Smith & Wesson Chiefs Special: Diamond Jubilee, 1950-2025

Smith & Wesson produced millions of this small revolver through its three-quarter-century lifetime. Originally designed for police work, police chiefs christened it “Chiefs Special.” Police departments, military units, and other enthusiasts have used variations of this beloved model. Especially in the early years Smith & Wesson made seemingly small, subtle changes to its Chiefs Special. Through the years many authors have written about this iconic arm. Each story paints an image of the revolver, but even collectively they do not define the myriad changes it underwent. Based primarily on the author’s Chiefs Special collection and original factory records from the personal collection of Smith & Wesson Historian Dr. Roy G. Jinks, this volume reviews Chiefs produced through the years and analyzes the model’s many precedent-setting changes. The terms and logos AIRWEIGHT, LADY SMITH, BODYGUARD, SMITH & WESSON, M&P, PERFORMANCE CENTER, S&W, and CHIEFS SPECIAL are registered trademarks of Smith & Wesson, Inc. Fine Nib Publishing acknowledges that Smith & Wesson reserves all rights, title, and interest to their trademarks.