Looking for a 642 and I see Cabellas has them on sale for 299.00

Buy one. It's the cheapest revolver S&W sells by a good amount. I've carried one in various pocket holsters for 15 years.

GREAT gun great price

You haven't bought it yet? Do it, excellent gun, super price!

Wow, I'm headed to Cabellas tomorrow!

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I made a post about these two weeks ago, the one I bought has the best action of any J frame I've ever had. Can't find a single flaw on it.

$299 for a S&W revolver- buy two!

I'm trying to convince myself that even though I have a model 10 snub, a 36 and a 640 that I need a 642 or a 638.... this is making it easier

I was in my local Cabela's last night, looked at one due to the price. It's the lock model. They have the no lock priced at $399. After seeing this thread I went online and the no lock is listed at $349-what the heck?? I have a coupon for another $20 off so may just have to stop in today, point out the online price (the site states also available in store) and pick one up.

There are nine SKU's of J-frames on sale at Cabela's. Seven have IL's. You can order the one you want online, for in-store pickup.

Sounds an awful lot like bait & switch to me. While I realize the lock is unlikely to tie up the gun, it's just butt ugly and I won't spend my money on one. There's a certain pride of ownership that's lacking here and besides that, Murphy's Law is alive and well.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I don't worry about the lock. I don't classify my J-Frames with my "beautiful" guns, in fact, I classify them with my Glocks.

They are incredible tools, but even the pre-locks are butt ugly.

You NEED a 642. It is the ultimate carry gun. Needless to say it is my EDC.

__________________
"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

It's nothing like bait and switch. That's when they advertise a specific model and try to steer you into something else. They did not advertise a 642 at $299.99. They advertised all J-frames on sale, which they are. And the ad says $349.99 to $649.99. Doesn't say anything about one for $299.99. That's only shown online as far as I know.
At any rate, I just got back from Cabela's and bought a 638. I had a $20 off $100, which expires today, and if you spend $150 in the store they give you another coupon for $25 off $100. So I wanted a 642, but they only had the floor model, which had a canted barrel. So I said fine, I'll spring the other $50 for the no lock. They only had the floor model of that, which had a lousy trigger compared to the other one. So I settled for my 3rd choice, a 638 with lock at $349.99. Minus $20 coupon, paid with gift cards I bought at 80 to 82 cents on the dollar, and I'm looking at $270 or less. All told I looked at 5 individual guns, and 3 of those had noticeably clocked barrels. So I was basically manipulated into buying my 3rd choice to get a good coupon deal. The good news is he gave me TWO $25 off $100 coupons. Those are going to work wonders for ammo that's already sale priced.

They should have it at $349, unless the regular price is different where you are. The ad I'm looking at doesn't mention specific models, but it does say "$100 off J-Frame revolvers." Pretty sure you can get them to honor the online price in any case.

The finish on the Model 642s has "Issues"

But that doesn't detract from it's ability to do the job.

I was looking at Wilson Combat 1911s today. They were prettier than the 442/642, but they cost $3,000 to $4,000. And I'm carrying a 642.

I've got one with the lock that I bought for dirt cheap. It looks as if it has ridden in a metal tool box full of metal tools over thousands of miles of rough dirt road. It also has a shiney spot in the barrel just barely ahead of the frame where someone pulled the trigger again on a squib. No sign of the incident on the outside of the barrel, frame, etc. I took a chance on it because of the price.

I have fired several hundred rounds through it, starting with standard pressure .38 Specials for a while and then shooting over a hundred +P rounds through it. Have had no problems whatsoever. I keep a very close watch on the frame and forcing cone area, but I have no problem with the ringed barrel. The gun shoots as well as I can hold it. I like it just because of the way it looks. No worries about finish and so far no worries about function. Besides, if I absolutely had to shoot somebody with it, I would expect that person to be offended by the way this gun looks, and that's OK with me! It's a carry gun, nothing more, but I trust my life with it at this point.

I'm not bragging here. Just saying that it would be hard to find a copy of a Model 642 that has suffered any more abuse, serious abuse, than this one, and it has stood the test. As I said, it will do the job I have for it to do!! This info is presented only for whatever it might be worth to any who read it.

__________________
So long ... Ken

The 642 is a great pocket gun. Anything under $300 sounds reasonable. The anodized finish (on the aluminum frame) is covered with a kind of clearcoat, and can show wear from pocket carry. Otherwise, the stainless and aluminum make it resistant to moisture and sweat. As a revolver that can be carried easily in a front pocket and then depended on to work, it is a great choice.

