S&W Model 12

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OldTman

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I'm looking for something similar to the 2" Model 12. Do any of the gunmakers produce something like that? An old model 12 is out. S&W says they don't make ANY parts to fit it nor do they have any in stock.
 
The model 12 was an aluminum K frame, although they may not make any current production parts of yesteryear there is a plethora of used K frame parts from various sources, I wouldnt hesitate in a heart beat if i got a good deal on an old one. If you truly want something more modern that has some support in the 2 inch feild you may have to do an L frame 686 with a 2.5 inch barrel , maybe others here have better options for you .
 
OldTman

I agree with Barry; an older Model 12 in decent condition is going to last a long time, provided of course it hasn't been run hard or fed a steady diet of hot loads. Great gun for EDC thanks to the aluminum alloy frame.
 
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My Model 12 is a good "overcoat pocket gun."

You are not likely to need parts for a S&W. But if you do, earlier Model 12s are not the same as other K frames. The gun is actually narrower. Hammer, trigger and grips are specific to the Airweight until Model 12-4 when they started making them the same width as a Model 10.

If the aluminum frame cracks, it is done for and that is that. I have seen pictures but my two Airweights are fine.
 
Jim Watson is correct, so if you were to get the 12-4 it should be good to go with the regular smith k frame parts . I was also maybe thinking of the smith nightguard series but it is kinda pricey.
 
I have a 1963 vintage 2 inch S&W Model 12-2 round butt with tons of holster wear that is my primary EDC. I'm 64, so I doubt I'll wear it out. I'm considering matte or semigloss black Cerakote for a refinish because highly polished aluminum is just as bad as nickel-plate in the sun.

S&W needs to build the 12-4 with a Scandium frame with 2, 3, and 4 inch tapered barrels; call it the Model 312. If they built it in .357 Magnum with 3 and 4 inch heavy barrels it would be the Model 313. I'd buy the .38 version.

On the other hand, Taurus made the Model 817 Ultralite, a 7 shot .38 Special +P, if you're looking for something (slightly) smaller and (much) lighter than a S&W 686+. It's not in the 2016 Catalog, but I'll bet you can find one.
 
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I paid $400.00 for a Model 12-2 Airweight with round butt in excellent condition (but no box/papers) a couple of years ago and it has become one of my favorite carry guns. I doubt you'd have any trouble with one needing repair if you bought it in excellent condition and I don't think they're that difficult to fix if it needs fixing. Inspect the revolver thoroughly for cracks around the juncture of the crane pivot point before buying and don't use +P ammunition in it and you should be fine.
 
From approximately 2008 to 2010 Smith & Wesson made a 6 shot airweight K-frame 38 special called the model 315 NightGuard. The frame on these is cut for adjustable sights, but they were delivered with a fixed sight that fits into the slot for the adjustable sight.

Unlike a model 12, the model 315 is rated for +P ammo. These guns are quite uncommon and I still wish that I had gotten one. Apparently, there is much more demand for 357 revolvers, so this updated model 12 was not a big seller. However, now that they are unavailable, they have acquired a fan base, and they bring a good price when they occasionally come up for auction.

Here is a link to one that is no longer available, but the picture is OK.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/411546711?sort=low
 
Kind of comparable: The Colt Cobra and Agent revolvers were six shot .38 Specials with 2" barrels and alloy frames.

There are various current-production choices in lightweight five shooters, but somehow alloy six shot .38's seem to have fallen off the map. Not sure why, for it is a very satisfactory sort of sidearm. :confused:
 
If your worried about parts replacement and gunsmith support I'd stay away from the Colts, not because they're bad guns(theyre amazing actually) but a lot of gunsmiths are not knowledgeable enough to work in them.
 
QUOTE: "...Kind of comparable: The Colt Cobra and Agent revolvers were six shot .38 Specials with 2" barrels and alloy frames..."

Though certainly comparable in terms of configuration, material and purpose, I own (and carry) both a Colt Cobra and a Model 12 and can tell you that the Model 12 (a K-frame Smith), though relatively light in weight when compared to almost any other 6-shot, .38 Special revolver, is significantly larger and heavier than the Colt/Agent revolvers. There is only 1/10" difference between the cylinder width of Cobra/Agent 6-shot revolvers and a 5-shot Smith J-frame (1.400 vs 1.309) and the 6-shot Colts weigh the same as a 5-shot Model 642 Smith-making the Cobra/Agent revolvers pretty "Special" indeed. ;)
 
Well, yes. The D-frame Colts (Cobra, Agent, Detective Special, etc.) make very efficient use of space. The Police Positive Special (4" service pistol) which was their parent was every bit as good a weapon as Smith's famous Model Ten, but trimmer all around. It is disappointing that Colt freed itself of that product line in one of its soap opera, ongoing saga reorgs and bankruptcies.

Back to the OP: Somebody already said it, gunsmiths who can fix Colts and do it right are somewhat rara avis, like car mechanics who really know BMW. Parts are via the secondary market, ask Numrich first. If you feel like dealing with all that, a Cobra might suit you down to the ground.
 
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In total impudence, I will suggest that if you want the modern equivalent of a Model 12, or a Colt Cobra, but still in production, with parts readily available and gunsmiths who know all about it, what you really want is a Glock 43. The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on.

That said, I am opposed to newfangled contraptions myself. I suppose I'll have one or other snubnosed .38 on or about my person on the day I gain my toe tag. Creature of habit, you know.
 
I used to have a Model 12-2, 2" that was my everyday carry gun, until I had to sell it during a time of "personal economic downturn." Darn shame. That was a crackerjack carry gun. I had a Tyler's T-grip on it, and an OWB holster.

I worried about parts for it, almost as much I did parts for my flying saucer.
 
I have a Mdl 12 Airweight. I got it free. My former supervisor gave it to my wife. Which means he gave it to me. Still beautiful after all these years. Just like my wife. Wonderful gun. If i see another at a good price I will grab it.
 
Colt Cobra. Excellent EDC. They are not mystifying to work on, but there are fewer of us as the years pass. I was lucky enough to be able study the work of an excellent Colt smith, Glenn Crosby, former Armorer for The St. Paul (MN) PD. He did work on my Dad's Pythons (which I bought after the Dept. led the way into Glockdom) that was phenomenal. Between his example and buying the two Kuhnhausen books on them, I got decent at working on Colts. Wish I still had the 2.5 and 4" Pythons, as well as the 6" Trooper Mk. III I had. And the Cobra.:(
 
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