J-frame square butt - The Firearms Forum

Ursus · 07-24-2006, 07:30 AM

My wife's grandpa handed me an unfired.- bought it new, and never even loaded it.- chief's special with a square butt. Does anyone knows how scarce are they, compared to round butts?

Xracer · 07-26-2006, 02:09 PM

Undoubtedly, more Chief's Specials were made in round butt than square butt, but the square butts aren't rare and there's no difference in price for a square butt Chief unless it's the Target Model.

Does it have a target (adjustable) rear sight?

Ursus · 07-26-2006, 07:03 PM

Thanks for your reply. And no, it's a fixed sight model.

southernshooter · 07-26-2006, 09:13 PM

Welcome Usris
In exc. shape $250
If the serial number is between 1-25,000 it's worth about $320

Ursus · 07-26-2006, 09:18 PM

Thanks for the info.

Hammerdown · 09-03-2006, 07:57 PM

Hello
I have both, the Model 36 which is a round but model and a model 37 that is a square butt model. I would rather carry the 37 as it is much lighter, and the Longer frame allows me a better grip when firing it. Regards, Hammerdown

southernshooter · 09-03-2006, 09:27 PM

Those are som nice Smith's ya got their

Ursus · 09-04-2006, 06:49 AM

My gun is almost the same, save for the fact that yours is the airweight model. Mine is totally steel.

Hammerdown · 09-04-2006, 07:35 AM

Hello Southernshooter & Ursus
I have the steel version as well, But carry the Ait-Weight as it is a lot lighter. Regards, Hammerdown

Marlin · 09-04-2006, 11:11 AM

My Model 60 is a square butt and feels just right in my hand. I have also had, in the past, a Model 36, back in the 60s with the square butt.

I later sold the Model 36 after I had pretty much ruined its surface wearing it in an ankle holster and forgetting about the damage salty sweat would do.

I lived in Montgomery at the time and that hot weather was deadly.....

Be that as it may, they were and are two of my favorite handguns.

Ursus · 09-05-2006, 07:01 AM

I've handled the sqre. and round butt and prefer the former, specially if "quickdraw" is needed

Hammerdown · 09-05-2006, 07:09 AM

Hello
What amazes me, is that the round Butt configuration seems to be more abundant on the used market than the Square Butt models.

I too have Yearned for the Square butt, in the Air-Weight models as they tend to be a little more comfortable to fire.

They still STING though, after a cylinder or two of ammo, no matter what Butt they have.

Hammerdown

Ursus · 09-05-2006, 02:15 PM

Yours is a very early version. The flat latch tells it.

07-24-2006, 07:30 AM	#1
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	J-frame square butt My wife's grandpa handed me an unfired.- bought it new, and never even loaded it.- chief's special with a square butt. Does anyone knows how scarce are they, compared to round butts? -->

07-26-2006, 02:09 PM	#2
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Re: J-frame square butt Undoubtedly, more Chief's Specials were made in round butt than square butt, but the square butts aren't rare and there's no difference in price for a square butt Chief unless it's the Target Model. Does it have a target (adjustable) rear sight?

07-26-2006, 07:03 PM	#3
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: J-frame square butt Thanks for your reply. And no, it's a fixed sight model.

07-26-2006, 09:13 PM	#4
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: J-frame square butt Welcome Usris In exc. shape $250 If the serial number is between 1-25,000 it's worth about $320 __________________ Only you can see this

07-26-2006, 09:18 PM	#5
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: J-frame square butt Thanks for the info.

09-03-2006, 07:57 PM	#6
Hammerdown V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 91	Re: J-frame square butt Hello I have both, the Model 36 which is a round but model and a model 37 that is a square butt model. I would rather carry the 37 as it is much lighter, and the Longer frame allows me a better grip when firing it. Regards, Hammerdown

09-03-2006, 09:27 PM	#7
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: J-frame square butt Those are som nice Smith's ya got their __________________ Only you can see this

09-04-2006, 06:49 AM	#8
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: J-frame square butt My gun is almost the same, save for the fact that yours is the airweight model. Mine is totally steel. __________________ SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLUM.

09-04-2006, 07:35 AM	#9
Hammerdown V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 91	Re: J-frame square butt Hello Southernshooter & Ursus I have the steel version as well, But carry the Ait-Weight as it is a lot lighter. Regards, Hammerdown

09-04-2006, 11:11 AM	#10
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Re: J-frame square butt My Model 60 is a square butt and feels just right in my hand. I have also had, in the past, a Model 36, back in the 60s with the square butt. I later sold the Model 36 after I had pretty much ruined its surface wearing it in an ankle holster and forgetting about the damage salty sweat would do. I lived in Montgomery at the time and that hot weather was deadly..... Be that as it may, they were and are two of my favorite handguns. __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

09-05-2006, 07:01 AM	#11
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: J-frame square butt I've handled the sqre. and round butt and prefer the former, specially if "quickdraw" is needed __________________ SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLUM.

09-05-2006, 07:09 AM	#12
Hammerdown V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 91	Re: J-frame square butt Hello What amazes me, is that the round Butt configuration seems to be more abundant on the used market than the Square Butt models. I too have Yearned for the Square butt, in the Air-Weight models as they tend to be a little more comfortable to fire. They still STING though, after a cylinder or two of ammo, no matter what Butt they have. Hammerdown

09-05-2006, 02:15 PM	#13
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: J-frame square butt Yours is a very early version. The flat latch tells it. __________________ SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLUM. Last edited by Ursus; 09-05-2006 at 08:38 PM..