Help a newbie out, Fellas: should I go with the black, anodized finish of a model 442 "Airweight," OR go with the silver, aluminum 442 with the stainless barrel and cylinder?

With a lot of use/holstering, which model: black anodized or silver anodized seems to "wear off" corners and high use areas more? Thanks!

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i have both. carry my 442 and had it ceracoated. the 642 is looking like an old oil painting, cracked, peeling, old time run down. both shoot like the day i bought them. the finishing on modern s&w's leaves a lot to be desired...

The 442 shows scratches and the silver on the 642 flakes off. In my opinion, it's six of one and a half dozen of another.

There are "tactical" advantages to each one. The 642 sights are easier to see in low light. The 442 hides better in a pocket.

Solution? Buy one of each!

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Centennial Every Day

My 442 has been in my pocket daily for 3 plus years and still looks as good as the day I bought it.

B N A,

Can't comment on recent J frame production but my older M37 has the black anodize finish which is wearing well. I'd buy another black anodize if I wanted one.

OTOH, I bought a new 442 years ago in the short lived electrolus nickel finish. That finish failed sadly in the first year and S&W refinished it under warranty. When it came back, I put it away. It's really virgin pretty but not carry worthy.

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Bob in Indy

Some of the finish has flaked off of my 442. On the barrel. Doesn't bother me too much, adds character. I bought it this time last year.

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686-4 442-1

The finish on my 642 looks great after several years of use. I just renew a coat of Johnson's Paste Wax on it every few months. The wax must wear away before the finish does. I certainly haven't experienced any flaking. I am also careful not to use any harsh solvents on the gun.

Pretty much the same here. The finish on my 442 is holding up better than I ever could have hoped!

Picked up my 442 on 7/1/95 at which time it became a daily carry piece. Quick math makes that 6030 days (about 72,366 hours @ 12 hours a day) of pocket wear. All sharp edges show wear with some heavier wear on the TG and top rear of the frame; also a drag ring from 1001 rounds fired to date. A few nicks, dings, and scratches. The other 95% of the finish has actually held up pretty well considering the 16 1/2 years of constant service.

ZERO problems with the gun in all that time; side plate's never been off.

Neglected to mention that the finish is the matte "blue".

The gun in question here is intended as a concealed carry gun and as such will be subject to wear and tear. You have to get use to the idea that ANY tool carried every day will soon developed character, and there is nothing wrong with good honest wear. Be more concerned in keeping it clean and in good mechanical repair no matter which finish you decide to go with. While I am not a big Stainless fan, that is precisely what I do use and would recommend in a carry weapon.

I own an Airweight M37, but it is not a gun that I would recommend. My feeling is that with the loads I like to carry for self defense (Buffalo Bore 158 grain +P LSWCHP-GC) it is not nearly as controllable as my Model 60-7 is, and I will more than likely be selling the M37 quite soon. In a good quality holster rig the 4 or 5 ounce weight difference is not much after a while, but the benefits of those 4 or 5 extra ounces is immeasurable!

Chief38

Please explain to me how one of two identical guns, other than finish color and type of steel the barrel's made of, hides better in a pocket?

The only reason I bought the 442 is that it hides better in my mesh motorcycle jacket pocket.

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Be obscure, clearly.

I believe what Photoman is alluding to is that if your pocket is not of sufficient depth, the black backstrap will not be as noticable as a silver backstrap.

As an example, for me it would be an issue if I was wearing standard, five-pocket blue jeans. However, with the carpenter style jeans I have from Diamond Gusset Jeans company, it is not an issue as the pockets are deeper.

It may not be a problem when you are standing, but may be a problem when you sit.

My own suggestion to this dilema is to buy both a M442 and a Model 640 Pro Series. Both are are available without the internal lock.

Practice with and carry the M640 Pro Series whenever you can. Carry the Model 442 when you have to have something lighter.

With the above combination your revolvers should far outlast you.

Many, many thanks, guys!

I see pluses and minuses to each argument of "blue" vs. "ss."

My solution: gonna get one of each!

I love my 642, but will say it is more noticeable if it peeks out of a shallow pocket.
It's not my EDC, but have carried it alot. The finish has held up well, but I do wax it a couple times a year and keep it clean.

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686, 629, 15-22 MOE FDE

Anodizing cannot flake off. It is a penetrating finish. It becomes part of the aluminum. If the frame is left in the anodizing solution long enough you will get a very deep finish. Anodized surfaces are much harder than the non-anodized surfaces. Hard anodizing can be made "file-hard".

So the silver finish is some sort of plating. It should not flake off is properly applied. It is difficult to plate aluminum, however.

I agree with the "honest wear" philosophy. A little wear and tear from use, not abuse, is acceptable.

I carry my 442-2 in a desantis leather ankle holster model # 044. Ive had it on my ankle 160 plus hours per month for about 14 months. As you can see the sharp edges are worn through the black and one side of the barrel is worn more than the other. I still like the worn 442 vs the 642.

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MP40 442 SHIELD9 SHIELD40 MP22

As mentioned, the black gun hides better than the silver one. My 340PD probably has the same finish as a 442, after about 8 years of everyday carry it's showing some wear but still better than any other black gun I've owned would do.

One downside to a 442 is that you have a pretty durable finish but on a rustable steel gun (except for the frame). The inside of the barrel and chambers will rust, and so will the outside if/when the finish is damaged.

The 642 looks conspicuious when new, and will really look like he!! as the finish deteriorates, but it remains mostly rustproof.

I solved the "problems" by buying a 340PD.
Dark, rustproof, and should last forever with .38's.

All good guns, just good in different ways.

My Model 442 circa 1994 is holding up pretty well. It only gets carried occasionally. It's my wife's purse gun. On mine the only thing that is anodized is the sideplate. The rest is black paint.

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NRA Benefactor