Tag Archives: snub nose

Boyko’s No. 29

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In 1950, Chief Edward Boyko of the Passaic, New Jersey PD entered a “name that gun” contest at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference in Colorado and submitted “Chief’s Special” as a suggestion for the hard-hitting new Model J revolver.

Smith & Wesson announced the winner in the December 1950 issue of The Police Chief, the IACP journal, and named Boyko as its author. The prize? A specimen of the new gun, complete with factory engraving.

Serial No. 29, it was an early “Pre-36” with a small grip and trigger guard of the I-frame, features that were later changed to make the revolver more comfortable to shoot with full-house loads. It also had a standard latch (later guns had a flat latch) and half-moon front sight, a configuration that only the earliest Chiefs Specials shipped with.

Plus, Chief Boyko’s was factory engraved.

Um, like this:

Yup, read more about the long-lost Boyko Chiefs Special in my column at Guns.com.

Pocket Wheelguns

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When reading James Rummels excellent blog Hell in a Hand basket I was struck by his recent piece on snubbys for carry.

In it he related the next best thing to carry, tracking the evolution from the snubs to the wonder nines of the 80s to today. Looking for the Next Big thing…Problem is, I never outgrew my Smith, in fact the old warhorse often tags along with me

Below is my everyday carry  or in todays hip lingo, “my EDC”

Smith and Wesson Chiefs Special in 38 Special, circa 1947. Pachy grips added about ten years ago. Stoked with five Winchester silver-tips. If i need more than five rounds i probably shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Good a go?

A Bianchi inside the waistband holster, rough on the outside, smooth on the inside.

Horn Spyderco

Seiko Coturna World Timer

Wallet, keys, etc…

I never feel under armed.