The nickel finish on the 37 you're looking at is far superior to the finish on a 642.
I wish all my Smiths looked like my nickel Model 49, purchased in 1984.
Unless you go stainless and you said steel is too heavy,
you won't find a current Smith with a finish as nice as the one you're looking at.
Yes, the hammer can be an issue, but she can learn to cover it with her thumb,
if she needed to get to it. She can choose a bullet with recoil she can handle
and become proficient with that ammo. If she ever had to use it to protect herself,
odds are it would be used at a distance of 8 feet or even closer.
Nobody really needs a flame thrower from that distance.
Also people trained properly will shoot double action in a defensive situation
regardless of whether their revolver is double action only or single/double.
My wife was trained by a professional, learned on a Smith Model 39 9mm
and shoots 38, 9mm, 357, 45 and 44 (both Special and Magnum).
Purse gun? Used to be a nickel Model 37. Then she went to a blue Model 38.
She just decided she wanted a blue gun and I had that model.
I would also bet the 37 you're looking at has a better trigger than a 642.
I have a 442, a 340 PD and a 640 (38), and the 49 has the sweetest
out of the box action of them all. They don't make things like they used to.
Speaking of which, the Model 38 has better bluing than any blue gun made nowadays.
Yes I know, Pythons had the best blue ever, but those aren't made anymore either.
Also, let her try a few different grips to see the one she's most comfortable with.
