Smith & Wesson Model 36 / 38

Smith & Wesson Model 36 "Chiefs Special"

Smith and Wesson Model 36 - .38 special - 5 shot

Smith and Wesson Model 60 (Stainless steel counterpart of the Model 36) (New manufacture) - .38 special - 5 shot

Two gold plated Smith & Wesson Model 36s with pearl grips and erroneous sound suppressors - .38 Special.

The Smith and Wesson Model 36 (often called simply ".38 snubnose") was introduced in 1950 as the "Chief's Special" (sometimes called the "Police Chiefs Special"). When Smith & Wesson adopted a model number only system seven years later, the revolvers' name was changed to Model 36. It is famous as being the first J-frame revolver in the S&W series (the earlier models were called "I-frames"). It is commonly used as a "belly gun", being stuffed in the pants waist, or as an officer's "Spare Rod", strapped to the ankle in a holster. It holds 5 .38 special bullets. It is commonly nicknamed the "Chief's Special".

The Smith and Wesson Model 36 was used in the following movies, television series, anime, and video games:

Film

• Shawn Doyle as Jack Shepard in Frequency

• Dawn of the Dead (1978)

• Gene Hackman in French Connection II

• Art LaFleur as Captain Sears and Andrew Robinson as Detective Monte in Cobra

• Bruce Willis as Detective Jack Mosley and Mos Def as Eddie Bunker in 16 Blocks+

• Sylvester Stallone as Det. Ray Tango in Tango & Cash

• An unruly bus passenger in Speed

• Lee Van Cleef as warden Bob Hauk in Escape from New York

Smith & Wesson Model 38

Smith and Wesson Model 38 with Smith & Wesson "Bodyguard" hammer shroud.

The Smith & Wesson Model 38 is a Model 36 that has a "Bodyguard" hammer shroud used to prevent clothing snag, as the hammer is concealed in the shroud.

Film

• Vanessa Williams in Eraser (fitted with Harret grips)

• Don Cheadle as Cash in The Family Man (nickel with mother of pearl grips)