Do you own a hammer-less J?
- Thread starter MrJT
- Start date
What spring kit and is it easy to install yourself?
dot6
Member
Had a pair of old 1890-something model Safety Hammerless .38 "Lemon Squeezers" and really liked them, but needed a bit of a power upgrade, so I bought a 1950-something model Centennial (pre model 40) and liked it so much I bought the wife a new one to carry in stead of her old M&P. Even the new model 40s do not have a lock; wouldn't have bought it if it did. When it's cold and heavier clothing is called for, I still upgrade to a 696 or one of the 1983 Lew Horton 3" model 24-3s.
I have (2) 642's, bought my first in 1997.
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Wow. The poll is at 81% "yes"! That's a big number. I suppose that's because the "no's" aren't reading this, perhaps?
I have a 442 that follows me around the house when I take off my carry gun. I have no problems with the firepower it offers, but it doesn't conceal as well for me as my 3913 IWB, so there's not much benefit for me to carry it when I can't drop it in my pocket.
I have a 442 that follows me around the house when I take off my carry gun. I have no problems with the firepower it offers, but it doesn't conceal as well for me as my 3913 IWB, so there's not much benefit for me to carry it when I can't drop it in my pocket.
trashy
Member
Count me in. 642 (no lock) was my every day carry until I got the Shield 40. Now carry the 642 only on certain occasions.
A Model 40 was one of the first guns I owned. I still have three, plus a 42, a 642 and a 342PD. Haven't made my mind up yet whether I like them or not.
I carried a Beretta 950 BS in 25 ACP for more than 20 years (oh, yes, you did it, too, without a CHL) until I acquired a Model 442 (with the lock, yes). I already had a 649 but it was a little heavy for my taste as a pocket gun. With a CHL in my possession I became less concerned about the outside chance of the gun "printing" in my pocket, especially the way I carry it (see below; you might like this) and the weight was not an issue so I obtained an El Paso Saddlery leather pocket holster and the 442 became my daily carry gun and has been for several years now. It goes almost anywhere and hides almost perfectly - on the rare occasion I wear something that won't accommodate that gun I often carry some kind of a military style or faddish leather "man purse" in which it carries extremely well. When I go to the gym the Beretta resides in my gym bag so that's about the only time the 442 stays home.
So, here's an interesting idea for pocket carry - when you get a holster for any pocket gun, go to a local shoe maker/repair shop or, if you're handy, do this yourself - get a nice piece of leather that you can fold into a square, more or less, that's 3" by 3". Actually, mine is 3.5" x 3". It works best if you put something inside, a business card or two, a piece of thin plastic or cardboard, but you don't have to. Stitch this puppy up using a sewing machine or some other very tight stitching so it doesn't open easily and the stitching will hold. Slide that in front of your pocket holster and VOILA!!!! You have a square in the pocket that looks like a wallet or some other standard item like a business card case, it's totally innocuous, you won't even know it's there, and there is virtually no chance of the pistol "printing". I actually slide the leather piece into my pocket with the holster, not separately, because it's easier.
People who know me well sometimes walk up to me and say "I know you're carrying a gun but I can't figure out where."
Despite the protestations of the gun writers that these pocket pistols are hard to shoot or hard to aim or this or that they are 100% reliable and at the distance you'll likely need to shoot it in an emergency none of the protestations matter. They're wonderful.
***GJ***
So, here's an interesting idea for pocket carry - when you get a holster for any pocket gun, go to a local shoe maker/repair shop or, if you're handy, do this yourself - get a nice piece of leather that you can fold into a square, more or less, that's 3" by 3". Actually, mine is 3.5" x 3". It works best if you put something inside, a business card or two, a piece of thin plastic or cardboard, but you don't have to. Stitch this puppy up using a sewing machine or some other very tight stitching so it doesn't open easily and the stitching will hold. Slide that in front of your pocket holster and VOILA!!!! You have a square in the pocket that looks like a wallet or some other standard item like a business card case, it's totally innocuous, you won't even know it's there, and there is virtually no chance of the pistol "printing". I actually slide the leather piece into my pocket with the holster, not separately, because it's easier.
