S&W 438 Airweight

[JimGinMD]

Was looking at various small frames both semi auto and revolver, and the shop had a used 438 marked at $375. On the S&W site they say the 438 is no longer in production. Any thoughts on this firearm is appreciated. Is that a reasonable price?

 

[photoman]

Not a great price for a used Airweight. $325 would be more like it and below $300 would be an instant buy.

 

[Imaposer]

I just picked up a slightly "used" 638 (SS version of the 438) a few weeks ago for $299.99 at a LGS. I'd maybe offer $325 and see where they go. New 638's can be had for around $375, and IMHO, just because the 438 isn't a current catalog item doesn't make it more "valuable". Personally, while I do like the looks of the black guns, for my purposes for owning an airweight (CCW) I prefer the SS to the blued carbon steel cylinder, barrel and cylinder latch of the 438 which is more prone to rusting unless cared for regularly.

 

[SixgunFife]

I'd agree that $375 is on the high side for a used 438. A good gun, no doubt (I'm a 638 owner myself), but as pointed out above, new 638s and 642s can be had in that price range.

 

[HDFLHRC08]

It is up to you ...

I own a 438 and love it. I like carrying it and I like shooting it. If it is in great condition and you think you would like to have it then it is worth it ... to you.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

A few weeks ago I got lucky and fell into the type of
deal, twice actually, that I had only heard about

I got this from a guy who bought it new on a Saturday, with money he got
from selling me his approx. 2 week old Model 60 Pro earlier in the day.
I got it from him the following Thursday..........

Like the Model 60, he bought it new and never fired it.
$450 for the M60, then $300 for this one.

I changed the grips out........

The fired round in the box was dated early 2011, so it had
been hangin' around his local gun shop for a little while.

 

[Imaposer]

A few weeks ago I got lucky and fell into the type of
deal, twice actually, that I had only heard about

I got this from a guy who bought it new on a Saturday, with money he got
from selling me his approx. 2 week old Model 60 Pro earlier in the day.
I got it from him the following Thursday..........

Like the Model 60, he bought it new and never fired it.
$450 for the M60, then $300 for this one.

I changed the grips out........

The fired round in the box was dated early 2011, so it had
been hangin' around his local gun shop for a little while.

Wow! Is this guy a compulsive buyer, or does he just like throwing money away? Two new guns, bought and sold within two weeks, and without ever firing either? What's his rationale?

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Wow! Is this guy a compulsive buyer, or does he just like throwing money away? Two new guns, bought and sold within two weeks, and without ever firing either? What's his rationale?

On the Model 60 he didn't like the exposed hammer. After he got it home.....

When I was getting the Model 60 he happened to mention that he wanted
a hammer, but this was going to be, primarily, his pocket carry gun.

Because of this I showed him this gun, which I happened to have on me.

The one thing that he didn't factor in, when cocking mine, was that not
only has it been in use for awhile, but I also cleaned up the trigger.

When he tried cocking the new gun it was much harder and his arthritis
didn't like it, so on-line it went. He was a heck of a nice guy and by no
means an idiot. I sure hope he found what he was looking for.

 

[wrangler5]

If you're going to carry it, especially IWB where it might get hot and humid, I'd strongly recommend against a gun with carbon steel parts. My 442 will generate little beads of moisture between yoke and frame during a day of carry in the summer, and the carbon steel yoke will start to rust if I don't wipe it down daily, especially the yoke/frame interface. (I didn't check it for the first week I carried it, and when I did look I had small rust spots starting on the yoke.)

I've replaced the 442 with a 638 (prefer the single action option for fun at the range) and am delighted with the change, even though the 638 has a lock and the 442 didn't. I $381 for a new 638 from Buds, and got free shipping.