[Nathanael_Greene]

Hi, all. I'm not a Smith & Wesson expert and could use some help.

I saw a used S&W Model 37 (no dash) Airweight today. 1-7/8" barrel, rubber grips (replacement, I'll bet), bobbed hammer. Nice and shiny (nickel, I presume), mechanically very good (locks up nice and tight).

What should I look for to check it out?

Asking price was $250 plus tax. Is that an okay deal?

Thanks!

[sarge83]

I passed on a pristine stock Model 37 that looked like it came right from S&W, a couple months back friend wanted $300 for it. I was leaving for vacation the next week and knew death from my wife awaited me if I bought it with some of our vacation money.

[sixgunner455]

Beyond an okay deal. If you're looking at getting such a thing, I doubt you'll find a better one.

[kgriggs8@yahoo.com]

$250 for ANY J-frame is a good deal. For an Airweight, it is a great deal. For a pre-lock 37, it is an even better deal. I would buy it for $250 and not look back as long as it is in good mech shape.

[ronwill]

Gunbroker is showing them for $280 - $360. I would say that your getting a good deal.

[Nathanael_Greene]

Thanks for the advice! With a little negotiating, I got it for $245 out the door. Not a big discount from its asking price, but I think I did pretty good.

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

The price you got it for was a screamin' great deal, so I'm sure the seller could, or would, not do much better.

I'd personally rather deal with a seller like yours, rather than some of these "rapists" out there who mark their firearms WAAAAY above the price a knowledgeable shooter knows to pay just so they can do one of two things:


1. Take advantage of a novice . . . and sell it for the ridiculously high price, or

2. Be able to mark it down a whole lot to give a careful buyer a better "deal."

No, you got a great gun at a great price. I wish I could find one in my area at such a great price. Enjoy it!

T.

[Nathanael_Greene]

Thanks, S&Wfan.

Here's a photo of the new toy. Looks pretty nice, I think. I'm thinking about buying some original wood grips (I just prefer wood), but I understand there's a lot of recoil on these Airweights, so I may just stick with what's on there currently.

[S&Wfan]

Nahhh,

You'll get used to the little round butt J-frame wooden grips. I find them very comfortable to shoot on my steel-framed Model 36, even with plus P ammo.

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/363/363373/folders/277718/2216029IMG2435.JPG

The airweight will naturally kick much harder but I don't think you'll have a problem, due to the excellent shape of the original S&W wood grips.

T.

[kgriggs8@yahoo.com]

Nate dog,
Shoot the gun with the rubber grips first. If you think the recoil is too much, don't bother with wood as they will kick more.

If you don't mind the recoil with the rubber grips, then check out the wood.

I don't have a problem with my Airweights kicking even with heavy loads. I keep the Uncle Mikes excellent rubber boot grips on my Airweights. I find they are prehaps the best grip you can buy. They are comfortable yet compact. They are rubber but fairly hard rubber so they don't snag as much as Hogues. They are very good grips.

The only problem with them is that they come stock on most of the S&Ws so people feel the need to "upgrade" to something else. The good news is, you can pick them up dirt cheap on E-bay or gunshows.

[lanceman193]

I love fancy grips on my revolvers.I am particularly fond of stag grips and Spegels,but on my 11 oz 342 I have Hogue bantams.They are small and especially good for pocket carry and they do help with recoil.Best rubber grip out there for j-frames...