THE FIRST 'CHIEF’S SPECIAL' SMITH & WESSON PRE-36 SERIAL NO. 29

[Annihilator]

Very good read on the first S&W Chiefs Special, number 29

https://www.guns.com/news/2023/10/12/the-first-chiefs-special-smith-and-wesson-pre-36-serial-no-29

 

[HayesGreener]

My duty revolver in Air Force OSI in 1973 was a Moodel 36, 3" heavy barrel. We needed a concealable handgun for protection operations. We shot them a lot for training and proficiency. It was a surprisingly accurate little revolver but the military ammo we were using was wearing them out. It was replaced with a chopped 1911 in about 1979-1980. Pictured is the one from my collection.

 

[HayesGreener]

S&W much later gave the Chief Special name to a subcompact 9mm semi auto. I saw one at the IACP Conference in the 90's and ordered one. I often wore a dress uniform jacket and it concealed nicely under the jacket. It's the pistol they gave me on retirement.