S&W Model 36 questions

[abr10dr]

Hello,
Was talking to one of my uncles today and it seems I inherited a hand gun
from my father, I havn't seen the gun yet, but was told it is a S&W Model 36
in .22 cal. I did a quick Google search and only saw Model 36 in center fire
cals, did they make the 36 in rimfire? Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[GRIZ22]

Working with the 2 digit model numbers there is no rimfire Model 36. There is a J frame Model 34 in 22 RF. The 36 was 38 spl only. Other calibers had different model numbers,

 

[Guillermo]

not that a guy with over 3000 K posts requires back up...ditto to what Griz said

 

[abr10dr]

Thanks GRIZ22 & Guillermo, that must be it, I don't have it in my posession
yet, so no SN, but was told it's a .22 looks like a Cheifs Special, 2in barrel.

Thanks Again,
Rick

 

[Guillermo]

don't be too hard on him abr...Smith model numbers are confusing

 

[ArchAngelCD]

BTW, if it's a M34 you have a very nice revolver coming your way. It's a fun gun to shoot and with enough practice there won't be a safe squirrel in the woods.

 

[Radagast]

There was one Model 36 shipped in .22lr, serial number 29800, shipped in August 1963. If you have that gun it would be work a bit to a collector.
As mentioned above, S&W made the Model 34, which was the Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun, with a two or four inch barrel and adjustable sights on the small Improved I frame and from 1960 the slightly larger J frame.
They also made the same gun in stainless steel as the Model 63, in blued aluminum as the Model 43, and as the model 51 in .22 Magnum.

 

[Jim K]

I read the same thing and believe there was a recording error or a mis-stamping and that the gun was actually a J-frame Model 34, which would also explain the duplicate serial number as at that time the guns were still numbered in different series. Making a true Model 36 in .22 would be close to impossible for just one gun; it would be easier to make a Model 34 without adjustable sights, which would amount to the same thing.

Jim

 

[M2 Carbine]

Thanks GRIZ22 & Guillermo, that must be it, I don't have it in my posession
yet, so no SN, but was told it's a .22 looks like a Cheifs Special, 2in barrel.

Thanks Again,
Rick

Yes it's a nice gun. Has adjustable sights.
I was shooting mine just yesterday. I have a thing about shooting S&W J Frames at 50 yards. First try, the gun was easily keeping the hits on a one foot square steel target, but I missed 4 of 18 shots.

Because 22 ammo is so cruddy the cylinder gets dirty fast and the cases may become hard to eject at about 100 rounds.
It wouldn't hurt to put a bore brush in your range box to de-crud the chambers if the ejection becomes hard.

The cost of a nice used Model 34 has climbed greatly in the last several years. I had to pay $485 for mine in June 09 and I've seen them as high as $600 recently.

 

[Zundfolge]

I'm betting the gun is a model 63 not a 36 ... 63 is a nice little .22lr in stainless steel.