A bit of a unicorn: 3" Airweight

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NIGHTLORD40K

NIGHTLORD40K

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Found this at the local Pawn Shop- a 3" M642 Airweight. As far as I can tell they were only offered from '90-'92, could only find a single image of another one on the internet!

Unfortunately, doing my research after the fact, I also discovered that the no dash 642's are notorious for cracked frames, :(.

I probably won't keep it long as it appears to be a bit of a time bomb as well of a unicorn, but I figured y'all would dig it.:D
 
NIGHTLORD40K

Well that's certainly a rare bird at that! I love the barrel length but a bit of a bummer to find out they had problems with the no dash frames cracking. Seems kind of strange too as S&W has been building lightweight J frames for quite some time. I would probably hang on to it but just shoot relatively mild loads through it.
 
' Hawk -

Your unicorn may not fit the bill of a regular range tripper , but it would make a great carry. I don't know if you have much experience with a 3" J frame ; mine points really well - it is a very different gun than my standard 1 7/8' specimens , really easy to put on target.
If you decide to move it along (perhaps at a profit) , in order to acquire a 3" J which you can shoot liberally - HaHa - I guess that would make sense. Me , I'd keep it as a very distinctive carry. Add it to the stable and look for a more durable 3". The image is of my more durable 3". 20170312_154757.jpg 20170312_154757.jpg
 
I see one of those in 32 Magnum on gunbroker every so often when hunting for a 332.

How common is frame cracking on the air weights? I’ve got several that are going strong but admittedly the round count is still under 700 on both of them.
 
bannockburn said:
NIGHTLORD40K

Well that's certainly a rare bird at that! I love the barrel length but a bit of a bummer to find out they had problems with the no dash frames cracking. Seems kind of strange too as S&W has been building lightweight J frames for quite some time. I would probably hang on to it but just shoot relatively mild loads through it.
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The consensus at S&W forums is that the barrels were overtightened- indeed some members there remember seeing early '90s Airweights cracked brand new in the box!
 
SteadyD said:
I see one of those in 32 Magnum on gunbroker every so often when hunting for a 332.

How common is frame cracking on the air weights? I’ve got several that are going strong but admittedly the round count is still under 700 on both of them.
Click to expand...
Google "Air weight frame crack"- there's a number of pics and some links to S&W forums where they discuss it. S&W will repair them for free, but with a new production frame with the internal lock.:(
 
I thought there was some rule that you could never sell a gun. o_O

Anyway, does look neat. I’d have to keep that one and see if it cracked. If it did, let smith-wesson fix it and sell it.

Looks like a nice carry piece. How much does it weigh?
 
I would try to get S&W to replace the frame even before it cracks. Too nice a find to give up on it.
 
fordtrucks said:
I thought there was some rule that you could never sell a gun. o_O

Anyway, does look neat. I’d have to keep that one and see if it cracked. If it did, let smith-wesson fix it and sell it.

Looks like a nice carry piece. How much does it weigh?
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Well, what's heavier- an ounce of aluminum or an ounce of air? Lol.

Not sure, but it is amazingly light.:)
 
The difference between the 1 7/8" and the 3" guns is huge , in practical accuracy, effect do to the 100 fps extra velocity and ergonomics IMHO. I would consider it , in the right probably custom kydex holster, almost a perfect constant companion. Tho rare you won't MAKE much money off a flip and it's not investment class. I would shoot it for familiarization with non +p ammo and carry the same weight +p ammo , but thats just me.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Google "Air weight frame crack"- there's a number of pics and some links to S&W forums where they discuss it. S&W will repair them for free, but with a new production frame with the internal lock.:(
Click to expand...
From everything I have read when S&W went away from pinned barrels and went to that crush fit barrel the problems started. According to what I read they initially over-torqued the barrels and some broke when additional pressure was added by firing the gun. Airweights with pinned barrels were never in question.

Like I said, this if from everything I have read about the subject. I think some of it came from people who know what's going on at S&W who are in the Big Blue forum. If course I can never know for sure but it sounds reasonable to me.
 
I would keep it and shoot it. Thats the same gun I wish S&W would make with adjustable sights for a lightweight trail gun. But if it shoots to the sights like it is then no matter. I do have a 3" J-frame. A model 36-6. S&W only made 615 of them I have read. Its matt black like a model 28 with full lug barrel and adjustable sights. At 23oz or so its a little beefier than your gun but not a burden at all to carry. You forget you even have it on.

I have the hammered version of it - a model 337-1. Mine has target sights and is one of my most accurate revolvers of any barrel length.
Click to expand...

You have exactly what I am talking about. A perfect trail gun.
 
If you are not going to pocket or ankle carry, I think the 3 inch barrel is the better choice that a 2 inch snub. My first agency issued gun was a 3 inch S&W model 13 and they were popular with the officers, except for all the problems we had with the quality control (they were made in the 1980's for a big FBI contract that was cancelled after they went to the 10m.m.) My academy class was issued 46 guns and at least 12 of them had problems serious enough to be noted.
The Justice Department was giving them to any federal agency after the FBI stopped taking them and we ended up with them as standard issue. Later, when we changed guns, I heard a load of our guns went to the U.S. Marshall's.

The 3 inch was easier to shoot than the 2 inch guns and gave a little extra velocity and longer sight radius. It was also quicker on the draw than a 4 inch gun by a small margin. Since I only could see it being used as a holster gun, I would have preferred a 4 inch model, though the round butt was nice when concealed carrying.

Jim
 
Here is a picture of my 37-0 3" that I mentioned in an earlier post.

It's in the middle of the three square butt guns show.

The top one is a 36-1 Bull Barrel model, and the bottom is 31-1 32 S&W Long.

I have one other square butt J frame -- a 2" 37-0.

I find I can shoot the square butt J frames better than the round butt versions and the grip fits my hand better.

square.jpg
 
cal44mag said:
Here is a picture of my 37-0 3" that I mentioned in an earlier post.

It's in the middle of the three square butt guns show.

The top one is a 36-1 Bull Barrel model, and the bottom is 31-1 32 S&W Long.

I have one other square butt J frame -- a 2" 37-0.

I find I can shoot the square butt J frames better than the round butt versions and the grip fits my hand better.

View attachment 813907
Click to expand...
Nice J-frames!

I did sell the "unicorn" to a hard core S&W collector- would love to find a square butt, pinned barrel 36 or 37 to replace it with!:D
 
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