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Blackshirt
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The going price for a new J-Airweight around South Louisiana is $400 or a little less. If you're buying new, you have a choice of whether you want an internal lock or not. The DA pull is a little daunting at first, but improves with time. If you have experience with S&W internals, careful fitting can speed up the development of a really smooth trigger. However, lots of practice (both live fire and dry) will do the same. Read up on equipment and tactics here or on other sites like The Snubnose Files.
You don't mention if you have much J-Frame experience. I find these guns to be an amazingly efficient self defense tool. It's not something for any kind of offensive engagement, but is perfect for breaking contact and getting yourself to a safe place. A good choice for anyone looking for an easy to carry basic defense piece...
You don't mention if you have much J-Frame experience. I find these guns to be an amazingly efficient self defense tool. It's not something for any kind of offensive engagement, but is perfect for breaking contact and getting yourself to a safe place. A good choice for anyone looking for an easy to carry basic defense piece...
In my area a Dealer I know pays around $356. From his distributor. A new one must be in the $400-- $450. Range depending on mark up. Some of the big box type Gun Shops run sales cheaper than $400. But they have Multi Store buying power. They can buy 100 at a time were the small guys buy 1 to 3 at a time. I have paid $350 for good used 442s because they were bought for Wives. The Wives hated them after a few shots and I got a new gun that wasn't broke in yet. I just traded a 605 Taurus that has lots of rounds through it for a 642. The guy said he couldn't hit anything with it. After he felt the well broke in action on the Taurus he wanted it. I now have a 642 no lock that's had 20 rounds through it. I can't carry all the J-Frames I have so may thin the Herd as they say.
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Presuming its a new gun, that's a good deal. I wouldn't worry about the lock.
The no lock model is preferred by some for a variety of reasons, but the only functional one is it's one less moving part to worry about going south when you need it to work; but this is a very unlikely scenario.
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Nice job. You didn't need much convincing. Enjoy!
Is it possible to remove the internals of the locks without significant difficulty to do it? I ask because I anticipate the locking assembly is a "graft" to an existing production procedure and the lock is not merely a single piece of metal controlled by its key plus a spring.
Blackshirt
Member
The IL removes without too much drama. Plugs are available to fill in the hole that remains (open the link and scroll past the sight pusher)...
http://smith-wessonforum.com/access...r-beretta-revolver-plugs-ship-note-added.html
http://smith-wessonforum.com/access...r-beretta-revolver-plugs-ship-note-added.html
Many thanks for your clear response, plus photograph showing the plug.
A quick follow-up regarding 642s (I think all of them??). These are all chambered for 38 Special and built on S&W's 357 Magnum "J" frame. If 642s are built on shorter frame, my question is automatically answered. Being chambered for 38 Special, is barrel rearward of its insertion into frame longer than, for example, 640-1 (and higher dash 357s) with a correspondingly shorter cylinder? OR is its configuration identical with 357 "J" frames, albeit chambered for 38s? What I'm asking, I think, is whether 642s squeak out those extra few feet per second by having no wasted space, or are they unable to take advantage of the shorter cartridge length?
5Wire
Member
The new No Locks are 642-1 and the original 64-1 had no lock. Some originals were marked 38 Spl others added the plus P. Neither rated for .357 magnum. No sense, in my opinion, to look for a used 642-1 when you can get a new one from at least one well known internet site for $389, delivered
5Wire
Member
Model 642: .38 Centennial Airweight Stainless Caliber: .38 S&W Special.
Double-action-only revolver built on the round butt alloy J frame with three screws, 2" or 3" barrel, 5-shot fluted cylinder with a nominal length of 1.53", stainless steel barrel and cylinder. Uncle Mike's Boot Grips, 1/8" serrated ramp front sight with square notch rear sight, fully concealed hammer, .312" smooth combat trigger. Logo is found stamped on the frame and also laser etched on the sideplate on most examples. Produced 1990 – 1992.
Reintroduced in 1996 with the new J Magnum frame with three screws rated for +P as a hammerless Centennial with a slightly larger alloy frame and stainless steel cylinder. The firing pin was changed to a floating design; cylinder stop now machined into the frame. Frosted satin finish, "Airweight" laser engraved on the side plate with the S&W trademark found on the frame as well as the sideplate. Fitted with Uncle Mike's Boot Grips on a round butt frame, .312" smooth trigger, flat faced internal hammer, fixed sights, 5-shot fluted cylinder with a nominal length of 1.59". New shape MIM thumbpiece. Weight 15.8 oz.; 1.86" barrel (actual); cylinder opening is larger than its predecessors' at 1.345" x 1.732". Shipped in a blue plastic case. Master trigger locks shipped in fall of 1997. The LadySmith version is marked with "LadySmith" laser engraved on the side plate instead of "Airweight" and fitted with rosewood laminated grips from the Ace Grip Co., packaged in a "LadySmith"- marked softside zipper case. This is the first Airweight so marked in a LadySmith version. Mixed early production is also noted with MIM hammers and standard non-MIM triggers. Offered with Mag-Na-Porting by various distributors. Beginning serial number range reported as CNT0001 but not verified. Produced 1990 - 1992 and 1996 - date.
Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2006-12-20). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 251). F+W Media, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
Double-action-only revolver built on the round butt alloy J frame with three screws, 2" or 3" barrel, 5-shot fluted cylinder with a nominal length of 1.53", stainless steel barrel and cylinder. Uncle Mike's Boot Grips, 1/8" serrated ramp front sight with square notch rear sight, fully concealed hammer, .312" smooth combat trigger. Logo is found stamped on the frame and also laser etched on the sideplate on most examples. Produced 1990 – 1992.
Reintroduced in 1996 with the new J Magnum frame with three screws rated for +P as a hammerless Centennial with a slightly larger alloy frame and stainless steel cylinder. The firing pin was changed to a floating design; cylinder stop now machined into the frame. Frosted satin finish, "Airweight" laser engraved on the side plate with the S&W trademark found on the frame as well as the sideplate. Fitted with Uncle Mike's Boot Grips on a round butt frame, .312" smooth trigger, flat faced internal hammer, fixed sights, 5-shot fluted cylinder with a nominal length of 1.59". New shape MIM thumbpiece. Weight 15.8 oz.; 1.86" barrel (actual); cylinder opening is larger than its predecessors' at 1.345" x 1.732". Shipped in a blue plastic case. Master trigger locks shipped in fall of 1997. The LadySmith version is marked with "LadySmith" laser engraved on the side plate instead of "Airweight" and fitted with rosewood laminated grips from the Ace Grip Co., packaged in a "LadySmith"- marked softside zipper case. This is the first Airweight so marked in a LadySmith version. Mixed early production is also noted with MIM hammers and standard non-MIM triggers. Offered with Mag-Na-Porting by various distributors. Beginning serial number range reported as CNT0001 but not verified. Produced 1990 - 1992 and 1996 - date.
Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2006-12-20). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 251). F+W Media, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
roadrunnerh
Member
I love my 642, had it for years and carry it.
Several Model 642s in my family.
BIG negative is the clear coat finish flakes off rather fast
BIG negative is the clear coat finish flakes off rather fast
The 642 I just got in a trade dosen't look like it has the clear coat. The finish looks like a shiny grey color. The fired shell casing is dated 2014. My question is did they change the finish?
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