Guys,
As a few of you know, I truly adore my 442 and 642. I actually believe them to be the best handguns for everything but a duel, and you should bring a shotgun to a duel…and instead of that you should get a scoped 308 and shoot for 150 yards.
Anyhooo…S&W please make this
Basically a lock free 642 with the Barrel and sights from the 640 Pro.
Basically it would look like this, but be an aluminum .38.
Please make this, it would be the ultimate pocket blaster!
So, an aluminum no-lock 640 that’s down rated for .38?
Yes. Basically, a 642 with dovetailed sights.
I’ve been shooting and carrying J Frames for over 30 years. I’d buy a J Frame with dovetail sights and put the others in mothballs in a heartbeat.
Does anyone do dovetails on stainless J-frames like that?
Main issue would be removal of anodizing. Would get costly, but could reanodize or another something like NP3 give you enough hardness for it to be good?
Far as what I got involving modifying aluminum was Robar stripping the anodizing on my 642, and prior to doing NP3 Plus, they had to redo the serial number because it faded. Other markings, like the S&W on the side, are vaguely visible after the work. Maybe give them a call… if you look into their price list, they do a hell of a lot of stuff other than refinishing.
http://www.dlsports.com/dl_jframe_sw_sights.html
That might get you part of the way there if you wanted to build it yourself.
Would this enhanced uber 442 be for the range or for the same kind of close quarters, oh so this is what it’s like, gut shooting that the unter 442 is made for?
It would enhance shoot-ability at every range where sights are used. I run a minimum of 50 rounds per week through my J-frames. I can shoot them fairly well at pretty good distances. The problem with the sights, for me, is that I am getting old and my eyes, which have always sucked, are getting suckier. To me, Even if they machined the things into the frame without dovetails it would be better. They make a version of the 640 with them so we know they have already worked out how to do it. Come on S&W.
To me, an airweight (no need for scandium, they are too damn light) with no lock, dovetailed sights (tritium would be sweet) would be the ultimate .
Preferably they would keep the current barrel length, and just build up a shelf up front to cut the dovetail in. But if they want to do the 640 style barrel that’s fine too.
Ted Yost.
Counselor, you need to reach out to Ted Yost as Sam mentioned, or to Karl Sokol.
My understanding is that Ted Yost will do it, and regulate the sights to a specific load. That’s not a simple or inexpensive process. He did do that for two 3" Model 64’s belonging to a friend of mine.
Those sights on a 3" K frame, bobbed hammer, no compensator, no lock. Aluminum .38spl and a steel magnum.
Not dovetailed, but here’s my 442 PC with fixed sights from Bowen Classic Arms. They shoot POA/POI out to 15 yds (the farthest I’ve tested thus far) with Speer 135 gr Gold Dot SB. The stocks are birdseye maple extended boot grips by Craig Spegel.
Greg,
Did your 640 Pro go by the wayside?
I get where your coming from though, hell, I would be happy even if S&W would do a airweight with a pinned front sight or hi-viz option.
I like the J-frame but my dream EDC revolver is a Smith 242, except in 9mm. Perfect all-around size with 7 x 9mm.
Tim
This is what they are putting out for shot. Definitely a good setup with the laser from the factory, and no Hillary hole.
Thanks he 640 Pro is a phenomenal carry
Kinda like, but not quite…
I have one of those Talo/Wiley Clapp SP101’s. Tis’ a very handy piece.
I have also found it to be a good way to introduce shooters to the snubbie, without building a flinch. Load it up with some quality wadcutters, and it’s an excellent trainer.
Always found the J frames to be “experts” guns, requiring some dedication to master the (comparatively) crappy double action triggers.
Hearing the gunshop ninja’s recommend one as “the perfect wife’s first weapon” chapped my ass; an absolute certain way to kill (a woman’s) enthusiasm for shooting IME.
I have been partial to the 2" K frames. Not much can equal a well broken in, or tuned, double action trigger on a K frame.
I bobbed hammer, disabled single action, ground/polished serrations from trigger face and did a double action tune on this old 10-5.
It gets carried frequently, especially in a Winter coat pocket.
