S&W Bodygurad 38 in J Frame holster

[TennJed]

I know the Bodyguard 38 is not actually a J Frame, but are the barrel and cylinder shape/deminisions close enough that the Bodyguard 38 would fit in most custom molded J frame holsters?

I know this will vary by holster, but I wonder if anyone has attempted it. Also I am talking about custom made J frame holsters not, a generic holster

 

[Old Fuff]

The Bodyguard is considered to be a J-frame variant, and should fit in any holster made for an S&W J-frame. However you may (and likely will) have a problem if the holster has a thumb-break or similar safety strap arrangement because of the way the revolver is modified to cover the sides of the hammer.

I have no idea what your intentions are, but the revolver was designed for pocket carry, and most pocket holsters will work fine.

 

[solo79]

I have a couple of custom j frame pocket holsters and was thinking about picking up a BG38. Thanks

 

[Old Fuff]

I need to clarify an issue:

Smith & Wesson originally assigned the name “Bodyguard” to their model 38, which was an aluminum-framed/5-shot/.38 Special snubby with a shrouded hammer that wouldn’t snag when drawn from a pocket but still be cocked in a single-action mode. The driving force behind it was the Secret Service White House Detail that wanted such a revolver for back-up. All this happened back in 1955.

Fast forward to this present day…

It would seem that the company’s current advertising/sales departments has run out of new, catchy names and so has reverted to using old names on new (sometimes unrelated) introductions. This can cause massive confusion, but it seems that the new guys have limited memories of things past.

So now we have the “new” Bodyguard, model BG38 that is mostly similar in size and appearance, but has an enclosed hammer and is double-action-only. As an aside I’ll mention that they also have sideplate screws that can only be removed with a unique driver bit.

All of this shouldn’t make any difference when it comes to holsters (especially pocket holsters), so what I said before still holds. However if you order anything (especially if it’s custom made and expensive), be sure to tell holster maker that you either have one of the older model 38 series Bodyguards, or one of the new Military & Police series model BG38 Bodyguards. :banghead:

 

[rayban]

Jed, I'm thrown off by the placement of your comma there at the end...but I'm thinking you mean that you plan on a custom holster(?).
I have a couple pancakes laying around that I've made for myself using a J-frame and I can send you one to try out for size......freebie, you just pay for the freight.

 

[dprice3844444]

get the stainless 649,357 mag

 

[GunNut]

Depending on holster a generic j-frame holster may fit, but there is quite a bit of difference between the BG38 and most of the standard j-frames.

 

[tuna]

Ditto what Old Fuff said about S&W's recycling of names.

I stll get excited when I see somone offer an M&P for sale - only to find out it's one of the newer ones.

 

[RustyShackelford]

"BodyGuard" vs Ruger LCR.....

I'm tempted to purchase a new S&W 638 or maybe a 49 Bodyguard. I like the light Ruger LCR style too. I advised my good friend to buy one in 2013. He got a Lasermax red laser aimer & Davidson's lifetime service plan too.

I have no issues with the J frame Bodyguards. I like the snag free way to get a DA/SA .38spl revolver. That's smart to me if you are wounded or need to fire one handed & want to shoot single action.

Some older forum members may recall that "Det Sgt Rico Tubbs" on the popular 1980s cop drama; Miami Vice, used a S&W Model 49 .38spl thru most of the series.
www.imfdb.org

 

[TennJed]

Jed, I'm thrown off by the placement of your comma there at the end...but I'm thinking you mean that you plan on a custom holster(?).
I have a couple pancakes laying around that I've made for myself using a J-frame and I can send you one to try out for size......freebie, you just pay for the freight.

Thanks guys and I appreciate the offer, but I decided not to get the get the Bodyguard 38. i already have a couple of J frames and J frame holsters and I was thinking about adding another snubbie, but the more I handled the Bodyguard the less I liked the cylinder release so I am just going to stick to j frames.

 

[Old Fuff]

I can live with the cylinder latch, but was put off by the fact that screws can't be turned without a special screwdriver bit, and an hex-wrench (that isn't provided so far as I can see) is required to replace the laser sight batteries.

I also noticed that neither Brownells nor Numrich offer parts for this model, and apparently Brownells does not offer the special tools mentioned above.

And I wouldn't know what to order if they did, because no exploded view drawing and parts list is included in the owner's manual. :banghead:

 

[TennJed]

I can live with the cylinder latch, but was put off by the fact that screws can't be turned without a special screwdriver bit, and an hex-wrench (that isn't provided so far as I can see) is required to replace the laser sight batteries.

I also noticed that neither Brownells nor Numrich offer parts for this model, and apparently Brownells does not offer the special tools mentioned above.

And I wouldn't know what to order if they did, because no exploded view drawing and parts list is included in the owner's manual. :banghead:

wow I didn't even notice that about the special screwdriver bit. I am a S&W fan, but I must say the more I look into it and feel and hold one, I think the BG38 is poorly executed.

 

[Old Fuff]

I don't know that it's bad, as so far as I was concerned it was fully functional and reliable.

But it is different, and internally unrelated to anything S&W has done before. It is important that potential buyers understand this before they decide to proceed. The owner of the one I examined wanted to know how to lubricate the internal parts, and frankly I couldn't come up with a good answer. We both had the feeling that dunking it in a bath whouldn't be so good for the laser sight...

Also the sight needs new batteries, and installing them might, or might not be an issue.

 

[AFDavis11]

Two wrenches are included. One to adjust the laser and one to remove the battery. I'll have to check to see if one will take the side plate off.

I like the gun but a standard J frame would have been more fun for mods/holsters, etc.

 

[Old Fuff]

Two wrenches are included. One to adjust the laser and one to remove the battery.

I didn't find either in the box the BG38 I examined came in.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I need to clarify an issue:

Smith & Wesson originally assigned the name “Bodyguard” to their model 38, which was an aluminum-framed/5-shot/.38 Special snubby with a shrouded hammer that wouldn’t snag when drawn from a pocket but still be cocked in a single-action mode. The driving force behind it was the Secret Service White House Detail that wanted such a revolver for back-up. All this happened back in 1955.

Fast forward to this present day…

It would seem that the company’s current advertising/sales departments has run out of new, catchy names and so has reverted to using old names on new (sometimes unrelated) introductions. This can cause massive confusion, but it seems that the new guys have limited memories of things past.

So now we have the “new” Bodyguard, model BG38 that is mostly similar in size and appearance, but has an enclosed hammer and is double-action-only. As an aside I’ll mention that they also have sideplate screws that can only be removed with a unique driver bit.

All of this shouldn’t make any difference when it comes to holsters (especially pocket holsters), so what I said before still holds. However if you order anything (especially if it’s custom made and expensive), be sure to tell holster maker that you either have one of the older model 38 series Bodyguards, or one of the new Military & Police series model BG38 Bodyguards. :banghead:

Yes I agree! When someone mentions "bodyguard 38" in a thread, I don't picture the polymer space gun, I picture the classic humpback along with the centennial and Chief's special models! It's a silly idea on S&W's part to call the gun by that name IMHO.

As for the OP, they are close enough in size that I think they should interchange. Perhaps an e-mail to S&W is in order?