The .38 Smith & Wesson Special was a sensation when introduced just before the turn of the 20th Century in 1898. Basically, it was a slightly-lengthened .38 Long Colt, which was a U.S. service cartridge at the time. It was then mated with the new S&W Model 1899 Hand Ejector. More powerful than the service cartridge, it was hailed as a much more effective personal defense cartridge. Although it was first loaded with black powder, the ammo makers soon transitioned it to smokeless loadings. The fact that it's still around and arguably the most popular handgun cartridge in the United States speaks volumes for it. Admittedly not as powerful or effective as later, larger and more powerful cartridges, it continues to be "just right" as a compromise between acceptable power and ease of use. Here's a brief rundown of some of the many models made by Smith & Wesson over the years; these made and are continuing to make history at S&W.
First, here's a cutaway of the typical Military and Police revolver, today known as the Model 10. The "inside works" haven't changed much at all since the 1940s.
The oldest .38 special I have belonged to my paternal grandfather. He used it for personal protection in Kentucky; he routinely carried it in a shoulder holster as he carried the day's receipts from his dry goods store to the local bank. He later brought it to Arizona in the mid-1920s where it continued to serve him, and later, his widow, my grandmother. It's seen a lot of hard use. This is the Model of 1902; it was shipped from the factory to a hardware store in Louisville, Kentucky in 1904.
Twenty years later, the M&P had continued to evolve with an updated action. This is a Model of 1905, 4th change, shipped in 1934:
As the bad guys got bolder during Prohibition, the demand was for a more powerful police revolver. This demand was met by the S&W Heavy Duty, an N-frame revolver which used a souped-up .38 special round called the .38/44 (designed as a .38 for use on a larger.44 frame). It was the progenitor of the .357 Magnum. The target-sighted version of this gun was called the Outdoorsman.
During World War II, S&W supplied our armed forces with the Victory Model K-frame, the service version of the Model 1905, 4th change. The U.S. issue guns mostly were 4"-barreled, and Parkerized. Many were issued to aviators, special ops people, and wartime plant guards. This one has been factory overhauled, perhaps for use in the Korean and/or the Vietnam wars. It was originally shipped in 1942.
Another 20 years passing, this M&P, now known as the Model 10-2, had been fairly well standardized. The Model 10s were ubiquitous as police weapons through the 1970s. This one shipped in 1962, and is unfired in its original box with all the papers and tools. S&W was still numbering the grips to the gun, and the fitting was impeccable. All M&Ps shipped since WWII were equipped with an improved positive sliding hammer block which prevented firing until the trigger was pulled completely to the rear.
In 1952, the 100-year anniversary of S&W, the company introduced the "Centennial" revolver, a hammerless J-frame with a grip safety. It set the trend for the future for discreet carry revolvers. This is a Model 40 (no dash), shipped in 1966.
S&W made some great target-sighted .38 special revolvers. This is a Model 15-3, shipped in 1973. These were the "Combat Masterpiece" revolvers. Quite a number of these were provided to U.S. military units.
Police departments continued to use revolvers through the 1970s. After the transition to semiautomatic pistols, thousands were released from police service for reasonable prices. This particular Model 10-6 heavy barrel model was shipped in 1975, and came from the Kansas City, Kansas police department, where it was released in 2010.
The stainless version of the Model 15 was the Model 67, introduced in 1972. The Combat Masterpiece Stainless was a real .38 Special workhorse for police departments back in the day. It's still regarded by many as the "best of the best" K-frame .38 Special revolvers. This Model 67-1 was shipped in 1978.
