Smith & Wesson 642 38 Special Revolvers

Introduced in 1993 the Smith and Wesson 642 is the most popular J-Frame revolver on the market. J-Frame revolvers are the smallest produced by Smith and Wesson, and the 642 is prime example of a sub-compact revolver. An ideal concealed carry handgun, its double-action, hammerless design is perfect for a purse, a belt, or a shoulder holster. Manufactured in 38 Special, it still has enough punch to stop any attacker at close range.

The S&W 642 is identical to the S&W 442 in every aspect aside from finish. The 442 is black while the 642 has a silver finish. This is a lightweight handgun thanks to an aluminum frame. Some early models during the 1990s included a lock as a safety feature with a proprietary Smith and Wesson Key. The lock turned on and off the cylinder release. This isn’t a feature on modern S&W 642s.

The most noticeable feature is the weight, or lack of it. At only 14.5-ounces this is an extremely lightweight revolver. Even in the relatively low-recoil .38 Special caliber you’re going to get some recoil with this handgun. On the positive side, it’s easy to handle, easy to aim and accurate at intimate distances. No, you’re not going to clang steel at 100 yards, but you will find the target within 20 feet.

Every S&W 642 has a barrel less than two inches long. The dimensions vary from 1.85 to 1.88-inches depending on the model, but you won’t be able to tell the difference. The barrel is short. The overall length of the 642 is equally short, at just a bit over six inches.

Combine the hammerless, double-action design, the small profile and a five-round cylinder and you have an ideal concealed carry weapon. It’s light enough loaded to be on the edge of the requirements for carrying a revolver in your sock. It’s a small package with a big punch.

There are two ways of protecting yourself with a handgun, the first is to openly brandish it on your hip, but that isn’t allowed in many areas. The second is to have one concealed, and at the ready if a situation arises. The Smith and Wesson 642 is an ideal concealed carry, self-defense sidearm.

The small size, just six inches long, and light weight, (fully loaded about a pound) is ideal for a purse, a belt holster, inside the back band of your athletic shorts or even in a sock. It is small, but .38 Special firepower is nothing to laugh at and it is extremely deadly at close range with a well-placed shot.

Police departments, highway patrolmen and even sheriff’s deputies carried 38 Special revolvers for generations before moving to higher powered semi-automatics over the last couple of decades. Spend a little time at the range with this tiny powerhouse and you’ll be prepared for just about any situation.

• Pro – Stainless steel barrel, and matte silver finish offset the black grips nicely creating a gun that is both effective and nice to look at.
• Deluxe – You’ll be sporting a pistol that reminds you of the Pinkerton Agents of the late 19th century. The rosewood laminated grips make this pistol pop, not with the trigger, but with the eye. Set against a matte silver finish it is striking.
• Standard – A low introductory price, stainless steel cylinder and barrel and black synthetic grips set on an aluminum alloy frame. This revolver is all business.
• Airweight – Lightweight alloy frame with stainless barrel and cylinder this is nice revolver with the same hammerless design that makes it great for concealed carry.
• Lady Smith – Smith and Wesson offers the Lady Smith in two versions with the only difference the color of the grips. The most popular features high gloss pink grips and the other is standard glossy black. No matter the color, it has the same features as every other 642 model.