Smith & Wesson Model 442 Airweight .38 Special
Model: 162810
Smith & Wesson Model 442 Airweight .38 Special
Model: 162810
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Smith & Wesson Model 442 Airweight is an aluminum-framed double-action-only .38 Special built for pocket carry. It has an MSRP of $569. Frame and barrel are both finished matte black, which makes it the dark-finish gun in a J-frame line that is otherwise matte silver.
The hammer is enclosed, so there is nothing to cock and nothing to catch on a draw. The sights are integral, a ramp machined into the barrel and a notch cut in the top strap, so neither one moves and neither one comes off. The grip is synthetic. The frame is aluminum alloy, the barrel underneath its black finish is stainless steel and the cylinder is carbon steel. The gun weighs 14.6 oz with a 1.88-inch barrel.
If you're cross-shopping, the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight is the same revolver at the same weight with an MSRP of $539, in matte silver with a stainless cylinder, which stands up to sweat better. The Smith & Wesson Model 638 Bodyguard Airweight has an MSRP of $569 and shrouds a hammer you can still thumb back, so a single-action shot is available with no spur to snag.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Nothing on the outside of the gun stands proud of the frame, so the draw works the same from a pocket, an ankle rig or a waistband.
- The frame is the same J-frame the matte silver guns use, so holsters, grips and speed strips are all off-the-shelf items.
- A stainless barrel under the black finish means the bore is not relying on the coating for protection.
- The cylinder is carbon steel, so it needs oil after a sweaty day.
- Double action only, so there is no hammer to cock for a careful shot at distance.
- Both sights are machined in place, which rules out a tritium or fiber optic front without barrel work.
Category Rankings
How the Smith & Wesson Model 442 Airweight .38 Special ranks among compact .38 Special handguns.
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| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
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Smith & Wesson Model 637 Airweight .38 Special
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$507.99 |
|
Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight .38 Special
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|
$499.99 |
|
Ruger LCR .38 Special
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$607.99 |
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Taurus 856 .38 Special
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does it differ from the 642?
Finish and cylinder material. The 442 is matte black with a carbon steel cylinder; the 642 is matte silver with a stainless cylinder. Action, dimensions and weight match.
Do 642 holsters and grips fit it?
Yes. Both are the same J-frame with the same 6.31-inch length, 4.3-inch height and 1.3-inch width, so anything cut for one fits the other.
What is the twist rate?
A 1:18.75 twist, the rate Smith & Wesson uses across these J-frames.
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