The 642 club

[Brassman]

1. Colt Commander .45 acp
2. Ruger 22/45
3. S&W 642
4. Ruger GP100 6"
5. S&W 36
6. S&W 637
7. Taurus .22 auto
8. Kel-tec P3AT
9. Kel-tec P11
10. Ruger 50th Ann. .357
11. Ruger GP100 4"
12. Ruger 50th Ann. .44 mag

You know you're hooked when 7 out of 12 have no semblance of a slide! I hate picking up brass anyway. I love dumping it in a plastic bag right out of the weapon.

 

[xd45gaper]

i put over 150 rounds threw mine yesterday i forgot how much i like to shoot it lol im thinking about going back out today!

 

[jad0110]

And so, boys and girls, begins yet another story on the road to wheelgundom,
skirting on the edge of financial disaster as wheelgunnedness moves to near addiction...
(speaking only for myself, of course ... )

Err, you probably speak for most everyone in this Thread!

I went to my favorite gun shop and saw the following wheelies. I wanted most of 'em :banghead: :

S&W 66-1 357 Mag, pinned & recessed, 2.5": $349

S&W 15-6, 38 Special, nickel plated, 4": $249

S&W 28-2 (Highway Patrolman), 357 Mag, pinned & recessed, stamped "NYSP" for NY State Police , 4": $399

S&W 686-?? 357 Mag, 6 shot 4" (two in stock): $399 each

S&W 10-7, 38 Special 2" with tyler t-grip: $249

S&W 19-?? 357 Mag, 4" $349

Ruger Service Six, 2.75", 9mm, $595

Colt Trooper (either Mk VII or VIII), nickel plated, $549

 

[AStone]

S&W 686-?? 357 Mag, 6 shot 4" (two in stock): $399 each

$399?!

New?!

Here, that one will cost me $620 new. (And I will probably own one ... and sooner than later...even though I'd rather have a 7-shot, but for that price ... whoa...)

Dang, dude, if that's a new price, I might be better off to buy it from your gun shop and ship it to mine.

(And to make this a little less OT...)

My 642 is really looking forward to having a big brother.

 

[Ichiro]

Outrageous price for the Ruger if you ask me. I'd get the the Model 10 snubby (equivalent) AND the 686 for only a little more money.

 

[308win]

S&W 19-?? 357 Mag, 4" $349

I would be on that like ugly on an ape if it is in like new condition. I have a Model 19 w/6" barrel I bought new in 1978 that has less than 300 rds thru it. I have been trying to find a decent 4" barrel with no success. I figure with a 4" barrel and a Mika holster I can pocket carry (I am a kangaroo).

 

[Iggy]

I have been trying to find a decent 4" barrel with no success. I figure with a 4" barrel and a Mika holster I can pocket carry (I am a kangaroo).



That's gonna be a pocket full...!!!! You better be a belt and s'penders man!!

 

[oufree]

Any recommendations on who is best at doing action jobs for the 642? Also I need some work on making the cylinder open and close a little smoother.

Thanks

 

[srv656s]

I got my 642 back from S&W. As you may have read earlier, the trigger was sticking to the rear every once in a while.

To summarize, I'm very satisfied with S&W's service. They responded quickly to my email, the people on the phones were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The prepaid shipping form came quickly and they fixed my revolver within 2 days of receiving it. I got it back just now and the trigger is great now. No hint of sticking and no grinding feel when it's traveling through it's motion. Very nice.

I'm excited to take it to the range.

Shawn

 

[jad0110]

Nem,

The 686s are used, but they look like they've never been fired. My NIB 686+ cost $560 from them. I would have rather purchased used (no lock), but good used revolvers were rare in my area (until this week apparently).

The Ruger was expensive, I suppose the 9mm must be rare? It had issues too. Rust under the ejector star, and the action felt like there was loose parts in it. It also had a lot of ejector rod side play (you could turn the ejector rod so far clockwise or counter that the locking pins no longer lined up with the pin holes in the star and the star "points" of the star block the charge holes. Not exactly sure what would cause that.

The price on the Model 19 was the only one I wasn't sure on. Could have been 399, I don't recall.

That Highway Patrolman was definitly cool. It had ugly rubber grips on it, and it did need a new front sight insert, but it was otherwise in excellent condition.

