Rare bird Model 36?

[Parke1]

Hello all,

I was browsing at the local Gander Mountain last night, and a Model 36 actually jumped out of the display case and followed me home! Strange, I know.

Actually, my wife was kind enough to OK the purchase of this little beauty. Here's where it gets strange. According to my S&W book, the serial number (J249xxx) places this gun as being built in 1974. The odd thing, though, is that it's a 2" barrel, SQUARE butt gun! From what I've been reading, this gun should either be a 2" round butt, or a 3" square. The bluing is near perfect, with no real cylinder ring, the barrel color matches the frame, and the gun is in overall great shape. No signs of being rebarreled or re-blued. Lockup is amazingly tight. I'm kinda stumped on this one.

Oh, one other thing. The frame stamp simple reads Mod. 36, but by the serial number/build date it should read 36-1. All the production numbers match.

Am I sitting on an odd duck here, or am I simply reading the book wrong? In either case, I'm the proud new owner of a nice little 36 for a mere $140!

Thanks for your input!
-Parke1

 

[Jackal]

Everything else aside, regardless of the condition, for $140 you cant go wrong. Good little guns and accurate too.

 

[Dismantler]

Oh My GOD! You got that Smith for a hundred forty bucks!? I paid $289 for the same one last summer!

I also have the Model 36 in a 2" square butt. It is model 36...not Model 36 - anything. Mine was made in 1971. You got a STEAL at that price!

 

[DaleCooper51]

Thats a great price on the revolver, but it's not that rare of a bird. Plenty of square butt 36's have been made.

 

[rdrancher]

Excellent find! If you do ever feel bad for stealing it, drop me an email.

rd

 

[Starter52]

About that 36-1 thing...... I've read that even though some J-frame revolvers were in the -1 range, they were marked "Mod 36" due to space limitations on the crane.

This may not be true, but it's what I've read.

+1 to what the others said about $140 being a steal for that gun.

 

[moewadle]

I can hardly believe a retail chain store sold that

for $140. Man, you are one lucky guy. Enjoy it.

 

[nj.piney]

i just sold a model 36 square butt
2 inch nickle plated, but not for $140.
a 2 inch square butt is not that uncommon .

 

[micky692002]

I bought one in near perfect condition 2 month ago for $185.00. Its just like the one in the pic.

 

[oneiron]

I have one and Air Weight aluminum frame Serial 05413. I took it in to the store where i purchased my new Carter Arms 44 Special, and he offered me $80.00 for my Charter 38 Undercover and $200. for the S&W. I have fired the S&W maybe five round in twenty five years. The gun is about 98%, and Smith said it was made about 1953. I asked them if I could shoot +P rounds in it. He told me the gun was to old for that. I did not sell the guns brought all three home. That 38 Charter is a tact Driver.

 

[papajohn]

Just a guess, but I'd bet yours was one of the later Model 36's made, and yours might have been assembled from parts, just to use up what they had. It's happened before. An older square-butt frame, a shorter barrel, no compatibility issues, just not a standard catalogued gun. For that price, I'd be very sure no one ever talked me out of it, you'll never see another like it!

Papajohn

 

[doc540]

That is one RARE gun you got there, bud.

It's rare because I think that's the only handgun Gander Mountain has sold at a low price.

 

[Brian Williams]

A 36-1 is the Heavy barrel version that ran concurrently with the 36 standard barrels(also called Pencil barrels)

 

[bannockburn]

Parke1

Nice find; and at a Gander Mountain store no less. Someone must have been asleep at the switch to let that one get out of the store at that price. Congrats on a really great gun and a really great deal.

 

[Ala Dan]

Popular belief, according too at least one fell'a in the know 'bout firearms
states that the ROUND BUTT 36's and 37's from S&W were actually more
desireable; because of better concealment qualities~? I argued with him
that it really does not make a whole lot of difference, that they both are
desireable firearms for use as personal defense, or home D' weapons~!