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Show us your Guns!

Stearmen

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,202
I had a Deputy Sheriff at a gun show tease me about my little S&W. I looked him in the eye and said, I bet pistols like this have saved more Cops lives then any of the big pistols! He just nodded yes.
 

MikePotts

Practically Family
Messages
837
Location
Tivy, Texas.
Fitz, Bob, Landman:



that number seems weird to me, just has "MOD.36" on the crane and no other numbers elsewhere. Oh well..nice little gun anyway
 

rjb1

Practically Family
Messages
561
Location
Nashville
You might want to carry the question over to the Smith and Wesson Forum. They have a lot of S&W experts over there and they love answering these sorts of questions.
 

MikePotts

Practically Family
Messages
837
Location
Tivy, Texas.
You might want to carry the question over to the Smith and Wesson Forum. They have a lot of S&W experts over there and they love answering these sorts of questions.

Yeah, I was a member there a while ago but I've changed email addy's etc. since then & I don't think I can be bothered to re-register at the moment....I may have to though. Thanks for the reminder.
 

MikePotts

Practically Family
Messages
837
Location
Tivy, Texas.
While we are discussing J frames. Here is a nifty way to conceal carry a J frame. The pistol in this picture is a Model 60 with a 1 7/8" barrel. This type of carry probably wouldn't work too well for a 3 " barrel but is great for the snubby version. I usually wear starched Wrangler jeans and when they are pulled over the boot the pistol is held very securely.

Would you mind sharing the name of your bootmaker? - nice work!
 

BigFitz

Practically Family
Messages
630
Location
Warren (pronounced 'worn') Ohio
Fitz, Bob, Landman:



that number seems weird to me, just has "MOD.36" on the crane and no other numbers elsewhere. Oh well..nice little gun anyway

Going back to the book, the Model 36 "no dash" was produced from 1957 with a serial number of 125000, to 1966. If the grips are original to the gun, then it was manufactured after 1968, when they dropped the "diamond" from around the grip screw. And I just remembered about pinning the barrel. This was discontinued in 1982. Also, the cylinder release was changed from the "flat latch" style to your style in
1966. So, I guess we can narrow it down to 1968-1982. [huh]

Apologies for rambling, but I haven't looked in the book for almost a year when I started selling off my Smith's, and it was fun looking through it again. Now I feel the itch again, daggumit!:)
 
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Landman

One Too Many
Messages
1,751
Location
San Antonio, TX
Mike,

That is an unusual serial number or at least I can't find it anywhere in the book or see why the S&W forum came up with 1971. The guys on that forum know what they are talking about though. If I were you I think I might get a letter from S&W on that pistol. I have bought letters in the past on a couple of my pistols and they can be very interesting sometimes. Here is a link to the archive letters.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...4_750001_750051_757825_-1_757814_757812_image

With regards to my boot holster, I have a local boot shop that will sew the leather patch on for me. I purchase leather in the proper color, cut it to size and then take it to them to sew on. I'm sure any shoe shop or boot shop can do it. I got the idea after seeing a pair of custom made boots with a simple knife sheath on the side. I also have another pair with a sheath that holds a 1911 magazine. If you want me to find the name and phone number of the shop here in San Antonio that I use then just drop me a PM and I'll find it. They have moved and I think changed their name and phone number.
 
Last edited:

Landman

One Too Many
Messages
1,751
Location
San Antonio, TX
Nice. What's your primary pistol?

I prefer to carry a Colt Commander in an IWB holster if my clothing permits it. However, when I can't conceal the Commander properly I will carry the S&W in the boot holster. I find myself carrying it quite a bit during the summer months because I am only wearing a lightweight shirt. It is not the optimum carry position for when you are standing but is easily accessible in a sitting position like when driving a vehicle.
 

Story

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,056
Location
Home
I find myself carrying it quite a bit during the summer months because I am only wearing a lightweight shirt.

I've taken to wearing alot of Hawaiian shirts, do the job for covering up a 1911 - only problem is you wind up looking like Max Cady.
 

Landman

One Too Many
Messages
1,751
Location
San Antonio, TX
Story,

I have quite a few Hawaiian shirts and they can work great but I agree with you on the look. I don't like to wear them when I'm working. 511 Tactical makes a similar style shirt that is not so flashy. It is also a little heavier material and doesn't print as bad as a Hawaiian shirt. Here is link to the 511 shirt.

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Shirts/Concealed-Carry/Covert-Shirt-Classic.html

What is your primary carry when you wear a Hawaiian shirt?
 
Last edited:

Kirk H.

One Too Many
Messages
1,196
Location
Charlotte NC
Story,

I have quite a few Hawaiian shirts and they can work great but I agree with you on the look. I don't like to wear them when I'm working. 511 Tactical makes a similar style shirt that is not so flashy. It is also a little heavier material and doesn't print as bad as a Hawaiian shirt. Here is link to the 511 shirt.

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Shirts/Concealed-Carry/Covert-Shirt-Classic.html

What is your primary carry when you wear a Hawaiian shirt?

I agree with you and use the 5-11 shirts as well. I have no problem carrying my full size service pistol concealed with them and they work great with my smaller off-duty pistols as well.
 

MikePotts

Practically Family
Messages
837
Location
Tivy, Texas.
So if you're not all bored poopless by the S&W mode.36 serial number saga, here's what the boys at Smith&Wessonforums came up with - the 'floating J'




In 1950, when the factory introduced the Chief Special, they gave it a new number series and started it with 1and by 1969 reached 786544. In 1969, to comply with the Gun Control Act of 1968, they had to give it a unique number so they added a letter J prefix plus five numbers.

Somewhere near the end of 1970 they ran out of five-digit combinations at J99999 so some clever person at the factory came up with the idea let's start the "floating J" series and in 1971 began with 1J1 going to 1J9999 . . . still retaining the J plus 5 numerical digits. Then, when they ran out again at 1J9999, they went to 2J1 to 2J9999, then 3J1 to 3J9999, then . . . well you get the idea.

Ah, but wait . . . there's more to the story. When they reached 999J99, the factory stayed with the J-prefix but used six numbers beginning with J100000. That lasted until sometime in 1983 when they adopted the three-alpha plus four-numerical format.

And now you know . . . the rest of the story.

Russ
 

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