People who know me well sometimes walk up to me and say "I know you're carrying a gun but I can't figure out where."
Despite the protestations of the gun writers that these pocket pistols are hard to shoot or hard to aim or this or that they are 100% reliable and at the distance you'll likely need to shoot it in an emergency none of the protestations matter. They're wonderful.
***GJ***
Elliott41
Member
642-1 with an S&W factory "J-frame trigger action job" and CTC LG-305 laser grips. "Don't leave home without it!"
I have a 337 "Air weight" with a bobbed hammer spur, does that count as a yes?
In any case after modifying the Air weight I found that I was more accurate with a ratty (capital R ratty) old Colt 'Cobra'. Which also seems to fit my hand better, and is only VERY slightly larger.
This kind of P.O.'d me because I REALLY wanted to like the 337 better. Oh well, now I'll just have to buy a new hammer so someone else will want the Smith.
In any case after modifying the Air weight I found that I was more accurate with a ratty (capital R ratty) old Colt 'Cobra'. Which also seems to fit my hand better, and is only VERY slightly larger.
This kind of P.O.'d me because I REALLY wanted to like the 337 better. Oh well, now I'll just have to buy a new hammer so someone else will want the Smith.
Tupperware
Member
I bet that's a real "Pocket Rocket".Mine is a 442 also but it was hard chromed....sorry, gave away all my prop rods in forum fund raisers....
M3Stuart
Member
Yep. 642-1 Pro Series cut for moon clips.
Chubbo
Member
Yes
I own an airweight #38 centenial, and a #40 bodyguard.
I own an airweight #38 centenial, and a #40 bodyguard.
My EDC consists of a lockless S&W 642 with Pachmayr Compac grips in a Ritchie Leather Co. vertical speed scabbard held on by a Wilderness 5-stitch original instructor belt.
Attachments
Budnjax
Absent Comrade
I own numerous J-frame guns but D frame Colts are superior....IMHO
the J-frame guns rely on a coil spring mechanism to power the hammer and without major work by an expert pistolsmith will never come close to the smoothness of a Colt D frame revolver (Detective Special, Cobra, Agent, Diamondback). Since the Colts also are 6-shots and have a slightly larger frame they are overall better carry guns than a stock J-frame S&W. Sure, you can put larger grips on the J frame, but if you're going to do that you might as well buy a K frame Smith. Unfortunately the D frame Colts have been out of production a long time and probably will never return to the market. I like both Colt and S&W but a stock D frame beats a J frame S&W in most aspects IMHO.
the J-frame guns rely on a coil spring mechanism to power the hammer and without major work by an expert pistolsmith will never come close to the smoothness of a Colt D frame revolver (Detective Special, Cobra, Agent, Diamondback). Since the Colts also are 6-shots and have a slightly larger frame they are overall better carry guns than a stock J-frame S&W. Sure, you can put larger grips on the J frame, but if you're going to do that you might as well buy a K frame Smith. Unfortunately the D frame Colts have been out of production a long time and probably will never return to the market. I like both Colt and S&W but a stock D frame beats a J frame S&W in most aspects IMHO.
Lenny_D
Member
442 for me. It's my most carried revolver for all the obvious reasons.
Len
Len
USAF385
US Veteran
I think you just mentioned why so many prefer S&W J Frames for carry. Bigger isn't better for concealed carry.
Stu1205
Member
Ummmm...let's see.
2 - 640 no dash
1 - 442-2
3 - 642-2
1 - 37 no dash bobbed hammer (does it count?)
1 - 649 no dash (close, but no cigar)
And I don't carry any of them anymore.
My EDC is an AMT Backup in .45ACP.
Stu
2 - 640 no dash
1 - 442-2
3 - 642-2
1 - 37 no dash bobbed hammer (does it count?)
1 - 649 no dash (close, but no cigar)
And I don't carry any of them anymore.
My EDC is an AMT Backup in .45ACP.
Stu
