Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,827
They're nothing fancy. It's kind of odd that I've owned so many. I realized this morning that one or another of them has been among my regular carry pieces for more than 30 years. I bought the first one NiB in 1990 or so because it was what I could afford. It was my second carry piece after my Makarov.
They are just a little knockoff of the S&W j-frames, but I've had good luck with mine. They've all gone bang every time. The average cost was $200 apiece, or not much more. The first two were NiB. The others have been used.
I carry my LCR and 642 more often, but I like having a steel-framed 38 snub to practice with, and it will get carried every once in a while just because it's sitting there ready.
1990-2000 steel frame, hammer spur, original wooden grips, great trigger, stolen in burglary
2000-2018 aluminum frame, I ground off the hammer spur, original black soft plastic grips, pretty good trigger, given to my FiL when he lacked a decent CC piece
2018-2018 steel frame, DAO, horrible trigger, traded away for what I had in it
2019-2022 steel frame, removed the hammer spur, excellent trigger, gave its life protecting me from my friend's defective handloads
2022-? steel frame, DOA, pretty good trigger, hope to keep it a while
The latest one was made in 1996. It has the kind of grips I prefer. The trigger is smooth but slightly stiff. I ordered some Wolff springs for it. It's already DAO, so I won't have to grind off the hammer spur. It has some finish wear and has been shot a fair amount, but it locks up tight and the barrel looks good.
I will occasionally use it for back pocket carry when I know I won't be sitting down (a Desantis pocket holster).
Has anyone else owned any of these "ubiquitous" little snub 38's, and/or have a little story to tell about one? Any favorite holsters or ammo?
They are just a little knockoff of the S&W j-frames, but I've had good luck with mine. They've all gone bang every time. The average cost was $200 apiece, or not much more. The first two were NiB. The others have been used.
I carry my LCR and 642 more often, but I like having a steel-framed 38 snub to practice with, and it will get carried every once in a while just because it's sitting there ready.
1990-2000 steel frame, hammer spur, original wooden grips, great trigger, stolen in burglary
2000-2018 aluminum frame, I ground off the hammer spur, original black soft plastic grips, pretty good trigger, given to my FiL when he lacked a decent CC piece
2018-2018 steel frame, DAO, horrible trigger, traded away for what I had in it
2019-2022 steel frame, removed the hammer spur, excellent trigger, gave its life protecting me from my friend's defective handloads
2022-? steel frame, DOA, pretty good trigger, hope to keep it a while
The latest one was made in 1996. It has the kind of grips I prefer. The trigger is smooth but slightly stiff. I ordered some Wolff springs for it. It's already DAO, so I won't have to grind off the hammer spur. It has some finish wear and has been shot a fair amount, but it locks up tight and the barrel looks good.
I will occasionally use it for back pocket carry when I know I won't be sitting down (a Desantis pocket holster).
Has anyone else owned any of these "ubiquitous" little snub 38's, and/or have a little story to tell about one? Any favorite holsters or ammo?
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