I bought a no lock 642 in about 1997 or 98, and have carried it happily. I retired in 2007 and for my first qualification as a retired officer I used it, as I did not know if I had to use a gun I would be carrying or just any revolver and auto. The range officers were kind of down on 5 shooters, I guess because a lot of retired coppers don't shoot them well, and have trouble reloading. (I had to shoot five, reload one, etc.) Anyway, I shot 100 percent with the little guy, and those range officers had nice things to say about it then.
I love it, carry it now mostly in my pocket in a Michaels holster, or in a DeSantis ankle rig.