...So I ran across a 36-1 with a 3" pinned barrel in a favorite LGS/pawn shop. It's in apparently un-fired condition, with box, all papers, only thing missing was the brass cleaning rod. Paid $500 OTD. I wasn't looking for one, but I'm kind of a sucker for old Smiths in great shape...
Well it's fired now, and Dang I like this thing. It's a joy to shoot and it carries wonderfully IWB for me... All great stuff, ...but I feel it would be a shame to put carry-wear on this "museum piece".
Well I started looking for another one, and found one at another favorite LGS, brand new, blued, 3" barrel, no lock, factory Uncle Mike's grips. S&W's website doesn't have it though, and in fact features exactly zero 3" barrel .38Spl J-Frames, much less a 3" M36.
I realize I could get some iteration of a M60 in 3", but I like the slightly unusual, and I like .38s.
So the question: How rare is a 3" M36? Outside of the thousands produced for NYPD back in the day (with the cosmetic wear to prove it), are clean ones unusual or dime-a-dozen?
Thanks for entertaining my OCD ramblings.
Well it's fired now, and Dang I like this thing. It's a joy to shoot and it carries wonderfully IWB for me... All great stuff, ...but I feel it would be a shame to put carry-wear on this "museum piece".
Well I started looking for another one, and found one at another favorite LGS, brand new, blued, 3" barrel, no lock, factory Uncle Mike's grips. S&W's website doesn't have it though, and in fact features exactly zero 3" barrel .38Spl J-Frames, much less a 3" M36.
I realize I could get some iteration of a M60 in 3", but I like the slightly unusual, and I like .38s.
So the question: How rare is a 3" M36? Outside of the thousands produced for NYPD back in the day (with the cosmetic wear to prove it), are clean ones unusual or dime-a-dozen?
Thanks for entertaining my OCD ramblings.