The "humpbacked" Model 49 "Bodyguard" J-frame revolvers enabled smooth drawing from a pocket with their shrouded hammers. They could be fired either double- or single action. S&W decided (prematurely) to abandon the Model 40 Centennials to produce this model, to howls of protest from many. This nickeled version of the Model 49 was shipped in the American bicentennial year of 1976:
For those wishing 6 shots in their concealable revolver instead of five, S&W produced snubby Model 10s. This is a pristine Model 10-5, shipped in 1977:
The stainless Model 640 saw the re-introduction of the Centennial-style revolver, albeit without the grip safety. This answered the calls of many gun writers who mourned the Model 40. It became very popular almost overnight. Unlike the Model 649, it allowed no debris to enter the action through the hammer slot, and was of course double action only. This particular example was shipped in 1993, and is equipped with Herrett's stocks.
(By the way, have you contributed to the NRA lately? They are working very hard to defeat anti-gun politicians, from the top on down.)
The Model 60 J-frame revolver was the very first revolver made in the now-popular stainless steel configuration. It was an overnight sensation and has continued to be very popular. This is a Model 60-7, and it shipped in 1993.
The Model 64 was the stainless spinoff of the popular Model 10. This heavy-barreled example may possibly be unique, as it came from the factory highly polished, almost indistinguishable from nickel plating. It was manufactured in 1994, but kept at the factory as a demonstration piece for almost 7 years before it was shipped in 2001.
The Model 649 was the inevitable stainless version of the Model 49 Bodyguard. It featured the DA-SA configuration in a more rust-resistant configuration. This one shipped in 1997, as strengthened frames came on line.
In 2007, as part of their "classic" series, the Model 40 was re-introduced, complete with grip safety and minus the internal lock. Unlike the original, the grip safety can not be locked in the "down" position. This is the nickel version of the Model 40-1:
Although I can't verify this, it's said that the Model 642, the aluminum-frame version of the Centennial-style revolvers, is now the most popular gun made by S&W. It's lightweight, packable, and potent with +P ammunition. Two versions have been made, one with the internal lock, and one without. Guess which one I prefer! This example was shipped in 2008.
I personally gravitate to this gun as my favorite discreet carry piece. It's the lightweight aluminum-frame Centennial revolver, but in blackened form. Again, two versions have been produced, one with the internal lock, and one without. This Model 442 meets all my criteria for a light, handy, concealable and reliable revolver. It was shipped in 2009.
For over 115 years, the .38 Special revolver has evolved and been a mainstay at Smith & Wesson. This lineup, while by no means all-inclusive, should give you a taste of the breed from the old days to the present. I think we'll see .38 special Smiths still being used into the 22nd Century, unless the 2nd Amendment is ultimately destroyed by ill-advised and totally brainless politicians.
John
First, here's a cutaway of the typical Military and Police revolver, today known as the Model 10. The "inside works" haven't changed much at all since the 1940s.
The oldest .38 special I have belonged to my paternal grandfather. He used it for personal protection in Kentucky; he routinely carried it in a shoulder holster as he carried the day's receipts from his dry goods store to the local bank. He later brought it to Arizona in the mid-1920s where it continued to serve him, and later, his widow, my grandmother. It's seen a lot of hard use. This is the Model of 1902; it was shipped from the factory to a hardware store in Louisville, Kentucky in 1904.
Twenty years later, the M&P had continued to evolve with an updated action. This is a Model of 1905, 4th change, shipped in 1934:
As the bad guys got bolder during Prohibition, the demand was for a more powerful police revolver. This demand was met by the S&W Heavy Duty, an N-frame revolver which used a souped-up .38 special round called the .38/44 (designed as a .38 for use on a larger.44 frame). It was the progenitor of the .357 Magnum. The target-sighted version of this gun was called the Outdoorsman.
During World War II, S&W supplied our armed forces with the Victory Model K-frame, the service version of the Model 1905, 4th change. The U.S. issue guns mostly were 4"-barreled, and Parkerized. Many were issued to aviators, special ops people, and wartime plant guards. This one has been factory overhauled, perhaps for use in the Korean and/or the Vietnam wars. It was originally shipped in 1942.
