38-2

[Cal44]

A LGS I visited this morning had a very nice condition 38-2 on consignment for $499.

Anyone have one?

Thoughts on this model?

What do people here think of the price?

I have a 49 and a 649 and like both, but don't have an Airweight bodyguard.

 

[rincar]

I have one, They make great carry guns. I carried mine as a backup gun. When I was a Police Officer. I still have it. I like it very much.

 

[Erich]

Sigh.

Mine was a dandy until the frame cracked (wrote it up here - long ago). What are you gonna do?
I carried it (and shot it) a lot. It was a great gun. I bought it, put it in a Mika pocket holster and just never thought changing carry guns. I can't really say I've had a run like that with any carry gun since.

 

[326MOD10]

I think the price is pretty good. Paid around the same a couple years ago for one.

Haven't carried it, or even fired it, but bought it because I love the humpbacks.

I do carry a 638-2 and love that.

 

[haywood]

I would like to have one. If I could get one for 500 otd I’ed buy it. Every time I try to bid at auctions, they end up going as high as 800. Not for me.

 

[bronco45]

I prefer the Centennial series Smith&Wesson produces. Lots of users like the ability to cock the hammer and use single action. I shoot everything double action up to and including some 44s.

 

[kaaskop49]

Be sure to check for frame cracking underneath the bbl. As others have often posted here, this can be a common flaw in these otherwise lovely aluminum frame Js. I would restrict these guns to lower-pressure service ammo.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[ken158]

As noted - be wary of frame cracks because there is no warranty support on the model 38 but then again, you would have an interesting paper weight…

 

[majick47]

These older Airweights usually go for a premium if in good shape and usually nowhere near $500, excellent price $499. As recommended stick with low pressure service ammo, forget about +Ps, not a range gun firing hundreds of rounds a month unless you want to be replacing it every year.

 

[Erich]

As noted - be wary of frame cracks because there is no warranty support on the model 38 but then again, you would have an interesting paper weight…

I cannot speak for what would happen now, but feel I should point out that S&W sent me a brand-new equivalent gun. And I was shooting wadcutters when it happened: an engineer friend who worked for S&W long ago told me that, despite all the griping, the modern method of securing barrels makes much better sense with alloy frames. That said, I wouldn't worry about a frame crack - it's not like a Beretta Tomcat, where it seems almost guaranteed.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Back in the 70's I carried a blued Model 38 as my OD/backup gun. I practiced with it a lot, because they're not easy to shoot well. And I practiced with +P because that's what I carried in the gun. I stayed with the factory "stringbean" grips for pocket carry.

The result was that my first 38 didn't crack or fail but got pretty loose after a few years. It's replacement got loose also, and the hot loads/tiny grips thing tenderized the web of my hand so much that even today it hurts to shoot any kind of warm loads in a J or K frame with factory wood. My pocket gun for the last 10 years has been a Glock .380, I can shoot 200 rds in a day with no discomfort at all. But not as clasically pretty.

Live and learn.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If you want one to carry and shoot, get one in steel! I EDC a 49 no dash. After two weeks of pocket carry (in a large/deep pocket) you won't notice that it's there! Same for any steel j-frame!

This way I can use Speer Short barrel 38+P's. Using the single action feature, I shot a small raccoon in the face while he was crouched behind the fork of a tree. I had a 1.5" triangle target at 35'! I had a post lock 638 that would hit anything and the lock "slipped on" twice during practice! That gun couldn't leave fast enough! The 49 no dash has been in my pocket every time I have cloths on for 12 years! When I bought it, it had some worn out rubber oversized grip on it. I put S&W RB wood stocks and a Tyler T-Grip on it.

Ivan

 

[rbmac52]

That's a great price on a great gun. I have two Airweight Bodyguards; a matte blue 38-2 that is my EDC, and an original first issue 638 no dash (Special for Ellett Brothers in 1989), new in box, I bought from the Big Gorilla some years ago.

 

[SmithNut]

..snip...

Anyone have one?

....

Yes, I had one or three (or?) at one time, when I pared down my collection of Bodyguards I kept my trusty M38-2 that is pretty much always in my pocket in a Kramer holster. A true companion, and it never complains when it gets coated with dirt/dust/lint, and - if anyone tells you that coins can get caught in the hammer shroud fouling up the action - don't believe them, that's urban myth IMO.....

Mine is the one in the middle of the bottom row.
BTW - best grips to carry one with are the Spegel Boot grips

My trusty "always" companion....

 

[Gearhead Jim]

If you want one to carry and shoot, get one in steel! I EDC a 49 no dash. After two weeks of pocket carry (in a large/deep pocket) you won't notice that it's there! Same for any steel j-frame!
...
Ivan

Ivan and I are obviously different people.
I carried an Airweight J (Model 38) in my pocket for several years, then switched to a steel J (Model 940) and tried to like it for a full year, finally gave up and went back to the Airweight. Same small grips on both.

The 38 felt like, uh, lighter than air. I could easily forget that it was in my pocket, no matter what I was doing.
The 940 made my pants sag. I always knew it was there. If I had to run, it felt like an angry tomcat trying to escape from my pocket.

YMMV!