Too Nice to Use - My Model 38 BodyGuard

[Malysh]

There is a difference between a gun that can't be fired and a gun that should not or perhaps more accurately, need not be fired. How useful is the gun that went to the range last year and has been sitting in the safe, untouched since then?

Just because you have or haven't shot something doesn't make it "useless". Is art useless? Is a mint 69 Chevelle SS in a car collection "useless" because it's only been trailed to shows?

A lot of things don't get "used" but they sure do get enjoyed and perhaps more importantly they continue to increase in value and desireability while they are being enjoyed. Buying something today for one price, enjoying it in any number of "useless" ways then selling it later for an even higher price seems pretty useful to me.

Reminds me of your mint flat latch Bodyguard Airweight, finest example I've ever seen

 

[Gerald D]

Over on my other home website folks occasionally raise a dead thread, did a search for the M38 and came up with this one. My M38 was purchased soon after I graduated rookie school the second time at age 41, lived on my left ankle for several years 'til I replaced it with a G27. The M38 is still the perfect "stick it in your right jacket pocket for a midnight run to the store" piece. If it could talk I'd have to strangle it or at least keep it away from the wife.

Still looks presentable after all these years (19 or so)....

and here with her older cousin.....

 

[kbm6893]

I shoot all my guns, but I baby them to the point of obsession. I take over an hour to clean a revolver, and my AR takes me over an hour as well. I get in there with q-tips, pipe cleaners, and I even use a little flashlight to see into the nooks and crannies. My carry gun is a S&W 6906, and i carry that in a nylon holster so as not to scuff it like leather does. I used to own a 642-2. it had the clear coat finsih that peels so easily. I sent it back to S&W twice to have it redone. I hate carrying or owning a scratched up or used looking gun.

 

[Armyphotog]

I've heard of this affliction. I, personally do not have it and Thank God it must not be contagious, but I know folks that do. I have a military collector friend that won't shoot pristine Lugers and I just laugh. I try to explain to him they went through a war, got lugged home in some G.I.'s duffle and they still don't get it. Shooting them is not going to hurt any of them. They were made to be shot! Poor upkeep is what does most guns in, not popping a cap every now and then.

 

[Malysh]

Richard has the most pristine Mod 38 flat latch I've ever seen.
He has posted pics of it previously. If you do a search I am sure you can find it.

I bought a 90+% 1974 Mod 38 that I carry all the time in the summer and ocassionally in the colder months. I did not want a NIB example, nor did I want anything newer than about 1975. After being carried and shot for a couple of years, it still looks great. I carry in the summer in a Kramer horsehide front pocket holster and I use a very early Alessi suede IWB also. This past winter I had to carry it all the time as I had surgery and I didn't feel comfortable carrying my heavier handguns.
I've been putting off sending it back to S&W because the cylinder release bolt is probably a hair too short and makes the cylinder hard to open sometimes.
This fall, I WILL send it back to them, but it's hard to part with it. In the interim, I will have to break out my 1962 Mod 37, which I hate to do.

I've been looking for an early flat latched type in only "good" condition because if I had one as nice as Richard's, it would never be shot or carried! The early Mod 38s with the flat latch are pretty hard to find. I've been looking for over 2 years for one like that.