yes. 642 has stainless barrel and cylinder. 442 is coated carbon steel. both have aluminum frames. it comes down to what you think looks better. i have a 442 and love it. no problems. cant go wrong either way. they are popular for a reason. check out the 642 club on this forum. it will tell you everything you might want to know. alot of good info.Is the only difference on the S&W model 642 and 442 is that one is stainless steel, and the other is black?
i have a 442 and thats exactly what S&W told me. i have been using Break Free CLP. it works ok.Clearcoat. The factory says to avoid harsh abrasive cleaners. They told my friend to clean his frame with CLP only, no Hoppes 9.