Airweight 442 & 642?

[Pocketman38]

Been carrying .38 special for almost 40 years. My Chief's Special has scars from being dropped, thrown in a glove box, sweat upon, etc.. Qualified multiple times with and feel very comfortable carrying wheel guns. I've had a few semi-autos. "Is it cocked and locked?" "Is there one in the chamber?"

Been thinking about a Glock, but keep gravitating toward the J-frame. I am seriously considering an Airweight. What's the straight scoop:
I've heard issues with the finish not holding up.
Which is a better finish, black or "stainless?"
I saw a 642 today at a local suttler without the internal lock. Are non IL models readily available now?

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

The best J frame is the 442. If your like me you want a light 38 that you can shove into a pocket. If GOD forbid you need it, it won't snag on the way out.

Honestly, the finish is the last thing I worry about on a carry gun. I had mine for a year now, still looks new, FWIW. I carry it every day in the nemisis holster.
Look for a no lock model.....

 

[442js]

Been carrying .38 special for almost 40 years. My Chief's Special has scars from being dropped, thrown in a glove box, sweat upon, etc.. Qualified multiple times with and feel very comfortable carrying wheel guns. I've had a few semi-autos. "Is it cocked and locked?" "Is there one in the chamber?"

Been thinking about a Glock, but keep gravitating toward the J-frame. I am seriously considering an Airweight. What's the straight scoop:
I've heard issues with the finish not holding up.
Which is a better finish, black or "stainless?"
I saw a 642 today at a local suttler without the internal lock. Are non IL models readily available now?

There are 642 and 442 models out there without the lock. Don't know if they are readily available, but you should be able to find them with some legwork.

I have a 442, and love it. No lock, price was right, and is an excellent carry gun.

 

[f2]

FS: NIB S&W 642 or 442 - NEW - NO INTERNAL LOCK

 

[photoman]

Either will do you well. There has been a lot of internet chatter lately about the finish on these guns. It has been my experience that guns that are truly put to work, end up looking that way after a while. Doesn't bother me much. You can always send it to Robar and have it refinished.

 

[wnr700]

I would get either. They are a dream to carry. My 442 showed wear in general after almost a year of use. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either... especially if one were available w/o lock, and that was your desire.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

My 642 is now almost 20 years old with more carry time on it than you could imagine, it's been bumped & drowned in sweat & because it has an Anodized Finish the frame still looks almost new, The hammer & trigger are 100% forged & Flash hardChromed & it has realy held up, a while back I fit a 9mm 940-1 cylinder to it so it could take the same 9mm rounds & moon clips as my 940 but without the extra weight..
It's my #1 Carry Revolver..
They should start offering these with anodizing again or nickeled finish which is more durable than the spray on/Paint finishes..
The Airweight Centennials sure make a great pocket revolver..
Gary/Hk

 

[Pocketman38]

They should start offering these with anodizing again or nickeled finish which is more durable than the spray on/Paint finishes ...

From what I've been reading, I think most would be willing to pay a few extra bucks to get a more durable finish.

I've found a no-lock 642, which would make a good EDC. I'd preder to carry the black though. My blued 36 has been carried a lot, as evident by the bruises. I hardly ever carry the stainless model 60 and it looks new.

 

[chp]

a while back I fit a 9mm 940-1 cylinder to it so it could take the same 9mm rounds & moon clips as my 940 but without the extra weight..
It's my #1 Carry Revolver..

HK - that's awesome. Where did you find the 9mm 940-1 cylinder and did you fit it yourself? How's the accuracy out of a .38sp barrel?

This is the configuration I wish S&W would offer from the factory.

 

[spearcrow]

I, like others, have seem some articles here and other places about the finish particularly on the 442. I have had mine for around a year, maybe a little over and it still looks new. I have not had it that long and have not really used it that hard. I more often than not carry it in my pants pocket, which might be a little easier on it that in a holster, but it doesn't even show a little wear. Looks new. I really like it, my wife loves it... although she has been trying to find some pick grips for it... i just keep tellin her, I'm lookin, still lookin, I'll fine some... but I won't

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

HK - that's awesome. Where did you find the 9mm 940-1 cylinder and did you fit it yourself? How's the accuracy out of a .38sp barrel?

