!