Show Your EDC J frames!

I just started testing my newly purchased 940 with Black Hills +P Barnes load. It's ... interesting, but I think it would be a good bug. I may have to learn to take it apart and send the cylinder to Headknocker; extraction takes a hell of a good pop on the rod end. I am using the CT LG405 grips on it, which help. I'm almost thinking of a right (off) hand cross draw for it.
 
Waiting on my Mika holster and a chance to get to the range. I've dry fired with caps probably 1000 times.
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This is my 342. It has been with me since the first year that they were made. It has thousands of miles on it riding in my patrol car, back when I did that kind of work.

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Jay
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Did you polish the 342? if so, how did you do it... The gun looks great.
 
.38 Special Model 640...just "downgraded" from the .357 Model 640-1. Carried either in an old Binachi Model 6 IWB or naked in a jacket/pants pocket.

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EDC 642 here with the belt rig. Shown are the Gold Dot 135gr +p but it can also be seen frequently loaded with Rim Rock 158gr wide nose SWCs over 4.4 gr of HP-38.
 

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I have been looking at one of these for the easy on and off. I usually use a Galco Concealable. By chance would you know if it hides the same as a Fobus for the j frame?

I have one and tried to wear it today under a sweater instead of an IWB holster for PM9.......looked like I had a prosthetic hip on! My M49 almost rides sideways on mine.
 
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Did you polish the 342? if so, how did you do it... The gun looks great.

I was thinking the same thing. I guess that would be one way of dealing with the crappy finish on the airweights. Once it gets to the point that it warrants attention (if you care about such things) I guess it'd be easy enough to spray the frame down with aircraft stripper and go to town with Mother's Aluminum polish. It would require a little maintenance I suppose, but a quick wipe down with Mother's on occasion would probably be fine.
 
1. My Model 60-9. Hand polished to a high gloss with Mother Mag Polish and ivory grips added. Got it finished and the wife liked it (her gun now) :-( At least she's a shooter :-).

2. My replacement for the Model 60. A 1978 vintage Model 36-1, 3 inch heavy barrel with custom Elk grips.

3. My Model 649... First year production - Detroit Police Trade-In. Pretty neat gun. It had some honest carry marks that I worked out by hand (wet sanding and Mothers). Some end shake and needed a frame stud replacing. I practically got the gun for a give away price. Sent it back to Smith for the end shake and frame stud replacement. Got it back to spec all for under $400 total cost.
 

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Did you polish the 342? if so, how did you do it... The gun looks great.

Thanks. I am happy with the results so far. This gun had terrible holster wear. I spoke with the guys at S&W about it and they said that they would re finish it for me for $210 plus shipping. I wasn't all that impressed with them since the finish on these Airlites were bad from the begining and they supposedly " Warranty" them for life. Right.

So, I started a week or so ago cleaning up the finish with a Scotchbrite pad. Once I had most of the finish off I switched to Flitz. That is all there was to it. I am debating on Duracoating it with a clear finish or just making it black. Not sure yet.

Jay

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I cleaned up the finish on the cylinder with my Scotchbrite deburring wheel. Worked like a champ.
 
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....I may have to learn to take it apart and send the cylinder to Headknocker; extraction takes a hell of a good pop on the rod end......

Who's headknocker and what does he do to the gun? I owned a 442-2 for a while in which fired cases tended to stick. I soaked & scrubbed the chambers, but ended up selling it off to a buddy before I shot it again. If he has trouble with it, we might have to investigate some remedial work.
How do you guys like the laser grips? I'm pretty old school so resisted the urge for a long time, but I broke down & ordered a set of LG-105's just last night, and am looking forward to shooting with them.
 
Who's headknocker and what does he do to the gun? I owned a 442-2 for a while in which fired cases tended to stick. I soaked & scrubbed the chambers, but ended up selling it off to a buddy before I shot it again. If he has trouble with it, we might have to investigate some remedial work.
How do you guys like the laser grips? I'm pretty old school so resisted the urge for a long time, but I broke down & ordered a set of LG-105's just last night, and am looking forward to shooting with them.

On some the the ones with sticky chambers, it's caused by a rough interior finish, like maybe the production reamers were worn and chattering. There is a recent thread on here about someone that had that problem with a 690. Headknocker has a reamer and can help smooth out the factories poor finish in the chambers. It's worked for some.

I love the CT lasers. I was old school too, but as I reached by upper 40's my eyesight has gotten worse, to the point that I don't see the front sight so well anymore. Laser's may not be the perfect answer for everyone, but for me, I feel that I can be more effective with than without. Awesome for dry fire practice too!

I have a set of 105's and a set of 405's. I like them both ok, but if I had to do it over again I'd go with the 405's on both guns. The laser activation is much more natural for me with the 405's. I have to make a conscious effort to squeeze the 105's just right to activate it. May just be my hand shape, or the way I grip though. Either way, I think with a little time with them you'll like 'em!
 
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Square butt model 60 from the mid 80s...

This one has current production S&W grips and has been polished. After the picture, I installed a Tyler T-grip which makes it a bit better to hold onto.

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Edmo
 
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