It was designed to be easily packed in a hunting or fishing kit for small game hunting, plinking, pest control and self defense. Airweight is the designation given to smith 163050. Over its long production run it has been available with barrel lengths of 2. Frame size small j medium kl large n xlarge x governor z. The model 642 is a variation of the model 42 centennial airweight that integrates the timetested features of the original with modern advancements. The airweight model 37 is the younger brother to the model 36 chiefs special, an identical gun but with a steel frame instead of aluminum. Thus was born the most famous round in firearms history. The airweight frame is an aluminum alloy, and at first touch, you may want to hold on tight lest it floats away. But alas, gravity still holds down its 15 oz empty mass. The original centennial model 40 was introduced in 1952, and was named for the companys 100th anniversary.
Rather than steel the model 37s frame is made from lightweight aluminum, thus resulting in a considerably lighter firearm. The company also operates the smith and wesson academy, where law enforcement from all over the world including 50 countries attend for stateoftheart firearms instruction. The weapon was chambered in the 9mm luger caliber, instead of. The jframe is fashioned with integral front and fixed rear sights, plus an enclosed, snagfree hammer. Dec 01, 2002 this fascinating book provides a detailed history of one of the most famous, and controversial, firearms manufacturers, and its products. For decades, the smith and wesson jframe has been a reliable performer. However, the colt firm came out in 1875 with its new police models, shooting the.
Whether your interest is in martially marked examples or the colorful guns that won the west, this book is for you. There is a strong color difference between the metals with a deep blueblack to the steel and an. Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. Horace smith and daniel wesson created a company that has lead the industry in innovations among handguns and cartridges since 1852. Action single action double action only singledouble action. It was introduced in 1950, and is still in production in the classic blued model 36 and the stainless steel model 637 airweight. Model 12 airweight i just acquired a model 12 airweight pistol. This is according to the standard catalog of smith and wesson second edition jim supra and richard nahas. The bangor punta era, lasted approximately twenty years from 1964 to 1984. Although the cylinder is stainless steel and the frame is aluminum alloy, the match of finish and color is excellent. Before forming their partnership, smith learned about firearms while working at the national armory in springfield, ma. For fans of smith and wesson firearms, this book is a musthave, with its. Smith and wesson is one of the most popular gun brands in the world, and for decades, the company that made those guns had that brand as its corporate name. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features.
Trying to identify my smith and wesson 38 the high road. Our mission is to preserve old firearms catalogs at a reasonable price before they are all gone, but our reprints are not forgeries of originals, they are exact copies of the originals but not necessarily the exact size. It came with a 4inch barrel and has adjustablesights. The 637 is a sada weapon chambered in 38 special and rated for plus p rounds well talk more about the slight difference of the 642 models a bit later. In production since 1899, the model 10 is a sixshot. I think the airweight bodyguard was made at the request of a federal agency, but the company never said just which one. Wesson who shared a dream of developing a new type of firearm, one capable of being fired repeatedly without the annoyance of having to reload with loose powder, ball, and primer. Their headquarters are in springfield, massachusetts.
This was true of the m39 9 mm auto, so i stress revolver in the case of the m38. Wesson who shared a dream of developing a new type of firearm, one capable of being fired repeatedly without the annoyance of having to reload with loose powder, ball. This book features rarely seen historical photographs, advertisements, and company documents culled from the company archives, museums collections, and the private. We recommend the use of protective eyewear whenever using or near the use. The model 42 came out in 1952 as the airweight centennial but was changed in 1957 to the model 42. With wear on right side of frame and considerable loss of bluing on trigger guard, and top strap from years of holtering. After reports that the cartridge was proving ineffective in military use, the company redesigned it, adding three extra grains of powder and increasing the bullet weight. Shortly before this occurred, and while rival manufacturers were tooling their plants in preparation for the open season on cartridge handguns, daniel b. History will likely remember the company for its tenacity in pursuing acquisitions. The aluminum cylinders proved to be problematic and were abandoned in favor of a steel cylinder.