Pocket carry a S&W 36?

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NoirFan

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As you can tell from my screen name, I'm a fan of the Golden Era classics (or guns that resemble said classics) when it comes to firearms. Lately I've been wanting a pocket carry revolver and in terms of looks anyway, the S&W 36 with magnas and grip adapter can't be beat.

What I don't know is if the heavy steel frame and exposed hammer make it a poor pocket gun. I had the chance to try it out at a local gun store, but that was only for a few seconds before I gave it back to the clerk. Does anyone pocket carry one of these daily, and what are your feelings on the supposed disadvantages?
 
I Pocket Carried an older S&W Model 36 pretty well every day for 20 years. Originally, I adapted it to the front Pants Pocket because I wanted something for Levis and Motorcycle riding, as well as for when doing out door chores or work things and daily Life things of all sorts.


A Bobbed Hammer is pretty well a must if intending to Pocket Carry.

And in my case, I elected to open the front of the Trigger Bow, since Riding means 'Gloves'...and, the 36 is a rather small frame, small Trigger Bow area, to begin with.

I bobbed the Hammer, shortened the originally rather longer and Square Grip, rounded it also at the rear...somewhat aggressively checkered the backstrap and Hammer top, reshaped the front Sight into a small Half-Moon, and made some new Walnut Stocks for it.

I found a nice old Sholder Holster which fit it perfectly, but if I wore it twice in all those years, just to try it, that'd be about it...even though it was comfortable and easy...access from, or being at discrete readyness, with a Shoulder Holster seemed less convenient to me than from the Pocket.


I polished and Nitre Hot Blued it at the time, but, over the years it pretty well all wore off.

Advantages...it is discrete...you can have your hand in your pocket in a casual way when sensing conditions may warrant some prepare or readyness, and no one would ever think anything about it.

5 Shots of course...and, a charged Speedloader in the other pocket is reasonable prudence.

Disadvantages? I don't know...it is what it is, you got 5 shots, and, if you can put your rounds where you mean to with some practiced alacrity, it is a pretty good Arm for it's reason and purpose and power...and hard to beat as far as the room it needs.




A few months ago I retired it and went to a 3 inch Bobbed Hammer Round Butt Model 10, which in most Trousers is about all they can handle for Pocket carry...but more often, I use an old 'Viking' IWB Leather Holster instead.
 
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Oyeboten has much more experience pocket carrying them than I have. But I have done it for years and the 36 works well and is my choice over other lightweights/airweights (it or it's ss brother the 60). You can also do it without bobbing the hammer. "Thumb draw" is the concept you are looking for. You train yourself to place your thumb or thumbnail (if you think you can be so precise in an emergency!) on the hammer when drawing. It's effectively an anatomic "Bodyguard" (S&W 49) profile. The gun will draw without snagging. Practice it a few times.

Also like him, I've stopped carrying the J frame and gone to a 2.5" K-frame (19s and a 66) the last few years. I live in a northern climate and most of the year there's enough clothing to pocket carry one of those, or easily conceal it. It's a much better platform than the J if you live in a place or dress in a fashion that lets you conceal it easily.
 
I have a 1964 M36 that gets carried in warm weather many days. I tried pocket carry with the M36 and M638...it just wasn't for me. I felt like it printed like crazy and was uncomfortable. I carry IWB at 4 o'clock using a FIST ultra thin kydex holster. It conceals well and it is so comfortable I sometimes forget I have a gun on my hip!
 
In itself, the size and weight of the model 36 doesn't preclude pocket carry, but the conventional hammer spur is a problem because it can snag during the draw. Some cover the spur with their thumb to prevent this, but then you can't get a complete grip on the handle, and have to shift it after the revolver is clear of the pocket.

For this reason I either have the thumb-spur removed from pocket revolvers and convert them to double-action-only (DAO), or use one of the other J-frame models that have an enclosed hammer, or one that is shrouded. Neither of these will snag on clothing of any kind when carried in a deep cover mode. Look at those models that end with the numbers 40 or 49.
 
For all those years, I had it loaded with 1930s 'Peters' 158 Grn, RNL Police Loads.


Once every four or five years, I would blow off the ones chambered, and, thumb in a fresh five from the same Box of Cartridges.


Never had a dud...


I ought to Chronograph some of those out of the little Snubby...see what they actually are travelling at.


Anyway, I dunno, I just felt like carrying something different for a while, so went to the Model 10...Bobbed it, rounded the Butt, cut the Barrel from four inch to 'three', adapted some old 'Victory' Stocks for it, made and installed a new front Sight...sort of checkered the Backstrap in a styalistic way, good looking, comfortable, nice Shooter, fun, nice balance, and, I would not feel bad having spunkier Cartridges in it.