Another 20 years passing, this M&P, now known as the Model 10-2, had been fairly well standardized. The Model 10s were ubiquitous as police weapons through the 1970s. This one shipped in 1962, and is unfired in its original box with all the papers and tools. S&W was still numbering the grips to the gun, and the fitting was impeccable. All M&Ps shipped since WWII were equipped with an improved positive sliding hammer block which prevented firing until the trigger was pulled completely to the rear.
In 1952, the 100-year anniversary of S&W, the company introduced the "Centennial" revolver, a hammerless J-frame with a grip safety. It set the trend for the future for discreet carry revolvers. This is a Model 40 (no dash), shipped in 1966.
S&W made some great target-sighted .38 special revolvers. This is a Model 15-3, shipped in 1973. These were the "Combat Masterpiece" revolvers. Quite a number of these were provided to U.S. military units.
Police departments continued to use revolvers through the 1970s. After the transition to semiautomatic pistols, thousands were released from police service for reasonable prices. This particular Model 10-6 heavy barrel model was shipped in 1975, and came from the Kansas City, Kansas police department, where it was released in 2010.
The stainless version of the Model 15 was the Model 67, introduced in 1972. The Combat Masterpiece Stainless was a real .38 Special workhorse for police departments back in the day. It's still regarded by many as the "best of the best" K-frame .38 Special revolvers. This Model 67-1 was shipped in 1978.
The "humpbacked" Model 49 "Bodyguard" J-frame revolvers enabled smooth drawing from a pocket with their shrouded hammers. They could be fired either double- or single action. S&W decided (prematurely) to abandon the Model 40 Centennials to produce this model, to howls of protest from many. This nickeled version of the Model 49 was shipped in the American bicentennial year of 1976:
For those wishing 6 shots in their concealable revolver instead of five, S&W produced snubby Model 10s. This is a pristine Model 10-5, shipped in 1977:
The stainless Model 640 saw the re-introduction of the Centennial-style revolver, albeit without the grip safety. This answered the calls of many gun writers who mourned the Model 40. It became very popular almost overnight. Unlike the Model 649, it allowed no debris to enter the action through the hammer slot, and was of course double action only. This particular example was shipped in 1993, and is equipped with Herrett's stocks.
(By the way, have you contributed to the NRA lately? They are working very hard to defeat anti-gun politicians, from the top on down.)
The Model 60 J-frame revolver was the very first revolver made in the now-popular stainless steel configuration. It was an overnight sensation and has continued to be very popular. This is a Model 60-7, and it shipped in 1993.
The Model 64 was the stainless spinoff of the popular Model 10. This heavy-barreled example may possibly be unique, as it came from the factory highly polished, almost indistinguishable from nickel plating. It was manufactured in 1994, but kept at the factory as a demonstration piece for almost 7 years before it was shipped in 2001.
The Model 649 was the inevitable stainless version of the Model 49 Bodyguard. It featured the DA-SA configuration in a more rust-resistant configuration. This one shipped in 1997, as strengthened frames came on line.
In 2007, as part of their "classic" series, the Model 40 was re-introduced, complete with grip safety and minus the internal lock. Unlike the original, the grip safety can not be locked in the "down" position. This is the nickel version of the Model 40-1:
Although I can't verify this, it's said that the Model 642, the aluminum-frame version of the Centennial-style revolvers, is now the most popular gun made by S&W. It's lightweight, packable, and potent with +P ammunition. Two versions have been made, one with the internal lock, and one without. Guess which one I prefer! This example was shipped in 2008.
I personally gravitate to this gun as my favorite discreet carry piece. It's the lightweight aluminum-frame Centennial revolver, but in blackened form. Again, two versions have been produced, one with the internal lock, and one without. This Model 442 meets all my criteria for a light, handy, concealable and reliable revolver. It was shipped in 2009.
For over 115 years, the .38 Special revolver has evolved and been a mainstay at Smith & Wesson. This lineup, while by no means all-inclusive, should give you a taste of the breed from the old days to the present. I think we'll see .38 special Smiths still being used into the 22nd Century, unless the 2nd Amendment is ultimately destroyed by ill-advised and totally brainless politicians.
John
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