Opinions on the humpback

[gunny4053]

I've never been a fan of ultra light pocket guns. In my opinion, a gun which is unpleasant to shoot is a gun which sees little use during practice, and that leads to a lesser degree of proficiency for its' owner.

That being said, I'm looking at an all steel alternative, the model 49. I've found a used one at a reasonable price and am thinking of making it my Summer companion. I like the fact that it can be employed in either single or double action, and is easily concealable. I've read and heard many complain about the added weight of a steel gun as opposed to an Air Weight with regard to carry comfort. To me, that weight reminds me I have a viable defensive tool ready to do its' part to protect life and limb, and 38 +P isn't so painful as to prevent the necessary practice.

So, O carriers of the mighty humpback, what say you? Shall I make this my next S&W purchase?

 

[1sailor]

I carried an Airweight humpback for a while and I liked the gun. It was just as fast to get into action as anything else and it gave the option of single action in the event it may ever be wanted or needed. I ended up selling it so I could buy an MP340 (which was even lighter) to give me the option of .357. By the way, with pachmayer "compac" grips installed I've found airweights to be still easy to conceal and carry but those grips really absorb a lot of recoil impact. Especially if your only firing +P's. My son's girlfriend who can't weigh more than 117lbs really enjoyed shooting the MP340 and did not find the recoil to be intimidating at all. This was with the Pach grips firing .357 mags. When we went through the only box of .357's I brought we fired off a box of +P's which later she was jokingly referring to as the "girly rounds". Not saying I would want to shoot it all day but firing off a box of +P's is nothing. Even the Mags are very controlable. I've heard a lot of guys say to only practice the way you'll carry and shoot but honestly, having the option of single action fire takes nothing away and does provide a usefull option.

 

[41 fan]

IMO, the all steel or stainless steel J frame guns are much easier to shoot well than the alloy guns. I frequently carry a 649-3 in .357. With the Speer sb 135 GDs, the recoil is not bad. Same goes for my 640-1 in .357. Dean

 

[Stu1205]

I carried a 649 no dash in .38 special for 8 years with a Barami Hip Grip.
The weight didn't seem significant to me, and I hardly knew I was carrying it.
For myself, I prefer the steel guns. I carried it with +P and practiced with 38s, as back then it was not rated for +P.
It is now retired to my safe. It was my first carry gun, so I will never sell it.
I replaced it with an AMT Backup .45 ACP, which as been my EDC for the past 16 years.
It is actually smaller that a J Frame, and it holds 6 rounds of .45 instead of 5 rounds of .38 special.
Funny thing is, I am a big S&W fan, and have a large collection of S&W revolvers, which I love to shoot, but I don't carry one.
Once and a while though, I will take out the 649 for old times sake.

Stu

 

[Broker50]

I guess I'm confused, I thought a model 40 is a Centennial, & the steel Bodyguard is a model 49. That being said, I never cared for the Bodyguards in any configuration. In forty years of daily carry, I have never once needed to fire a J frame in SA mode. But I have seen a Bodyguard unable to fire on a couple of occasions because of debris in the hammer channel. If I carry a steel J-frame, it's a model 60. Just my opinion, many here love their Bodyguards, but most everyone agrees, the "Humpbacks" are UGLY!

 

[zonker5]

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. I have two humpbacks and love 'em, carry one or the other almost every day.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

That being said, I'm looking at an all steel alternative, the model 40.

I like the fact that it can be employed in either single or double action, and is easily concealable.

So, O carriers of the mighty humpback, what say you? Shall I make this my next S&W purchase?

Gunny:

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but do you really mean a Model 40? A Model 40, or Centennial, is a DAO revolver. Stylistically, a Model 40 resembles the Model 642 and 442, and all three of these revolvers are double-action only (DAO).

You may be referring to the Model 38 (alloy - "airweight") and 49 (all steel). The Model 38 and 49 have the "hump" that covers the sides of the hammer allowing single action, as well as double action firing. Also, I've frequently heard those two models referred to as "humpbacks", or "Bodyguards", and the Model 40/642/442 referred to as "Centennials".