Sigh. So many revolvers, so little money.

 

[jad0110]

Also I need some work on making the cylinder open and close a little smoother.

The easiest thing to check first is whether or not the ejector rod is bent. Just spin the cylinder and observe the rod and look for wobbling. A loose ejector rod could also cause binding.

Otherwise it could be a number of other things, including a centerpin that is too short or a bent yoke.

In case any of you are wondering, this info comes straight out of the very helpful book by Jerry Kuhnhausen called "The S&W Revolver: A Shop Manual".

Great reading, I've learned a lot about the internal workings of a Smith (though the book doesn't cover hammerless firing-pin style J Frames like the 642).

 

[norfdet893]

I just put the CT LG405's on my 638 and what a HELL of a package for CCW. I am probably more pleased and impressed than I can express in words. I used to own the large pair of CT's and while they were nice they were no CCW grips by any means. I was never really impressed with the original J frame CT that predated the 405's. I have given the 405's and a try and if they were not so expensive, I would have them for all my j-frames.

 

[1BLINDREF]

norfdet893

I used to own the large pair of CT's

Were they LG305's? If so, what is the difference in size as compared to the 405's? I know the 405's have a more cushioned back strap.
Thanks

 

[sheckigreen]

S&W should give Five a free gun...this thread has single-handedly sold several 642s for S&W, myself included.

 

[okie paul]

Do you like Lazer grips?

I bought a 642 the end of last year and it has the S&W (CT) grips. I liked it well enough I sold my old 37 airweight and bought my wife one also.
I was wondering how people like the lazer grips? I love mine. I sat around for about a week during our ice storm here in Oklahoma and dry fired mine to get it broke in. I've put about 100 rounds through mine and I really like it. Even in sunlight it works very well.

 

[1BLINDREF]

okie

I have the LG305s on my 642 and I think they are great I practice with them turned on without using the sights for quick point and shoot situations and different angles. I also practice with them off for bright daylight situations where they aren't as visible and for shooting longer distances. I have them sighted in at about 6 yards. They are also good with dry firing to see how steady you can hold the target with the beam.

sheckigreen

I'm with you - five should get something from S&W. I wonder how many people who read this thread bought a 642 or one of its cousins? I did!

 

[jad0110]

Using fiVe's count at post 1001 as a base, I'd guess were up to about 130-150 642s by now.

Maybe we should divide up the pages and go back and count up how many.

What would we count? Perhaps two seperate totals. One for the 642/442/42 alone (hammerless centennials), and a second total including the 642/442 and all other S&W J frames.

What do you all think?

 

[Scooter72]

I just picked up my brand new S&W 637 a hour ago. Can I join the club?

I see some guys chatting about the prices of the S&W 686. I just thought I would let you guys know I bought my 686 ported 6" brand new in Jan. 06' for $499.99.

 

[fiVe]

(To all who have remembered my family these last few days: thank you from the bottom of my heart.)

To all the recent newbies: Welcome! I pray our numbers continue to swell.

According to my very unscientific estimate, as a direct result of the 642 Club, 147 Smith and Wesson snub-nosed revolvers (mostly 642’s) have been purchased to-date. If you use the conservative figure of $325 per revolver, you get a conservative sales total of $47,775, and I am very proud of this.

I hope the next paragraph will not brand me as a greedy jerk. I had encouragement from this thread and my family, and as the saying goes "nothing ventured, nothing gained", so....
Late last September, I wrote a letter to Michael F. Golden, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson. I explained how I proudly started this thread, how popular it had become, and how we were directly responsible for the purchase of 114 (at the time) Smith & Wesson snubbies. I made sure he understood how proud I was of my 642 and that I was especially glad we had "persuaded" others about the vast merits of these fine Smith & Wesson revolvers. Then, I humbly asked if he thought all this was enough to warrant a new revolver to me (especially emphasizing the unique marketing move it would be for S&W given the popularity of our thread and THR in general).

Two months and 1 day later, I received the following reply...

Dear Mr. "fiVe"(no, it was my real name here):

Thank you for taking the time to write me about your efforts on behalf of Smith & Wesson on the internet forum, The High Road. We appreciate your enthusiasm and efforts to promote our handguns, especially the Model 642.