I practice with relatively light-loads (3.1 - 3.3 gr Trail Boss with a 125 gr round nose lead bullet from RimRock) and they make this revolver fun to shoot. Then I fire five rounds of carry ammo at the end of the range session to remind myself how the light 642 acts with a round producing some recoil. (The carry ammo can be 110 gr FTX, Golden Saber 125 gr, or Gold Dot 135 gr short barrel; all in +P). I just cannot settle in on what I think is the "best" .38 +P self defense round, and am going through my inventory slowly because the stuff is expensive.

__________________
S&W Rover

I thinks they fixed that. I have a 642-1 I bought new in 2014 and I carry it daily. No issues with the finish at all.

__________________
Support your Police, & NRA

Never intended to imply I felt it was bait and switch, sorry if any of you did.

I went in today with the intention of buying one (definitely don't need it ahahaha). There were a lot of people at the gun counter with 3 sales people. After a half hour of waiting, being told "be with you shortly" I decided since I didn't really need another ccw gun to leave.

I did however pick up a Wheeler 89 piece screwdriver set that was 20% off ($56) and a few boxes of various ammo also on sale.

A ridiculously long wait at the check out-the nice lady at the register I was in even complained that out of 12 registers only 5 were staffed. She also apologized for the long wait, I was fine with it but did appreciate her saying something.

I have a 442 that I traded my old rifle for. It is my only revolver with a lock but I didn't buy this gun for looks and class like my Model 19-2 and my 629-2. This is my only gun that I got for the sole purpose of carrying. I have to say I love it, everything about this gun is made for ccw IMO. Mine is pretty scratched up but I don't mind, looks don't factor in when defending your life.

642---BUY IT. This one has been carried for nearly 3 years and shot a bunch--do ya see any finish issues ?. There is a small "holster rub" spot on the bottom rear of the trigger guard.

__________________
John

Methinks you have discovered the true beauty of the S&W J-Frame.

I think the j frames have a good, classic look to them. Besides the hump of the 638/438/38. But I still like those. Just not as visually appealing.

But my j frames are beat up. My 36 was bought with issues I fixed but lead to cosmetic issues. My 640 is carried daily and has been through fights, chases, and long,long hours. It shows it's use in just the short time I've had it. But it functions flawlessly and will be there through all the torture if I ever need it.

And through it all I still think it has the great classic beauty of a simple, easy to use revolver.

This is so common in America now. TWO people in bank branches, 4-5 cashiers in WM ("Please use the self checkout.").

Come to think of it, I'd like to self checkout a 642!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I made the mistake of renting a 638 at the range today when I went in. I'm a member so I get free gun rentals. So I figured "why not?". And now I know why not. That "free" rental is going to end up costing me $350 and an angry wife in the near future.

Although it shot heavily to the left. Thought it may have been an ammo issue by my model 10 was dead on with the ammo. Think the barrel may have been a little off to the right. Which may be why that handgun is on the rental rack....

I have a 442 for EDC. And I absolutely refuse to do self checkout. If I wanted to run a register I'd fill out a job application. I find myself my more and more online.

__________________
Bud

It's a joke, Bud. And I would love to self checkout a 642 if I could pass up the 4473!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I knew it was a joke but I couldn't resist voicing my dislike of self checkout registers. It just seems like brick & mortar stores these days could care less about providing good customer service. I can almost get an item from Amazon quicker than I can drive to town and maybe find what I want.

__________________
Bud

I went to Cabela's last Sunday after seeing this post and bought the S&W 642-2 for 299.00 plus Tax. Good trigger and I will be adding this to my CCW rotation. Thanks to the OP for alerting me to the sale. I can't buy used ones at the local gun shows for less.

Here's my 642-1, with new Altamonts, carried daily and very little wear.

Attached Images

my642-1.jpg (106.4 KB, 56 views)

__________________
Support your Police, & NRA

Are the new 642's being sold with the longer rubber grips or the short, "boot style" ones that are flush with the bottom of the grip and exposed back strap?

They are sold with the short, boot grips.

I got my 642-2 (Yes, it has the internal lock.) for (I thought.) $329.95 two years ago at the LGS. The rep told me to open the box, and I found a $100.00 off LGS coupon! Less than $250.00 OTD!

Sorry. Had to brag.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Thanks for the heads up on this. I got mine with veterans 5% discount and no tax $284.99, the cheapest S&W I ever heard of.

Hate to wear this thread out but,

I stopped by my local farm and ranch supply store to boast about the $285 Smith & Wesson at Cabelas and they had them on a weekly special at $279.99 so I got another one.

I wonder which model S&W will be clearing out next.