smith and wesson model 49 .38 spl.

[frmgzero]

Hello I'm new to this forum and was hoping for some information on this revolver . Model 49 snub nose (2") 38 S&W SPL with the serial number stamped on the bottom of the grip. It's a 6 digit number starting with 216XXX.
Could anyone give me a year that this was manufactured?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you and regards to the community

 

[824tsv]

Welcome to the Forum,
The closest I can get with the published reference material is about 1960ish.

The serial# tables in the Standard Catalog of S&W indicate:
1957 117770-125000
1962 295000

Your Model 49 is in there somewhere.

 

[BearBio]

I carried a 649 for quite a while. I found the DA only snubbies (i.e. 642) to be very inaccurate but liked the option of the "bobbed" hammer of the Bodyguard ("humpback whale"). Eventually gradually switched to a 38 Super Commander then a Glock 27 in 357 Sig.

A good EDC.

 

[loeman]

Welcome to the forum. I am very fond of the Md 49. I hope you will like yours as much as I do mine. I bought mine in the late 1970s and used it primarily as my motorcycle tank bag gun and my defense gun while camping. When S&W came out with the the Md 649 in .357 I bought one for the more potent round and the versatility of stainless. It remains my most carried gun (usually pocketed). And, I have found it to be very accurate! It just takes some practice. It's kind of interesting (to me) that my Md 49 was my first brand new S&W and my Md 649-3 was my last brand new S&W.

BTW, there's a nice mid 60s era Md 49 languishing in a LGS display counter. I wish someone would buy it because it always calls to me when I visit there.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My 49 (no dash) has an action job and been coated in Metal-life. It has been in my pocket every day for a little over 5 years. On these older J-frames, if the action is bad or gritty, it needs the side plate removed and detail cleaned! I carry Speer +P 135 grain Gold Dot/short barrel ammo, and fire that 5 every 6 months.

The name before there were model numbers was "Bodyguard". Due to their hammer shroud they have the nickname "Humpback". There is an aluminum framed version called Model 38, along with the more recent three digit; 438, 538 and 638.

Mine and very many others have grip adapters. Some use a boot grip. What you don't want are soft rubber grips, they cling to everything and reveal your concealed weapon.

You will want some spare ammo close by. I carry a speed strip with 8 rounds in a pouch on my belt, when dressed down, and a 6 round speed strip in the weak hand pocket when dressed up. If your pants are on the loose side, a speed loader is available- HKS 36. I keep a couple of the loaded in the consul of my truck, and a spare box of practice ammo.

The accuracy of the little darlings is fantastic! I once shot a raccoon out of a 30 foot high fork in a tree. I had a shot at his head only, and connected! One and only shat that day.

One of the things that draws me to the "Humpbacks" is the day I got married, My Father-In-Law walked my wife down the isle with a nickel "Bodyguard" (shipped in the early 50's, like my wife) tucked in his tuxedo!

Welcome to the club, and enjoy your treasure.

Ivan

 

[Etalksalot]

My 49 (no dash) has an action job and been coated in Metal-life. It has been in my pocket every day for a little over 5 years. On these older J-frames, if the action is bad or gritty, it needs the side plate removed and detail cleaned! I carry Speer +P 135 grain Gold Dot/short barrel ammo, and fire that 5 every 6 months.

The name before there were model numbers was "Bodyguard". Due to their hammer shroud they have the nickname "Humpback". There is an aluminum framed version called Model 38, along with the more recent three digit; 438, 538 and 638.

Mine and very many others have grip adapters. Some use a boot grip. What you don't want are soft rubber grips, they cling to everything and reveal your concealed weapon.

I'm glad you carry an older model, and from the sounds of it, you still have magnas on it, very glad to hear that. I have 2 J frame Smiths, both Mod 36 snub SB, one blue the other nickel. I love the magna grips and am thinking about getting a polished brass T grip for my blued one. I love the Mod 38/49 a lot and am planning on getting one of each at some point, good to hear positive feedback on them. I hated the look of them forever, I didn't even WANT to like them, but as it happened I love them now. The only reason I'm not buying one next, is my last 2 purchases have been my 2 Chief's Specials and I just don't want 3 in a row. I'm thinking about a round butt snub Mod 10 next or possibly 12.

 

[JP@AK]

First of all, there were no steel frame Bodyguard revolvers before model numbers were used. The Model 49 wasn't introduced until 1959, the year after model numbered guns started showing up on dealer shelves. The aluminum frame Bodyguard (eventually the Model 38) did exist before model numbers, starting in 1955.

With that small item cleared up, let's move on to the age of this gun. I agree that a serial number in the 216xxx range would date from about 1960. But this one has the newer thumb piece that didn't come along until 1966, and the non-diamond stocks that didn't exist until about 1967. That makes dating it to 1960 suspicious, to say the least.

I wonder if the serial number is actually J216xxx. That would yield a date of c. 1974, more consistent with the configuration shown in the picture.

 

[sw44spl]

Great little guns the mod 49s.you will like it. I have 2 blued ones a nickel one a SS one 638 and daily carry a model 38 the alloy one. all shoot great. the mod 38 groups alittle to the left but its a tight group. shoot and enjoy it.