For those of you who have owned and carried both a Model 36 and 37, is the four ounce difference really noticeable? Especially for pocket carry?

I've had both. The weight difference is noticeable in the pant pocket - either is doable, but the 37 is notably more comfortable. Ankle holster as well. IWB or jacket pocket or shoulder holster, no difference whatsoever.

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Thanks, Erich. My carry is a Model 10 snub. It weighs twice as much as the M37 I bought for my wife yesterday. Considering getting a 37 for myself but would consider a 36. The 37 I got yesterday is prime. I don't mind having a cosmetically challenged blue for myself. If it's already ugly I may not mind bobbing the hammer so much.

For holster carry not a huge difference but for pocket carrythere is a noticeable difference,

If you plan to strictly carry it and you have another gun for the range get the airweight,
If its your only gun and you want to shoot it more than occasionally get the steel frame.

I had a Model 60 in SS that I carried until I got a Model 37 and never went back to the 60.

I have a 10-5 four inch and a 10-5 snub for range work. I bought the snub as a carry but may get myself a 37 for a carry. Or keep the one I bought for my wife.

I have always had difficulty shooting the older aluminum J-frame models 37, 38 and 42. The heaviest load I could tolerate was standard velocity 158gr service ammuntion and that was painful. While I realize these older guns are strongly built, they have always had a 'tinny' feel to me, cannot come up with a better adjective. I have no such problems with the modern iterations of the above, the 637, 638,642, and can fire +P ammo in them without difficulty.

As to pocket carry, if you start out with the steel frame 36, weight will not be a factor. If you first carry the aluminum 37, the 36 will feel heavy. Don't practice solely with the 36 and carry the 37. Practice with the one you will carry.

The difference between my 37 and 60 is actually 6 oz. On my kitchen
scale the 37 weighs 13 oz empty and the 60, same as 36, weighs 19
oz empty. Handling the two however feels like the difference is even
greater. I am able to actually forget the 37 is in my pocket while the
60 just seems too heavy in the pocket. When I do occasionally carry
the 60 it's in a belt holster.

Yes, without question. Shoot the 36, carry the 37.

I pocket carried a 37 for a while and switched to a 36. At first, I did notice a difference but that went away after a few days. Recently, I got a Ruger LCR .357 Mag and have been carrying it. So far, I'm liking the little Ruger. It has a much better trigger than any out of the box S&W that I've ever seen. Looks a little funny though.

Don't even think about it!

If you bought it for her --- it is hers and she will NEVER let you forget it!!

Yeah, you're probably right. I'll have to get my own M37. I prefer Blue for a carry. If I do that, I'll most likely have to sell my 10-5 snub. I really like it, but as a carry, the M37 makes more sense to me. And I have very limited gun money and a bride who is okay with guns up to a point. She thinks as long as they are useful, but not hobby/collection, they're okay.