Hello, new member here. I recently acquired a 649-3 that is chambered in .38 SPL. My reading on the web seems to indicate that the 649-3 was chambered in .357. The barrel length is 2 1/8" and the frame and cylinder is the same size as my 640-1 chambered in .357. The barrel is not miss stamped since .357 do not chamber. Your opinions please on what I have. Was this a special order or some kind of transitional revolver? I was told that it was formerly owned by a small town police chief. Needs cleaned up a little, but looks solid. Should be a nice match to my 638-3 for range practice.

Thanks, Larry

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The only way to know is a letter.
I know most were 1 7/8" in .38
2 1/8" in .357
I have a 642 in .38 with port and 2 1/8" NRA logo.
There were some distributor runs too.
Talo, Davidson for example.
I myself don't want a J frame in .357.

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Have a blessed day ,
Bull

Welcome to the Forum!

Neat one you got there, no idea about it being .38 special.

The first 649s are chambered for 38 special. As the years went by they evolved into 38 special +P and then .357.

I like it!
Hey Larry, PLEASE get rid of the trigger shoe. Those things are dangerous. I sold a J-frame to a guy years ago...he put a trigger shoe on it and promptly blew his armpit out when he re-holstered into a shoulder holster. The perceived "benefit" is not worth the risk!

I don't have specific knowledge of your M649-3, but I do know S&W is known to chamber .357 Mag guns in .38 Spl on the insistence of a large enough customer. For example: M586's chambered in .38 Spl for foreign police agencies.

Your gun could be something like that. The s/n prefix CEC dates to the April - July 2000 time frame.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Let me add my welcome . . . great folks here willing to share their vast knowledge.

According to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (3rd Edition), in November 1997 the 649-4 was "Reintroduced in .38 Special +P only using the new (magnum) frame".

What I suspect is you have is a frame that was already stamped -3 but was chambered in .38 Special early in the -4 series. The .38 Special variation of the -4 was reportedly discontinued in 1999.

I have a 649-3 in .357 magnum and, based on the serial numbers, was probably made the month before yours. Like others I find the .357 to be more than I enjoy shooting in a J-frame. But . . . if you get a hankering for .357 power . . . let me know and maybe we can work out a swap.

Russ

I mis-read the serial number prefix as CCE . . . which would fit the November '97 timeframe. The next time you remove those grips you might check the serial number on the butt of the grip frame . . . just in case it isn't the same as the yoke cutout . . . stranger things have happened!

Russ

Thanks for the input on getting rid of the trigger shoe. Need to find a small hex key wrench.

The serial numbers match. CEC is correct. I also prefer .38 in the J-frame, so I will get along with this revolver just fine. I have only shot a limited amount of .357 from my 640-1 and it just seems to be too much muzzle blast and hard to get back on target.

Larry

Very nice gun you have there. The dash 3 went to .357 and the underlug protecting the ejector rod. Possibly a special order. No big deal as .38 Spl is all you need. I might spend the $50 for a letter on that one. A unique gun for sure. I'd hang on to it.

What's the purpose of a trigger shoe?

All of the above or it could be an over run from an export batch.

The trigger shoe is an invention that was more popular 60 or more years ago, when single action shooting was more prevalent. It is designed to have the same effect as a wide target trigger, which is to make more surface area on the face of the trigger, thereby making trigger pull FEEL lighter in single action mode.

The problem is that they were popular on revolvers that did not have a trigger guard which was wide enough to take into account the increased width of the trigger face, which sometimes resulted in the sides of a tight fitting holster operating the trigger by friction when the weapon was inserted, causing a "bang" where none was intended.

This can be quite dangerous.