Question about Bodyguard, 38, 49 etc

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

A few years ago, there was an extended feud on the C*** forum about hammer shrouds in general and the Bodyguard in particular. One individual was strongly partial to Centennials rather than Bodyguards, because he had witnessed a couple of Bodyguards tied up by pocket trash. In one case, a policeman's BG was jammed by a toothpick, and it took sideplate removal to get out the toothpick (and other stuff). Obviously, the first answer is to keep the gun-totin' pocket clear of trash, and to eyeball one's ordnance occasionally, but I am still curious as to whether others have ever experienced or witnessed that problem.

Since there are probably more Bodyguard users on this forum than the other, I'll ask here: Has anyone experienced a malfunction with a Bodyguard that wouldn't have happened with a Chief or a Centennial?

 

[crows]

I wouldn't give it a second thought. If you are pocket carrying, keep everything but the gun/holster out of that pocket. Check the gun daily as you should regardless of the weapon type or carry method. All the time that I carried my 649, be it in an ankle rig , belly bad high around the chest over body armor under a uniform shirt, or in a pocket, I never got anything in it that would come close to tying it up.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Thanks for relaying your experience.

Keep 'em coming!

 

[SDH]

I like them all!

 

[Big Lou]

I wouldn't give it a second thought. If you are pocket carrying, keep everything but the gun/holster out of that pocket. Check the gun daily as you should regardless of the weapon type or carry method. All the time that I carried my 649, be it in an ankle rig , belly bad high around the chest over body armor under a uniform shirt, or in a pocket, I never got anything in it that would come close to tying it up.

+100

During my time on the job, I worked undercover narcotics in the big city for over 14 years (1987 to 2002). My primary carry began with a 649, then a 940 and ended with a 342 Ti . Never, ever carried anything else in the same pocket with the gun. My wife would repair my holster (pants pocket) on a regular basis because of the weight of the 649 & 940. When I started carrying the 342 Ti in 1999, I thought I died and gone to heaven. Perfect UC gun. All the other Detectives love it and my Local FFL sold at least a dozen right after I got mine.

With the 649 & 342 Ti I carried a Bianchi speed strip with extra rounds in my coin pants pocket. Inspected and cleaned the guns every week without exception. They were my lifeline. They had to work if needed.

 

[Malysh]

I carry a Mod 38 every day during the warm months in the front pocket in a Kramer holster. Never had any problems what so ever. Common sense should dictate that nothing but the gun goes in that pocket. Not even a toothpick! As Big Lou said, the gun should be checked every week for lint or other objects. If you carry, this is a must with any gun and any carry mode.
I also carry a Mod 640 this way.

 

[Broker50]

I've never owned a Bodyguard & probably never will. A long time ago, a friend drew his from one of the old open top crossdraw holsters, & reached it to me to try out. Sure enough it wouldn't fire, a small stick had tied it up. That was enough to convince me. I have never seen the need for SA capability on a snub J-frame either. Besides that, IMO, Bodyguards are butt ugly. I also find that generally Centennials have a slighty better DA trigger pull. I know many here hold Bodyguards in high regard, if they work for you great, but I'll take a Centennial style (642) for my use.

 

[SDH]

As I said, I like them all but there is no question that my first year Centennial has the BEST DA trigger pull of any Smith I own. I'm sure partially because it doesn't have any hammerblock...

 

[JayCeeNC]

While working narcotics from 1985-1992 we were issued Bodyguards. One of my partners took his out and laid it on the desk prior to departing for a search warrant service and he noticed the hammer was cocked! He had no idea how that occurred. He and I went outside and he pointed it at the ground while gently lowering the hammer.
Wouldn't have happened with a Centennial.

 

[Broker50]

While working narcotics from 1985-1992 we were issued Bodyguards. One of my partners took his out and laid it on the desk prior to departing for a search warrant service and he noticed the hammer was cocked! He had no idea how that occurred. He and I went outside and he pointed it at the ground while gently lowering the hammer.
Wouldn't have happened with a Centennial.