I own a Model 60 that I really enjoy, but I find a bit too heavy for pocket carry. I frequently carry either a Model 38, or a Model 642, and I use CT Lasergrips (#405) for the airwieghts, and a #105 for the all steel Model 60.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[Broker50]

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. I have two humpbacks and love 'em, carry one or the other almost every day.

Bodyguards fall into that "love 'em or hate 'em category". People who do like 'em REALLY love 'em. If a Bodyguard is what works for you, then all is well!

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

There's a lot to be said for steel. If you find it acceptable to carry, it's much better than aluminum or unobtainium.. While I happen to prefer a Model 40, I also happen to like aimed-fire DA. A lot of folks don't. For them, a 49 seems to me to be an obvious choice. No one says you have to use SA, but ir's there if you want it, and it doesn't cost you much to have it.

 

[oldafsp]

I carried a 49 for years as my BUG. And loved it. By the time it was 5 years old it needed refinishing and had pitting under the stocks on the frame. It still functioned fine.

But, I sold it to another officer who needed one and didn't replace it.

I retired a year ago and found I had the need for a everday,everywhere carry gun. And I wanted a Bodyguard.

I love the functionality and reliability of them.

But. I was not going to buy another blued J frame and spend $500+ dollars for a beautiful example to carry everyday. Sorry boys, that's just how I feel about it.

So off to my LGS and a new 638 came out with me. Yep IL, rubber boot grips,durable(so far) finish and lifetime warranty for $365 OTD.

It shoots just great, on target, easy to control, carries wonderfully, and does the job just fine....everyday for me.

You could do much worse than a Bodyguard. Vintage 38/49/649 or new in the 638 series.

 

[ladder13]

I happen to be in the like em' camp. Sold to my brother a 649 which I'm trying to replace with a 357 mag version. Anyone have one?

I have a 49

And a 38-3

 

[gunny4053]

Thanks for removing my head from rectal defilade. I, in fact did mean the 49, and have corrected this in my original post.

 

[Chipmunk6]

Humpbacks rule

Chipmunk6

 

[Rapidray]

49 is the best J-frame around...

and if I could get find a 649 I am sure it would be top dog! To me the 49 is king. You can shoot it DA or you can shoot it SA. Put it in a pocket holster, were mine is right now and it is always with you. It is all steel.The weight is a plus, as it helps with the recoil. You get used to it really quick as other guns weigh in a lot more. While the Airweight is lighter, I find them ok to shoot but I enjoy the heaver 49 a lot more. The best thing...it shoots to POA. That is priceless!

 

[ladder13]

Humpbacks rule

Chipmunk6

Lon Chaney was great as Quasimodo

 

[ACP230]

I had a 49 and gave it to my oldest son. He doesn't shoot it much so I sometimes think of trying to get it back.

Don't need to as I replaced it with a pair of 649s and an old M38.
The 649s have been carried quite a bit. I am carrying the M38 at the
moment. It's just enough lighter to make a difference at times.

 

[ispcapt]

I carried this blue 49 in an ankle rig almost everyday as my 2nd from 1975 to 1995. I then picked up this 649 in 1995 and have carried it since. The only time they weren't in an ankle rig was when it snow and gunk was so bad in the winter that I carried them in a shoulder rig under my duty jacket. I also carried them a lot of times as my primary when working plain clothes where a bigger gun might have been seen.
For a short period of time a had a nickle 38 that was nice to carry but you could notice the increase in recoil compared to the 49 shooting W-W or Fed 158 +P. While I liked the 38 one of the guys I worked with liked it even more and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
The weight was no issue as far as carrying.
The second picture is the way my 649 looks today after it was fixed up for me as a retirement present. The top picture is the way it looked when I was working.

 

[clip]

Hi everyone. I'm the new kid on the block and appreciate the opportunity to associate with all you knowledgeable minds.

 

[geraldo]

649

My daily carry is a model 649, and I love it, dont have to worry about rust and cant hardly tell it is on me, and the longer I carry it the nicer it looks, GET ONE YOU WILL LOVE IT !

 

[K-framer]

Love the humpbacks myself. Added BONUS to the all-steel guns.....no dreaded frame-cracking, from an over-torqued barrel !

What, aluuuminuuum guns ???!!! BLECH !!! Plastic guns ??!!
DOUBLE BLECH !!!





..........."Old school" and proud of it........