Posted 4 years ago
dav2no1
(836 items)
1971-72 S&W Model 37 (Chief's Special) Airweight
Bought this from the original owner. Has the box, matched grips and original paperwork. This is a round butt frame. It's a J frame gun chambered in .38 special with a 2" barrel.
This gentleman lived in Texas. His father bought it for him just before his 15th birthday. In Texas apparently(according to him), at 15 you could legally own a gun.
The gun has some wear, but overall the blueing is very rich throughout the gun. This gentleman was a undercover detective for several years and carried this as both a primary and backup weapon during this time. He also told me he stopped a sexual assault using this as his duty weapon while working undercover.
Gun included both the original and aftermarket grips. Grips have the correct serial numbers stamped inside them.
Originally the seller stated he got it in 1967. But research shows this example has a floating J serial number and according to the information I found, this was only done in 1971 to 1972.
Inside the box there's a label from Denn Brothers Sporting Goods that shows a price tag for $97.50. As you can see from the history of the store shown below, he couldn't have purchased the gun in 1967. It important to verify the facts, as people's memories are often incorrect.
Denn Brothers Sporting Goods
They opened their first grocery store in 1921. Denn Brothers Sporting Goods later moved to its final location, 1911 Seventh St., in 1968 with 7,600 square feet of space to store their merchandise. They finally closed their doors in 1996.
I have a couple of S & W,... j frames ...always like the way they shoot.. & feel..nice post..
Thanks..I have a newer one that I carry occasionally. They are nice little guns. The blueing is very dark on these old guns. I have a few Model 10s, maybe I'll dig one of those out.
A beautiful gun.
Thanks bb2 and everyone for looking and loving my old Smith.
I love the story and history behind the gun. When you hold it, you can imagine the stories it could tell if it talked!
Yeah, I get that feeling when I look in a mirror. LOL !
Very nice! It is the whole package, box, paperwork and great story. I was a bit of an N frame collector back in the 1980s. One of the dumbest things I have ever done was to sell my 4" Model 57 which had I bought new in the wood presentation box. I was REAL broke at the time, but still wish I had held on to that and sold something else. Not a real practical gun but fun to shoot. I even carried it for awhile in a shoulder holster. Not sure if I have ever owned a J frame. My medium frame revolvers were Colts....
Meant to say small frame revolvers. Thinking about my Police Positives.... Really miss those...