38 terrier

ronpozoromo · Jun 3, 2014

My brother in law was in this weekend and I showed him my 32 hand ejector. He was career military and served in Vietnam and Desert Storm. He said he carried a little 38 snub nosed called a Terrier while in Vietnam. It had been his fathers who mailed it to him. He said it saved his life one time (he wouldn't go into detail) and he gave it to a good friend as he left Vietnam. He was drafted in the infantry in Vietnam and they weren't supposed to carry non-issued pistols, but many did. He really liked my 32 HE and said he may look for another Terrier. I looked up the Terrier and can't find out much about it. Was it an I frame?

05CarbonDRZ · Jun 3, 2014

Yes,It is a I Frame.It was called the 38/32 Terrier meaning a .38S&W on the smaller .32 I Frame.

Art Doc · Jun 3, 2014

I frame, later Improved I frame. A tiny bit smaller than the J frame Chief's Special, I think the added power of the 38 Special cartridge easily justifies the tiny bit of added bulk and I would choose the J frame.

ironhead7544 · Jun 3, 2014

Great little revolver. Just the right size for a snubby 38 IMHO. I wish they would bring it back in a high performance version. There used to be a rimmed 9mm that would be just right.

tekarra · Jun 3, 2014

ironhead7544 said:
Great little revolver. Just the right size for a snubby 38 IMHO. I wish they would bring it back in a high performance version. There used to be a rimmed 9mm that would be just right.

Are you referring to the short lived 9 mm Federal that was chambered in the Charter Arms Pit Bull?

DWalt · Jun 3, 2014

"He really liked my 32 HE and said he may look for another Terrier. I looked up the Terrier and can't find out much about it. Was it an I frame?"
Terriers don't grow on trees. They were chambered in .38 S&W, not exactly the most common caliber around, and ammunition can be difficult to find. From a user perspective, and not as a collectible, a S&W .38 Special J-frame revolver would be far more practical as a compact personal defense revolver.

.455_Hunter · Jun 3, 2014

DWalt said:
From a user perspective, and not as a collectible, a S&W .38 Special J-frame revolver would be far more practical as a compact personal defense revolver.

The thing I like about my true I-frame Terrier (late 40's) is that it's noticeably smaller than equivalent Model 36 examples, and much smaller than the current .357 capable J-frames. It is one of my standard CCW weapons, loaded with either Fiocchi mil-spec 178 gr FMJs or Fiocchi 145 gr LRN/FMJ, which seem to be hotter than "normal" Rem or Win fodder.

DWalt · Jun 3, 2014

Fine, but heavy loads in a small and low-mass revolver can be somewhat difficult to control for follow-up shots. One should count on the first shot being a good one. I'm a believer in using .38 Special wadcutters for PD in J-frames.

Green Frog · Jun 3, 2014

I'm of about the age of your BIL, so I know that memory is starting to get a little sketchy. Either he had a 32 HE or a Terrier... the Terriers were and are all 38 S&Ws. Depending on how long his Father had owned it, it could have been a true I-frame, an "Improved" I-frame, or an early version of the J-frame... for either of the calibers or models. If you will pick his brain for any more details, maybe we can home in on what he actually carried and then can make suggestions on how he could find an exact replacement or if he just wants something to "remind him" of the old one he had we could make suggestions on those lines. And please thank your BIL for his service on my behalf.

Regards,
Froggie

Green Frog · Jun 3, 2014

DWalt said:
Fine, but heavy loads in a small and low-mass revolver can be somewhat difficult to control for follow-up shots. One should count on the first shot being a good one. I'm a believer in using .38 Special wadcutters for PD in J-frames.

DWalt, I usually carry my ca 1950 vintage 32 HE as my daily CCW and I shoot it often in practice. When I pull out its near-twin, a pre-War Terrier or its younger brother, a Baby Chief, I don't notice them as being that hard to handle. In fact, the BC even had a cylinderful of '70s vintage FBI rounds (+Ps) fired through it, and never missed jumped out of my hand or anything... a firm grip and eye on the front sight makes it work fine! JMHO, YMMV.

Froggie

gordonrick · Jun 3, 2014

Froggie - the OP has the .32, his BIL had the .38 in Vietnam. I had to read it again myself.

And there has to be pictures...

Rick

Combat · Jun 3, 2014

It might have looked more like this excuse for me to post a pic of mine.

.455_Hunter · Jun 3, 2014

gordonrick said:
Froggie - the OP has the .32, his BIL had the .38 in Vietnam. I had to read it again myself.

And there has to be pictures...

Rick

Very Nice!

Just like mine, except I have the full magnas and my bluing is starting to wear a bit from carrying.

Hondo44 · Jun 3, 2014

Two very nice .38/32 examples guys.

Rick's is a post war transitional I frame (6 screw) Terrier, and Combat's is a 'New' I frame (3 or 4 screw) Mod of 1953 Terrier (pre-model 32), or a Model stamped 32.

Now who has the one in the middle; the Improved I frame (with coil mainspring, the 5 screw)??

ironhead7544 · Jun 3, 2014

tekarra said:
Are you referring to the short lived 9 mm Federal that was chambered in the Charter Arms Pit Bull?

Yes, or something similar. I would be happy with 9mm and moon clips.

jsfricks · Jun 3, 2014

I'm always looking for an excuse to show my Terrier.

Hondo44 · Jun 4, 2014

JS,
Another very nice Transistional!

Green Frog · Jun 4, 2014

OK, they've been here before, but the trifecta I put together is shown below as a sort of track on development, the pre-War Terrier, the post-War 32 HE snub (still a true I-frame) and the Baby Chief. They make a nice family picture, and one of these days I'll take a sharper picture!

Froggie

ColbyBruce · Jun 4, 2014

Here is a photo of my dad's J frame #36 SB with my old I frame pre model 30, for size comparison. I sold the .32 to a forum member.

Nicksterdemus · Jun 4, 2014

.455_Hunter said:
The thing I like about my true I-frame Terrier (late 40's) is that it's noticeably smaller than equivalent Model 36 examples, and much smaller than the current .357 capable J-frames.

S&W could resurrect the 38 S&W by manufacturing the I-frame again. From there they consistently stretched & added weight in the name of more power.

In order to save money manufacturers like to use the one frame/window size fits several calibers. Nothing more obvious/ugly as a 45acp cylinder in a huge window w/long forcing cone.

If S&W brought back the I-frame in 32L/38 S&W I'd buy one of each. My 351-c in 22 mag makes for fairly snappy one handed shooting in WRF. The light weight coupled w/snub barrel surprised me. Just casual one hand shooting around 12' had me "pulling" shots 12-18" high.

Anywho, a modern loaded 38 S&W cartridge is plenty for close social encounters. The tapered shape is a superior design compared to straight wall. And I would purchase a South American caballero lever action in 38 S&W as well.

It was anemic as a black powder round, yet can pack plenty of punch. Shot my brother's 380 bodyguard and the Hornady Critical Defense seemed fairly hot. Recoil was comparable to the 351-C.

I'd like to shoot a modern I-frame 38 S&W loaded to it's potential. I bet a dedicated 5 rnd 38 S&W 2 3/4-3 1/4" barrel would fit nicely in a pocket.

ETA: There's nothing wrong w/M36 38spl, M60 357 or a J frame 38. I merely think in the modern concealed carry world that a 6 rnd 32 Long/5 rnd 38 S&W I-frame has a spot as well.

38 terrier

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