AirLite Ti

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Cal44

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I'm interested in the Air Lite guns with Ti cylinders.

Figure they will be collectable at some point.

Will these appreciate over time and attract collectors?

Which of these are most collectable?

Dave
 
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Dunno which is the most collectible, but I have two, a 332 and a 331. The .32 mag round is a pussycat with a bite!

332web.jpg

Web-800%20331.jpg
 
I have no idea how to answer your questions.

But I do love my M332 .32 H&R Magnum.
2jxn.jpg


2x6u.JPG
 
They are already climbing in price, especially the prelock guns. The 331 and 332 are hard to find and desirable being a six shot j frame, suitable for carry. The 337 is the lightest .38 special and the 342 is the lightest .38 special Centenial frame. I'm partial to the 342PD with its special, deep cut cylinder flutes and black finish.....best CCW for my money.
 
Cal44 said:
I'm interested in the Air Lite guns with Ti cylinders.

Figure they will be collectable at some point.

Will these appreciate over time and attract collectors?

Which of these are most collectable?

Dave
Click to expand...

Collectible? Dave, there was another recent thread on the 342 Airlite. Amazing how many LEOs, active and retired, are carrying one of these in their jacket pocket. Those as has 'em seem to be too busy using 'em to think about collecting. My guess is any available in the future will all be heavily used, if they even go on the market.
 
TucsonMTB said:
I dunno if they will be more collectable in the future, but they are difficult enough to find right now that I put together a counterfeit version for my own pleasure.

It is a great carry revolver, even at almost 12 ounces! ;)
Click to expand...
kaaskop49 said:
Please tell me how you did this!
Click to expand...
Yes, sir! To S&W's credit, newer J frames seem to have amazingly consistent dimensions. Midway offers titanium S&W J frame cylinders as repair parts for about $140. The cylinders are complete with a new extractor ready to be fitted for perfect timing.

I am cheap (poor, actually). So, I started with an existing 638-3 when Midway had these cylinders on sale for $99. :D

Subsequently, I bought a second cylinder at the full $140 price for the 642-1 that I most often carry. Timing using the original extractor from that gun is perfect without any fitting. The original and replacement cylinders are exactly the same length. So, the cylinder gaps did not change and there is no end shake. Can you say, "Happy Camper!"? ;)

Here's the original thread briefly describing the process and my pleasure at discovering them: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/336464-new-appreciation-you-professionals.html

Notice that my newest entry in that thread addresses a very valid concern raised by our own Mr. CAJUNLAWYER. Heed his concerns if you attempt this.

Both revolvers are a joy to carry and shoot.

Federal-Hi-Shok-Target.jpg
 
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attn TucsonMTB

Before I'm out the door... Have you experienced that bullet/inertia/pullout problem that can plague AirLite guns. And it CAN happen in .38, despite the experts who say no. What .38 loads have you shot?
 
kaaskop49 said:
Before I'm out the door... Have you experienced that bullet/inertia/pullout problem that can plague AirLite guns. And it CAN happen in .38, despite the experts who say no. What .38 loads have you shot?
Click to expand...
I have heard of that, so I pay some attention to the issue.

With the Federal ammunition pictured in my earlier post, there is no bullet movement at all. Nor is there any with the Federal Nyclad that I carry.

I have put both to the test by firing all but one round in a cylinder, checking for bullet movement, and then repeating that process a two or three times, leaving the same single round in the cylinder while firing the other four.

However, I have noticed some bullet movement with practice ammo. Nothing has moved out far enough to cause a problem, but some have moved far enough to notice.

After reading about this issue some time ago, probably here, I use an inertial bullet puller to pull a bullet from a round in the first box of any new brand/type of ammo. I was afraid I would break my bullet puller with those two Federal rounds. :eek:

Other practice rounds have disassembled pretty easily, after a few reasonable whacks on my garage floor. But, nothing has ever caused a malfunction at the range.
 
I recently located a S&W .38 + P and can't tell what exactly it is. It's stamped AirLite Ti. It looks like a 331, but it has a longer (maybe 4") barrel and an orange fiber optic front sight. Does anyone have some info on it?
 
I like the light weight titanium cylinders enough that each of my three 637-2 Airweights has two extra titanium cylinders, one in .38Sp/.357 Mag, and one in 9mm Luger.
 

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