Smith & Wesson has a marketing department that is dedicated to promoting our extensive product line and Smith & Wesson Club 1852 in both print and television media formats. We also have an e-marketing manager that addresses internet promotions and advertising on the World Wide Web.

Smith & Wesson also appreciates the value of word-of-mouth advertising from Smith & Wesson owners who speak or write about their Smith & Wesson firearms like you have on the internet. We recognize the importance of a satisfied customer, but we just cannot keep up with the many individual efforts of each customer by awarding free guns to those who choose so faithfully to promote Smith & Wesson products.

Sincerely,
<signature here>
Michael F. Golden
President and Chief Executive Officer

Enclosed with the letter was a very nice cap with the Smith and Wesson logo. Eventho another revolver would've been nice, I can see their point, and I still came out ahead. It is possible some (maybe many) will consider my request to be brazen, but I kept it humble and figured it wouldn't hurt to try. Besides, I wanted S&W to know about us, because I am proud of what we have done/are doing here.

I hope I have not offended anyone. I'm sure after reading this post, many might be surprised to know my ego is actually somewhat fragile.

Peace,
fiVe (Shucks! I didn't know this was going to be so long. Sorry.)

 

[jad0110]

Good for you fiVe!!! I had been hoping you'd get some kind of recognition from S&W for this fine thread. You done good!

Yeah, I guess you are right ... you are certainly a modest fellow! For the record, I may be outgoing, but I don't have much of an ego either. I enjoy going to the range and doing my personal best, but right now I'm not interested in competing against others.

I just created an Excel spreadsheet to start keeping count, I'll start at the beginning and try to count at least 1 page a day. Should only take me a year to get to the end, LOL .

Just curious, is the 642 your only CCW piece or do you have others?

 

[norfdet893]

Five,

I would dare say that by posting this letter here that you are being much harder on yourself then we would be. I would also think that any one of us would have wanted to ask the same thing.

Nice work.

 

[Bainx]

And so, boys and girls, begins yet another story on the road to wheelgundom,
skirting on the edge of financial disaster as wheelgunnedness moves to near addiction...
(speaking only for myself, of course ... )

I too, am afraid that I am slipping down the slope of hopelesness and buying more wheel guns is terribly in my future!

 

[fiVe]

I just created an Excel spreadsheet to start keeping count

Thanks, dude! I look forward to getting an accurate count.

Just curious, is the 642 your only CCW piece or do you have others?

When I started carrying, I carried an East German Makarov in an Uncle Mike's Gunpak on my belt. It weighs about 14-15 oz more than my 642. I wouldn't mind selling it since detachable mag's just aren't me. (But, the mak is handling "house gun" duty for now.) I really enjoy carrying/shooting the 642 so much more.

R/fiVe

 

[sheckigreen]

Five, Im sure that not one of us blames you for asking...it doesnt hurt to ask, and every one of us would think/do the same exact thing.

For ****s and giggles, let me throw this out there...you guys ignore it or run with it, whatever you want...

If everyone who bought a 642 because of this thread put, say, 5 bucks in a pot...and a trusted member of the forum put the money in that pot toward a wheelie that five wanted from s&w, I think that'd be a cool idea. I mean I'd put up $5 for it...we could call it "$5 for Five"

;P


Just throwing that out there...could be a silly idea.

and if you're curious, I do not know five at all personally, and I have nothing to gain from it. Just thought it'd be a cool way for him to get what he should probably have gotten from S&W.

 

[jad0110]

For ****s and giggles, let me throw this out there...you guys ignore it or run with it, whatever you want...

Lots of giggles, no ****s though, LOL!

That's actually a really cool idea. It'd work as long as fiVe would be ok with one of us collecting the pot, then sending it to a PO Box or something!

I wouldn't mind selling it since detachable mag's just aren't me. (But, the mak is handling "house gun" duty for now.) I really enjoy carrying/shooting the 642 so much more.

Yeah man, sheckigreen's idea could put a nice, lightly used S&W K, L, or N frame in your nightstand drawer to keep the 'lil brother 642 company. Makes me all warm and toasty inside thinking about my 686 and 642 together in the nightstand (getting all misty eyed )!

I can't say when the spreadsheet will be done, probably a while, but it'll be fun.