Just traded for a really nice square butt Model 37 snub in nickel. The SCSW dates it to 1975-1976. Never had much experience with the square butt J frames, but the only concealability compromise I can imagine with it, is if it's carried in the pocket. I would think all other modes would work as well as a round butt. Any of y'all have any preferences on these guns? I've got a later Model 642-1 that I pocket carry frequently, but this little gun was too pretty to resist. I guess you can't have enough of them, huh? May post a pic if I can get my wonderful modern tech iphone to send it.

Attached Images

Model 37.jpg (142.5 KB, 381 views)

__________________
MARK

"I would think all other modes would work as well as a round butt...."

And you would be thinking correctly. The round/square butt debate on a J frame is overplayed. I have several of each and use the same holsters to carry concealed without thought to grip shape.

The Mod 37 is the grandfather of airweights and is as good of a J frame as you could carry.

GF

I bought a new Mod. 37 in 1977 and that is my carry gun. While I don't shoot +P in it, I carry +P in the cylinder. Great handgun. Mine is a square butt. I have a set of Mustang wood grips on it most of the time.
Stu

The only disadvantage to a Square Butt is if you want to carry it in a pocket, especially a front pocket.

I also carry a square butt 37 but only when I go IWB because the grip is a little big for my liking; especially in dress slacks.

For front pocket carry I pack the KelTec P3AT.

Gotta admit ~ I really like that 37 though.

For those of us who like to stick with factory grips, the square butt is a better handle. Great bedside gun or trail gun from a holster. 2nd best for pocket carry as was already pointed out. Like you Mark, I have a 642-1 for concealed carry. Neat little guns!

__________________
Jon

I recently picked up a 3", 37 no dash, SB and I'm really starting to like it. For me the SB J frames always pointed better than the RB models. Trading a slight amount of concealability for increased shootability seems a fair trade in a CCW firearm.

Pic finally added, although it's sideways.

__________________
MARK

I added a Tyler T-Grip to mine and really like the "handling".

Carried mine in the breast plate pocket of my vest. Easy to get to if needed. Shot +p's for qualifactions was a bit of a handful.

Hello Everyone,

I need some help; actually, lots of help.

My uncle just showed me today a Model 37 revolver that he inherited from my grandfather.

There was a number on the grip bottom (Serial #?), but nowhere else that I saw. I'll admit, I didn't think of looking inside the cylinder area, if by chance there is a number there, too.

I don't know anything about these revolvers, but I'm curious about some things my uncle said. He mentiond that my grandfather had the gun since around 1952 and that he (my uncle has had it for the last 40+ years.

The number on the gun is 156200. The blue box it was in said: Smith & Wesson Model 37 Airweight, Chief's Special, Blue finish, 2-inch barrel, Square butt.

What can anyone tell me about this type of weapon?

It appears to be in working order, a little bit neglected, but the hammer and trigger felt solid (no play or wobble), the cylinder spun freely (albeit a little tight) and the action seemed crisp (good trigger break and no noticeable slack).

Were these good carry weapons?
When might this revolver have been manufactured?
Could it really be from the early '50s?

If I can't get any information here, I won't have any other recourse but to send off for a "Letter of Authenticity" from Smith & Wesson. But I would have to spend $50 just to know when it was made.

Please help.

Sincerely,

Eric Torres
Tron1

According to the SCSW, I would say it was produced between 1957 and 1962. This is reinforced by the fact that you say the box is marked "Model 37 Chief's Special Airweight, square butt. S&W switched from straight model names to numbers in 1957, so I would say this would coincide with the serial number.

__________________
MARK

Well, so far no photo's of anything and we know how that goes so here is a photo of my 1977 M37 in its carry configuration along with its very old Bianchi carry leather.
Stu

Attached Images

M37.jpg (74.6 KB, 170 views)

About seven years ago, I paid $225 for this gun with a worn pair of Mustang grips and a quality but well-used holster. Some of the anodizing is worn off on the frame near the trigger guard and on the top strap. The dealer, whom I know personally, told me it had belonged to a police officer. Later I traded the gun off, and it ended up in the gun shop again, so I purchased it a second time!

The wood grips had to go, so I bought these Executioner stags, which work well on it.

I thought when I started buying Smith's that I would only want round butts. I just liked how they looked. My first Smith ended up being a Model 15-3 which is a K frame and only comes in square butt, even the snubbie. I have grown to love it. It is in fact quite possibly my favorite handgun of all time now. It is blued and beautiful. It got me used to the idea of square butt guns. While at the show I had originally intended to walk out with a nickel Detective Special from Colt or a nickel 36 round butt. Once I held the round butt, it just didn't feel right in my hands at all. So I started to not care for the 36, but then it hit me like a brick, why not try a square butt? Without ever holding one in my hands, I ordered one online, in great shape with box and papers for a pretty decent price compared to anything else I saw online. It fits great in my hand and while it posses a very slight difference in concealability its hardly noticeable. Just that one corner pokes out slightly if I'm wearing the wrong shirt. Still absolutely love it. I have no immediate plans to ever buying any round butt J frames. I want several in SB now. I love the 32 long, so I am looking at a Model 31 since it's all square butt. They are great. They also carry very well in my pocket when I go take my dog out at night. I have, however, a Taurus 605 which is a round butt gun and I put smith style magna grips on it and it feels great and I believe they are the same size as the Smith J frames, but the gun is a little bigger since it's a 5 shot .357 and it is bad with a capital BAD. I truly adore that gun and it looks old-school as funk. However I'm not here to push Taurus to anyone haha. I've heard all kinds of good and bad stories about them, but it is a sweet sweet pistol. Anyhow, yeah, square butt J frames are my favorite in that frame size now. Never thought I'd even want a square butt period and now my only 2 Smith's are both square butt. Still want round for my snub 19 and 10, but I really do like square butts on the right gun.

I thought when I started buying Smith's that I would only want round butts. I just liked how they looked. My first Smith ended up being a Model 15-3 which is a K frame and only comes in square butt, even the snubbie. I have grown to love it. It is in fact quite possibly my favorite handgun of all time now. It is blued and beautiful. It got me used to the idea of square butt guns. While at the show I had originally intended to walk out with a nickel Detective Special from Colt or a nickel 36 round butt. Once I held the round butt, it just didn't feel right in my hands at all. So I started to not care for the 36, but then it hit me like a brick, why not try a square butt? Without ever holding one in my hands, I ordered one online, in great shape with box and papers for a pretty decent price compared to anything else I saw online. It fits great in my hand and while it posses a very slight difference in concealability its hardly noticeable. Just that one corner pokes out slightly if I'm wearing the wrong shirt. Still absolutely love it. I have no immediate plans to ever buying any round butt J frames. I want several in SB now. I love the 32 long, so I am looking at a Model 31 since it's all square butt. They are great. They also carry very well in my pocket when I go take my dog out at night. I have, however, a Taurus 605 which is a round butt gun and I put smith style magna grips on it and it feels great and I believe they are the same size as the Smith J frames, but the gun is a little bigger since it's a 5 shot .357 and it is bad with a capital BAD. I truly adore that gun and it looks old-school as funk. However I'm not here to push Taurus to anyone haha. I've heard all kinds of good and bad stories about them, but it is a sweet sweet pistol. Anyhow, yeah, square butt J frames are my favorite in that frame size now. Never thought I'd even want a square butt period and now my only 2 Smith's are both square butt. Still want round for my snub 19 and 10, but I really do like square butts on the right gun.