It is no surprise that the Smith & Wesson J-Frame has become the most popular, small-frame, defense revolver on the market. These small revolvers were designed to fire full power rounds and are as simple and easy to use as they are reliable. Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolvers have had your back since 1950. When Smith & Wesson adopted model numbers in 1957, the Chiefs Special became the Model 36. Designed with the needs of law enforcement officials in mind, the Chief’s Special proved to be a popular revolver for personal protection due to its size and weight. At the conference, the Smith & Wesson sales force asked the police chiefs to vote on a name for the new revolver. This small revolver, designed primarily for plainclothesmen and off-duty police officers, made its public debut at The International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in 1950.
