S&w .38

[Robert23fl]

Hey Everyone! This has been buggin so much that I thought I could vent on this form. I ended up going to the gun store because everyone knows that firearms are like crack...ADDICTING! My eyes were caught on a S&W .38 Special scandium frame featherlight. It turns out that this gun is used by the Japenese Secret Service and is a limited edition. Well I wanted to shoot the gun and the guy ask to see my gun. No worries right? He is just checking if its loaded. Well I ask him about it and see what its worth. He ended up taking it in the back and when he comes back he tells me that its a good gun. Well when I get home I see that he marked it or scratched it by the trigger. I know there are alot of gun experts on this forum and just wondering why he would mark my gun??!!!! I will take some pics so you can see what I mean. Sorry for the dragged out post and appreciate any input. Take it easy fellas!!

 

[Old Fuff]

It turns out that this gun is used by the Japenese Secret Service and is a limited edition.

And I have a bridge I want to sell you that's located in Brooklyn.

How pray tell, did this small shop lay their hands on a revolver made exclusively for the Japanese Secret Service? Did he have any documentary evidence to support his claim? Was the gun stamped with any markings that might indicate or confirm an association with the Japanese? You should call Smith & Wesson's customer service and run this story past them.

Is there some reason he had to take your revolver into the back room just to determine its value? I have no idea what they might of done (if anything) but if it had been my revolver they wouldn't have taken it anywhere unless I went along.

The Old Fuff has been dealing guns since the middle of the last century, and frankly I think you need to find a different gun store. Either that or take hip boots the next time you go in…

 

[Robert23fl]

Thanks for the reply. Thats what they told me but your probably right that they were bsing. I want to post pictures but I am having a hard time trying to upload them.

 

[Robert23fl]

 

[SwampWolf]

And I've got an overpass in Cleveland that I will go for cheap. You got bamboozled, friend. I'm thinking that the mark is some kind of initiation ritual. You might be a secret Japanese Secret Service member now.

But, seriously, I have to ask: What are/were they asking for the scandium Smith? Did you shoot it and/or buy it?

 

[Robert23fl]

Lmao...I bought the gun at a pretty big gun store in florida that's been around a while. Who cares if its not what they told me as long as it shoots =) I spent 500 bones on it but it had a 600 tag on it. Its super light and the flat black finish is nice looking

 

[SwampWolf]

I think you got a decent price on it. Have you shot it yet? Plus Ps in that baby will smart. I recommend using a shooting glove if you plan on shooting more than a box at a time.

 

[Old Fuff]

Did this revolver come new, in the box, with papers and accesories? It should nave been in a blue plastic case, and include a trigger lock. If not the original $600 sticker price would have slightly less then outrageous, and at $500 it isn't a great buy.

But if you're happy that all that counts. I still think they saw you coming...

 

[Robert23fl]

Yes sir it came with a blue box and all the goodies. I checked a couple of gun stores and they all wanted around 500. Come on guys its a s&w! Lifetime warranty and american made. thanks 4 all of the input ... I really appreciate it

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What is the model # on your revolver?
I know you used the word featherweight but in reality there are Airweight .38 Special +P revolvers which are 15oz and Airlite .357 Magnum revolvers which are 12oz and 13oz.

Also, did you tell that gun store guy off for scratching your revolver?
I wouldn't let him get away with that!

 

[woad_yurt]

What's with the scratch? It's got a unique serial number already. I'd have insisted on an unblemished gun if I was buying new.

 

[Robert23fl]

Its a model 360 .38sp 1 7/8 barrel. Yeah your right its called a airweight. My tax return came in and my eyes are on the desert eagle .50 =p

 

[BamaHoosier]

That's the first time I've heard of "marking" a gun like that;I would do biz somewhere besides that shop! If they can't value my gun in front of me,we're outta there.

 

[SwampWolf]

If you read his post carefully, it seems that the clerk made a scratch on his (Robert's) own gun, one that he apparently brought in with him to the store. An even more bizarre "mark" if you ask me.

 

[steveracer]

Guy'd get an earful if he scratched my gun, that's for sure. He told you a bunch of LIES and then scratched your wheelgun. Sounds like a turd to me.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's why I asked above, "Did you tell that gun store guy off for scratching your revolver?" Again, I wouldn't let him get away with that! Seriously, I would definitely go back and ask him why he scratched your revolver. He has some nerve doing damage to your property! Even if it was an accident he should have told you about it and apologized.

 

[WC145]

Scratch on whichever gun aside, the gun in the pic is a S&W Model 360J Chief's Special .38spl Airweight (+P rated). Even though it has the same scandium frame as the M&P 360 it is labeled Airweight instead of Airlight as it has a carbon steel cylinder and weighs 13.3ozs, same as the M&P 360 (which has a stainless steel cyl). I have one that I purchased from Bud's Gun Shop for $409 last fall, my understanding is that they were a limited run ordered by, or at least sold through, Bill Hicks & Co/TALO Distributors. I've never heard anything about them being Japanese Secret Service guns.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

WC145,
You are correct, those M360 .38 Special +P revolvers are a special run limited edition. If you look at the listing on the S&W site it's clear what they are.

 

[aHFo3]

Bud's has them in stock again, but now they're $429. You can still get them for $409 if you know the Japanese Secret Service handshake.

 

[WC145]

I'm surprised to see them available again. For anybody lookinig for a great deal on a scandium snubby this is it. Even though they're $20 more than when I bought mine they are still a steal at $429.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Sorry for necromancing an old thread, but it is worth noting this 360J still has legs; while they have manufactured less then 5000 of these "mystery" revolvers, they are still making them. I purchased one manufactured July of 2012, and there have been changes made since the earlier models...the cylinders are now stainless steel, and the S&W logo below the cylinder release latch pictured on the OP's gun is no more; replaced with the serial number. Since the serial number is not on the butt where J frames typically have them roll marked, there is a hole in the butt, suggesting possible lanyard loop intentions.

I don't know if we have S&W employees on this forum, but if there are, it would be nice if they could share what they know about this model, which BTW, is not listed in the current or archived catalogs, nor has it ever been displayed in any print format catalogs since they started making this model.

Personally, I like the gun, with its fully shrouded 2 piece barrel, and taller pinned front sites, as well as the melonite finish.

Oh, and one last thing, the earlier models used a 38 special only cylinder, while the later production models have a larger cylinder that technically would accomodate a 357 mag cartridge, but has been reamed to prevent one from inserting a 357 in the chamber.