Wow! Don't know which would be worse, not goin' bang when you need it to, or goin' bang when you don't want it to.

 

[MSgt G]

Never been a problem for me. Probably more "I know someone this happened to" situations going around than anything else. Keep it in a quality holster and keep everything else out of that pocket. If you do that I don't see how even "so-and-so's brother-in-law" could have a problem.

 

[Checkman]

Never had any problems with my 49. I've been carrying one as a backup and off-duty piece for nine years now.

 

[white cloud]

this has been a great thread. i go back and forth between a 642 and 649 all the time depending on my mood and sun spot activity i guess. both are great guns.

 

[BUFF]

I had read over the years that a coin or something could wedge itself behind the hammer of a Bodyguard if pocket-carried and tie it up. I took that at face value. Then one day, while handling one of mine, I tried to stuff a dime into the slot and replicate the occurance. Couldn't do it.

That said, the lack of a hammer opening on the frame of the Cenntenials and standard Chiefs does reduce the amount of lint, grit and assorted detritus that gets into the action over time.

 

[Old cop]

To each their own but I've carried the old style Bodyguard for years and never a problem. Like others said keep nothing else in that pocket and clean the crud every week with a silocone cloth.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have quite a few J-frames that I have used at one time or another for self-defense use. I particularly like the 649 Bodyguard, and have carried it on occasion. It's pictured here, along with a 640. For a while, I gave both of these guns equal rating. The 649 does give some versatility, enabling either single action or double action shots, while the 640 seems to have a noticeably better trigger pull and there is no danger of any foreign substance entering the gun - it's as reliable as a baseball bat.

However, if you need a self-defense gun, it's most probably gonna be at nearly point blank range. I have since figured that the main criterion has gotta be reliability. I want that darn thing to go bang when I pull the trigger, and I don't want any chance that it might not. Sure, the chances of stuff fouling up a Bodyguard are slim, but there is still the possibility, and some here have already described mishaps.

Accordingly, I now choose from among these J-frames, all Centennials:

For ease of carry, today it's usually gonna be either the 642 or the 442. The 642 at night, and the 442 during the day. If I pull either one, I want the bad guy to know that he's facing a gun, and pronto. And most assuredly, the gun I have will go BANG when and if I have to pull back on the "go" switch.

John

 

[sheriffoconee]

when I get home at night I check my Model 49 for lint, dust, bird feathers, paper cups, wadded up incident reports, shoelaces, golf balls, peat moss or anything else that is in there.....then it goes back in my pocket...never a problem, never an issue....

 

[Kavinsky]

new to the ballgame with the 49, just acquired an old pre dash trade in about 4 months ago, shot it right after getting it and found a ton of lint around the hammer, infront of the cylinder, every possibile creavace of the gun had something in it

no problems, functioned a 100% and I found that c-r-ap (why does this board censor dumb words like that?) in it a few weeks latter after I decided to give it a through cleaning even though it didnt really need it and a little rock in just the right place will block any gun up or a tooth pick off all things, like they said just dont put anything that might block the gun up along with it if you stick it in your pocket.

and by the way there is a specific way to safely decock the hammer that goes with all smiths and the 49, hold the hammer, pull the trigger and lower the hammer.

and a little before it reaches the firing area let go of the trigger and let the hammer drop, there should be a different sort of click and by doing that it will safely put the hammer back into its resting position without allowing the hammer to hit the primer of anything infront of it, possibly setting it off.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I have been carrying J-frames an awfully long time and never had a problem with any of the Bodyguards. I make a habit of cleaning my carry guns regularly, not just after a range session.

 

[PuertoRican]

I have a 28 year old Model 38 that I have carried off and on for over 10 years. I've stuffed it in Levi vest & jacket pockets, front & hip jeans pockets & inside boots. Never had anything cause it to lock up.