I had rather hoped this Model 38 thread/club would take off better than it has.
Much ado has been made about the SA capability of the gun as enabled by the partially exposed hammer. Some view the SA option as an asset, some as a liability.
I think the model 38s are great little guns. I see their primary "use" as being a J-frame with SA capabilities relegated to pocket carry duty. While some praise the SA capability, others have stated they would never want or need that option. Someone, on another forum as I recall, dubbed the Bodyguards the "thinking man's J-frame" and I tend to agree. He/she was extolling the virtues of the SA feature.
Carrying and using any ANY handgun for personal defense applications is all about compromises and options. We all make these compromises in an effort to select the best handgun for our personal situation. I think the SA capability is just another option of which we can take advantage.
Now, having said all that, my primary J-frame is a Model 642. It has perhaps the best action I've ever seen on a J-frame, much better than my Model 38 or 49, ergo it's the primary J-frame. The 642 is often paired or supplemented with the Model 38 however.
To summarize.......long live the Bodyguards.
Photoman:
Is there actually that much color difference between the sideplate and frame of your gun or is that a photo/lighting thing? Taking into consideration your user name, I would suspect the former.
Cheers,
dan