Air Lite or Air Weight?

REP · May 12, 2021

I was just on the S&W website checking on the latest MSRP of my 351C. I couldn’t help but notice that they removed the Air Light from the right side of the gun and they are calling it a Air Weight in the add. Did I miss something or have they just got invaded by a snow storm?

transit · May 12, 2021

My same reply as in the other thread:

Interesting. Like to hear S&W's story on this. If for nothing else than the history.

If I had one (of either) I'd call them.

REP · May 18, 2021

I talked to S&W this morning and got a very nice politically speaking person on the phone. I asked what was the difference between a 351C without the AlrLite logo and the ones with the logo. I also made comment that the 351PD in their catalog bore the AirLite logo. Then I explained that in their lower description on each page that the 351C was referred to as a AirWeight class gun and the discription for the 351PD did not make any suggestions. Basically the answers I received were, some guns say Air Weight and some guns say AirLite and they all are part of the AirWeight family. So as I now understand it sometimes a gun can be a AirWeight but yet it is a AirLite or maybe it’s AirLite AirWeight. I’ve always referred to my 642 as a AirWeight and my 442 as a 442 and people seemed to understand what I am saying. Now you can show someone a 351C and tell them it’s a 442 class gun. All this could get really confusing for a first time buyer having to put all his faith into the salesman telling him what the gun is when the manufacturer won’t even do it. Welcome to the biggest snow storm ever to be recorded in history.

BAM-BAM · May 18, 2021

Airlite PD guns have a scandium or titanium(sp?) alloy frame and go about 11-12 oz vs an AirWeight which is aluminum at about 14-16 oz

Cal44 · May 18, 2021

BAM-BAM said:
Airlite PD guns have a scandium or titanium(sp?) alloy frame and go about 11-12 oz vs an AirWeight which is aluminum at about 14-16 oz

According to the S&W web site, the weight of the 351C is 11.5 and the 351PD is 11.2.

Both descriptions say "aluminum alloy frame" but don't mention Scandium.

Both have aluminum alloy cylinders. No mention of Titanium.

Never a good idea to expect S&W terminology to be totally logical or consistent.

BAM-BAM · May 18, 2021

Cal44; See the SCS&W pp 275-289.

AJ · May 18, 2021

I had a S&W 342 Air Lite II in .38 Special. It had a scandium frame and a titanium cylinder. Was a great carry gun. Sold it as the arthritis in many hands did not handle the recoil well.

I have a 351C that a friend gave me. I am guessing that the whole thing is aluminum except the cylinder release and the trigger. Those are steel since a magnet is attracted to them. My 351C is marked Air Lite.

REP · May 18, 2021

AJ said:
I had a S&W 342 Air Lite II in .38 Special. It had a scandium frame and a titanium cylinder. Was a great carry gun. Sold it as the arthritis in many hands did not handle the recoil well.

I have a 351C that a friend gave me. I am guessing that the whole thing is aluminum except the cylinder release and the trigger. Those are steel since a magnet is attracted to them. My 351C is marked Air Lite.

Is your friend accepting applications for more friends?
Mine is the same way that’s why when I seen the new online catalog I was surprised.

AJ · May 18, 2021

REP said:
Is your friend accepting applications for more friends?
Mine is the same way that’s why when I seen the new online catalog I was surprised.

He and I have been friends for a long time. It is his effort to keep me carrying a CCW all the time. Here we usually wear Tee-shirts and shorts, no real good places to carry a concealed weapon. So something small is needed. The 351C fills the bill.

REP · May 18, 2021

By the way AJ thank you for the quarter of a century of dedication to me and the United States.

AJ · May 18, 2021

REP said:
By the way AJ thank you for the quarter of a century of dedication to me and the United States.

You are welcome, Sir.

AJ

Air Lite or Air Weight?

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