Too, a Model 10 'Snubby' would be a wonderful Pocket Carry with a Bobbed Hammer and rounded Butt...and it would not be all that much larger than the Model 36 is...and you have six Shots instead of 'five'...and a little more heft for allowing easier follow-up Shots if need be.

Maybe elect the 158 Grn 'Buffalo Bore' Cartridges, and have a pretty alright set up.
 
Everyday!

I often pocket carry a m37. And on the cheap, I use a Blackhawk IWB cloth holster with the clip removed. Maybe it is the banana grips, or my unconscious use of my thumb to cover the hammer, but when I pull it out by the grip it never snags and always leaves the holster behind. (The Blackhawk covers the hammer) I've never had reason to find anything better. (read more expensive :rolleyes: )

I do not have a 2" 36/60 to compare but I consider the air weight an almost "forget about it" weight and size. Inside the Blackhawk, there is no "gun shape" in my pocket. It seems to take less room than my sunglasses in a case.

I for some reason -- aesthetically, I'm sure -- I prefer it to my 642 which I bought thinking I would need "hammer less" to pocket carry. (Now I'm thinking of selling/trading the 642.)

A pic of my 37 and my favorite grips for it. (Sorry no pic of the pocket holster, but I'm sure you have seen them.)
37.jpg
 
Disadvantages? I don't know...it is what it is, you got 5 shots, and, if you can put your rounds where you mean to with some practiced alacrity, it is a pretty good Arm for it's reason and purpose and power...and hard to beat as far as the room it needs.

Thanks for replying Oyeboten, the disadvantages I was asking about are the weight and hammer spur. Oh, and rust, is that a problem with these steel guns in a humid pocket?

It seems some find the spur a serious disadvantage, while others disagree. I'll have to try the thumb-draw myself to see.

I for some reason -- aesthetically, I'm sure -- I prefer it to my 642 which I bought thinking I would need "hammer less" to pocket carry. (Now I'm thinking of selling/trading the 642.)

Nice photo jhvaughan2! Is that a Stetson fedora? I gotta admit aesthetics are a big thing for me too. I just have to make sure they are not overriding more practical concerns.
 
I owned a M36 very similar to the one Iggy showed. I never pocket carried as I prefer my revolvers to be belt carried. It was my go to revovler for a while until I realized I could carry my duty M19 as easily. Now I carry a 4" N frame.

My problem with pocket carry is twofold. One, I like my revolver to be right where I expect it to be, not close. So carrying loose in a pocket doesn't cut it for me. Second, if I ever walked around with my hands in my pockets, Pop would've, and did, wear the hide off me so my hands stay outside my pockets and my revolvers ride at my belt.

I did carry that M36 in a coat pocket for a while but went back to the holster.

I also had a 3" M36 that was a favorite for a while.
 
Started pocket carrying a 36 in the late 60s. My first pistol was a Kit Gun Snub .22 which I got in 62. I must confess in the middle 70s I moved to a Colt Agent because it took the same speed loaders as my duty revolver (S&W 19). As of the last 5 years I am back to a model 36 or 37 in a Mika holster. It is just enough small than a D frame Colt to go unnoticed for me and others. I like the hammer spur because over about 50 feet I been know to hit rabbits and other small things if I cock it ! Smooth non rubber grips in pocket carry please! I use Esmeraldas.
 
I pocket carry a .38 Model 60 using a Uncle Mikes Size 3 or 4 (preferred) pocket holster. The set-up works well with loose fitting cargo shorts, and also works with looser fitting jeans that have deep pockets (I have a pair of shallow pocket Volcom jeans that my .32 NAA Guardian almost sticks out the top- a j-frame would be fully exposed :eek:). I have never had a problem with hammer snag during draw attempts. I carry at least on one speed loader in my back pocket along with a handkerchief to break up the outline.
 
Carried mine for 18 yrs IWB JP holster............the one time I pocket carried it in a winter coat, it saved my arse in an almost attempted robbery....guess it was fate.
 
I'll carry my 37 in a coat pocket, but wearing Wranglers that fit precludes pants pocket carry of just about everything, even the tiny automatics. So when I don't have a jacket, usually just the Uncle Mikes soft holster IWB at 4 O'clock, under the shirt. Never had a problem with the hammer snagging. I don't care for bobbed, shrouded or enclosed. I just find them aesthetically distasteful.
 
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