Smith & Wesson Model 36

When Smith & Wesson introduced the Chief's Special in 1950, skeptics questioned whether anyone would want a five-shot .38 Special when six-shot revolvers existed. Within a decade, the Model 36 had defined an entire category and become the most popular police backup gun in America. The Chief's Special proved that in concealed carry, the gun you have with you beats the bigger gun you left at home.

The Model 36 Chief's Special is arguably the most influential compact revolver design of the 20th century. The J-frame designation became synonymous with 'snubnose' revolvers in American firearms culture. Production numbers are estimated in the millions, making it one of the highest-volume revolvers ever manufactured. The original I-frame .38 Special revolvers had structural issues under sustained firing of full-power ammunition, leading Smith & Wesson to develop the stronger J-frame specifically for the Chief's Special. The 2-inch barrel became the de facto standard for concealed carry revolvers, though early models had 1.875-inch barrels. The fixed sight design, while limiting adjustability, proved extremely durable and snag-free. The Model 36 became a cultural icon, appearing in countless films and television shows including Dragnet, where both main characters carried Chief's Specials as duty weapons. The exposed hammer allows single-action cocking for precision shots while maintaining double-action capability for defensive situations. Many police departments issued the Model 36 as official backup or off-duty weapons from the 1950s through the 1990s. The blued carbon steel construction is more susceptible to corrosion than stainless steel but provides the classic appearance many users prefer. Smith & Wesson later introduced the Model 60 in 1965 as the stainless steel version of the Chief's Special. Suggested retail for the classic Model 36 is approximately $700-800. The Model 36 Classic, reintroduced in recent years, features the traditional design with modern manufacturing techniques.