Airweight Bodyguard model 38

keninnavarre

keninnavarre

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Thought I would put up a few photos of my favorite snub. This little jewel lives in my pocket or camera bag almost every time I go out the door.
I like having the ability to shoot single action if I want, especially at the range or when bumming around in the woods. It's satisfying ringing steel plates at 50 yards with this little thing, and I've taken a few squirrels through the years with it,too. 148 gr. hollow based wadcutters are my usual woods walking loads and standard pressure Federal Nyclad 125 gr HP for other times.
It's been a good gun through the years, light, reasonably powerful, and a pleasure to shoot and carry with standard pressure ammo.
Lately I have been shooting it more with a set of Tyler Tgrips installed.

407632346.jpg


With usual load of Federal Nyclads
407632343.jpg


407632344.jpg
 
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Nice Model 38 Airweight Bodyguard,
Your gun has two neat features found on early versions ,
First is the "High Horn" diamond Magna grips the other is the "Flat latch" cylinder release.
If you post a serial or partial serial using xx for the last 2 digits a rough estimate of its age can be determined.
Im guessing early to mid 1960's.
IMO the Model 38 is the best CCW S&W makes due to its light weight and non pocket snagging hammer that can also be cocked and fired in aimed single action .

You can also add standard J frame CT laser grips which may help persuade a hostile threat that iminent deadly force is forthcoming .
 
Thanks for the info! The serial# is 1599XX. Any information shared will be much appreciated!

I agree with you concerning the Model 38 being the best out there for CCW. Some say they are prone to debris entering the action through the hammer opening, but this has not been a problem for me. As far as "loose change" entering behind the hammer and locking up the action as I have also heard reported, who in their right mind pocket carries with anything else in that same pocket besides gun and holster?
 
Without question, the best CCW pocket pistol ever.

The only way to improve on yours is find one in nickel.

My opinion, of course.

Great revolver!
 
To original poster:

The serial # 1599xx is not clearly ID'd in SCSW. 1957 numbers are listed as 117770-125000. The next listing is 1962: 295000. Looks like your gun is from the period '57-'62. Just a guess.

Thank you for your thread. I thought I was one of the few 'J-hounds' who liked the Bodyguard format. We woke up some of the others. No wonder Bodyguards are hard to find: them as has 'em keeps 'em.

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire
 
S&W's naming their new plastic whizbang guns "Bodyguard" and "M&P" was a poor decision. I suspect they were trying to draw on the reputation of their back-in-the-day products. Ditto for their "classic" line-- the "classic model 36" is a joke with it's infernal lock and clunky appearance.
 
Yeah, I guess they are OK......

:)
Some folks like them, some don't, but I prefer to describe the Bodyguard as "The Thinking Man's J-Frame", I believe that term was originally coined by Leroy Thompson, and he was right. For carry, the AirWeight is the only real version to work in a pocket or ankle holster.

They Rock!

standard.jpg


standard.jpg
 
That's a wonderful collection of Bodyguards, Smithnut! I esp like the photo with all of them sitting atop their boxes. Are you exclusively into BG's, or do you have similar collection(s) of other model S&W's?
I'm a j-frame nut, but much prefer Chief Specials. It may be "the thinking man's j-frame", but I have to confess that there's just something about the humpback look that I just don't care for-- no doubt due to a character defect on my part. I'm also kind of undecided whether or not I like the looks of the Centennial models.
 
hotrod150 said:
That's a wonderful collection of Bodyguards, Smithnut! I esp like the photo with all of them sitting atop their boxes. Are you exclusively into BG's, or do you have similar collection(s) of other model S&W's?
I'm a j-frame nut, but much prefer Chief Specials. It may be "the thinking man's j-frame", but I have to confess that there's just something about the humpback look that I just don't care for-- no doubt due to a character defect on my part. I'm also kind of undecided whether or not I like the looks of the Centennial models.
Click to expand...

hotrod150,
I must admit that I really own about 4 Smiths, but I'm really good at Photoshop, so maybe I'm flying under false colors... :)

Here are a few threads where I've practiced my Photoshop skills in the past.....:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...say-k-38-masterpiece-model-14-variations.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...3-inch-k-frames-part-1-38-special-models.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-inch-k-frames-part-2-9mm-357-mag-models.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...ase-study-3-barrel-m-p-model-10-variants.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/303345-name-these-revolvers.html

Page down on these two threads to see some of my Photoshop skills..... :)

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/121559-ultimate-model-10-thread-4.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...question-perfect-gun-model-27-3-1-2-inch.html

Enjoy!
 
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