This is the configuration I wish S&W would offer from the factory.

I bought the cylinder right here on the forum, actualy traded a holster for it & fit it myself with a jewlers file & alot of patience & time..

Accuracy is as good as any 642 Airweight maybe even better..
It's very easy to shoot & is my favorite carry weapon..
I have it stoked with 124gr standard new old stock Nyclads..
Thanks to safearm for the cylinder & DC7 for the Nyclad ammo
There's a bunch of great guys here on this forum..
Gary/Hk

 

[Faulkner]

I bought a 442 earlier this week after a little research. One thing I discovered in my search is that they come in two versions. The "moon clip" version does not have the internal lock, then there is is the internal lock version.

I bought the moon clip version.

 

[jframe]

I got a 642-1 similar to Headknocker's yesterday. A friend traded it to me partially for some ammo. I've noticed that it not only has the durable anodizing, but also a FORGED trigger. Pretty cool. I've owned several of this model, but this may be the best of the breed.

 

[442js]

I bought a 442 earlier this week after a little research. One thing I discovered in my search is that they come in two versions. The "moon clip" version does not have the internal lock, then there is is the internal lock version.

I bought the moon clip version.

There is also a non-moon clip version without the internal lock.

 

[chp]

I got a 642-1 similar to Headknocker's yesterday.

S&W made a factory 642 9mm?

 

[Rob1109]

There are 642 and 442 models out there without the lock. Don't know if they are readily available, but you should be able to find them with some legwork.

I have a 442, and love it. No lock, price was right, and is an excellent carry gun.

I received, last Friday, a 642 w/o IL, which I had ordered from my local gun shop the previous week. He also could have gotten a 442. It seems that S&W made a run (left over frames?) of J-frames w/o locks. Rumor is that there were 1000+ produced......

 

[Combat_Diver]

Smith has been making runs of the No Lock 442/642 for years now so that would seem to disprove the left over frame theory. I just recieved my 442 Pro without lock last week. It was shipped on 30 June from Smith to my dealer but I was again out of country to recieve.

CD

 

[Srigs]

There is also a non-moon clip version without the internal lock.

That is the one I bought. I love it. I put a CT 305 on it and love to carry when working in the yard or back up to my 66-1 2.5" or Model 10-5 2"

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

S&W made a factory 642 9mm?

The Model 942 Airweight was a prototype & only ONE was ever produced.
It was given to a gunwriter at that time & has disappeared into a collection..
My convertible has the newer style cylinder without the pins that align the extractor but other than that it's a copy..
I fit the 940-1 9mms ratchet to the hand so I can swap back & forth & set the endshake on the new 9mm cylinder via Power Customs end shake shims..
I call it the 642/942

I wish Smith would dump this spray on finish & use something else, I see alot of beat up looking aluminum guns were that clearcoat is all but ruined, Some are ruined by the user using the wrong type of solvents but most are just from normal carry
Anodizing & Nickel plating worked great & if I remember right they changed their method because the stainless parts didn't always match the look of the anodized aluminum & it still doesn't..
I've seen a 442-1 that was Hardchromed & the carbon steel parts don't match the aluminum BUT the finish looks great & is very tough & will be on the gun when it's retired..

It's all about COST & using a Clear Coat Car Paint is much cheaper than any type of plating IMO..

Wake up S&W..
At least there offering some of their revolvers without that internal lock currently in SOME States..

If I had to choose a newer Airweight Centennial revolver I'd go with a 442-2.. The Black finish seems better to me than the clear their currently using on the 642-2..

 

[terryjano]

If you havn't already done so - take a look at the new Bodyguard. It is an awesome carry weapon and also cost effective with a built in laser. I started looking at and doing research on the 642 and 442 about two months ago. No matter what the hard cores write about getting used to the trigger pull - it is hard and throws off shot grouping. The Bodyguard has a great - consistent pull (almost feels like a two stage match trigger on my AR15).