Airweight Chief's Special

Now officially an "old gun" (discontinued) of the Smith & Wesson product line, this .38 Special J frame revolver was produced from 1950-1999 and with the short barrel has long been a CCW favorite among both law enforcement and civilian users. Additionally, its design and style impact on the S&W product line endures to Present Day and many current revolvers can trace their lineage back to this fine handgun.

Introduced during the middle of the last century this is the one that started the S&W J-frame .38 Special "craze". This 5-shooter sired the rest of the Smith & Wesson J-frame flock. I strongly suspect it was much more popular than the less potent "Terrier" chambered in .38 S&W. Frequently said to have "2-inch" barrels, the actual length is 1 7/8".  They were made in both the standard 1 7/8" barrel up to the 3" versions, both "skinny" and "heavy" barrel. Usually found with fixed sights, some versions have been offered with adjustable ones.

The revolver was chambered for .38 Special, but could be had with square or round butt. Designated by different model numbers, essentially the same guns could be had in .22lr or .22 magnum.  These usually bore "Kit Gun" somewhere in their descriptions.