S&W 36 3 inch?

[Diggers]

Hi all,

I've been looking for a revolver for my wife for a while. We came across a model 36-1 (I thinks the dash part is right) with a 3 inch barrel. This revovler looks like it has a nickle finish on it which my wife thought was pretty.... Its rated for non +P ammo, which is fine. This is a gun she is going to use at the range for fun.

Any opinions on this model revolver? Oh and they wanted 350.00 for it...hows the price?

Thanks

 

[DMZ]

If the finish is 90% there, IMO the price is very good. I looked at a used 90% M36 last week going for $500. I offered less, but the seller wouldn't negotiate as he knew he would get his price, eventually.

 

[Brian Williams]

Not a bad price for a 36-1 if it is factory nickle, is the hammer and trigger still case colored or is the ejector still blue or did it get nickled also. If the hammer and trigger are case colored and the ejector star blue it is probably factory nickle. If it is a model marked S&W it is good for +p other than some lightweights or airweights.
I have a 36 3" with the lightweight barrel, the -1 means it has the heavy barrel profile.
Nice shooters.

 

[popeye]

Price is good assuming it's o.k. mechanically. If it's going in a purse most of the time 3" is good. If it's going in a pocket or holster occasionally you need a 1 7/8".

 

[sidheshooter]

I think that the price is fine, personally. I like the 36-1 a lot, given that I own one. I would also add that this is the model that Mas Ayoob chose for at least one of his then-young daughters to use for learning the ropes of SD with a sidearm. In all, the 3-inch J is a great option; easy to carry and manipulate for folks with typical female-sized hands, with a long enough barrel to get hits with–as well as coaxing a bit more velocity out of any given load.

BTW, I have shot a limited number of +Ps out of mine over the years (maybe 250-350 or so, mostly 158gr LSWCHP) and it's still in one piece.

 

[rcmodel]

Todays new kinder & gentler +P ammo will not hurt any Model 36, including Airweights.

They were very strong guns, even the first ones made before model numbers.

Cylinder wall thickness at the webs is thicker then the bolt cuts on a Model 19 .357. The five-shot cylinder moves the bolt-cuts between the chambers, not over them in the thin webs.

Unlike a K-frame, they have next to no barrel shank or forcing cone sticking through the frame, or a gas ring cut like on the mangle'ms.

Old-time cops shot .38 Special Hi-Speed in them, which was closer to .357 then +P is now.

Still, they are not much fun in the little guns.
Practice with milder stuff and carry +P for social intercourse if you are so inclined.

rc

 

[Diggers]

Cool, sounds like a good one.

I didn't look at it real hard but it seemed pretty solid. Locked it up and tried moving the cylinder, just a tiny bit of rotation is all.

Now my wife, who is new to guns, just needs to study up to pass the safety test when she goes to buy it. I would get for her, but I just bought a revolver yesterday (a 442) and cant get another one for a month here in CA. I guess I could have worse problems.

 

[smee781]

Just put it on layway!

 

[Jim PHL]

Based on how things are going at the gunshops these days, I think it's a great price. Great gun, too. Excellent choice for your wife or yourself.

 

[Diggers]

smee781 you are one smart cookie. That or I'm just cookie crumbs....

smee781 I saw what you wrote, said "oh hey" to myself, got up and ran down to the gun shop and did just that. 100 bucks down for 90 days layway, only have to fork over 300 bucks more (tax and stuff) and its mine!! Errr...... I mean hers. (maybe ours if I'm real nice?)

Brian W, looks like factory nickle work to me, real good shape too. Only thing different is it has a pachmayr compact grip on it. It actually feels kinda nice.

Now this revolver was being sold on consignment so that might be the reason behind the price BUT there was also a little blue 36-(high number) snub there, maybe 80%, that was going for over 500 bucks!!

What is up with that??

 

[Phydeaux642]

Sounds like a decent price, but, my how things have changed for the little 1 7/8" snubbies. $500 for an 80% gun. Wow! I bought a square butt 36 snubbie last year in terrific shape for $345.

 

[moewadle]

The price seems good

if it is in good condition. The main point here is that the 36 3" is significantly more scarce than the shorter barrel lengths. So, that makes $350 look even better.