Smith and Wesson Model 37 Reviews and Discussions

I have always been a Smith & Wesson fan, specially for their handguns – from the tiniest J-frame pistols to Muddy Harry's Model 29, Smith & Wesson delivers, and delivers well.

The pistol in question for today'due south review is the Airweight .38, Model 37. If you are familiar with this particular firearm, and then you know how many other models are similar, if not almost identical, to the Model 37. I happened to go my hands on 1 of these cool petty revolvers.

Smith & Wesson Model 37 Airweight: My first idea was, like, "Whoa…"

It'south small – real small-scale, folks – and also extremely light. I didn't feel like I was holding a pistol at all; information technology felt more similar a toy. A poor choice of words, I know, but they are the get-go that come up to listen. Some sources say information technology's one pound, 1 ounce, others say it's 0.94 of a pound. It really doesn't thing which one of those are right, because light is low-cal, and 1 pound is extremely light for a pistol.

The grips and size of the butt are sufficient, merely barely. I have rather pocket-size hands and the grip still feels a bit small to me just then again, the entire firearm is minute. The handgrips are wood, and about three.75-inches long, which is simply enough to get a decent grip on the pistol. There are aftermarket grips available, though, which thicken things up for yous meat fingers out at that place.

History

The Airweight model 37 is the younger blood brother to the Model 36 "Principal's Special", an identical gun but with a steel frame instead of aluminum. The 37 came out in '51 and went largely unchanged until Smith & Wesson finally dropped them all together in 2006.

In the mid-1950s, the Air Force ordered a specialized version of the Airweight for military police use. This version implemented not only an aluminum frame, but also an aluminum cylinder and barrel. Testing proved that the cylinder and barrel failed pretty quickly due to estrus warping, and the model was discontinued.

There have been a few variations of both the Model 36 and 37 throughout the years, such as the Model 36 Gold, which, as y'all can probably guess, had gold accents throughout the pistol. In later on years, Smith & Wesson began offer the tiny pistol with thicker grips, understandably.

Features

The Smith & Wesson Airweight features a two-inch barrel for massive concealed-carry effectiveness. It probably wouldn't exist your starting time choice for shooting cans off the fence at 50 yards with it, just for upwardly close and personal encounters, the Airweight is difficult to trounce.

1 affair that is unique most the pistol is that the firing pin is really located on the business end of the hammer, which is something y'all don't see every solar day. I kind of like the design, myself, if for nothing else than its simplicity. It's also a great conversation piece because it's highly likely many of your friends have never seen one.

The tiny cylinder holds 5 rounds-just enough to become you out of a bad situation. The cylinder release is on the left side of the frame and takes a little forcefulness to slide so the cylinder opens. Because this is often used as a pocket pistol, I find it a well thought-out characteristic. The terminal matter in the earth you need, should you lot have to pull the Airweight in self-defense, is an open cylinder.

Why is the gun so light?

The J-frame is made completely of aluminum, that's why. Simply the cylinder and butt are constructed of steel. The aluminum frame tin handle .38 Special loads simply fine, but I wouldn't recommend trying the +P rounds because the added oomph can allegedly cause the frame to stretch.

In that location is some heated fence about the +P ammo, though. Many say that the college cylinder pressure will damage the gun, but there is also the school that says the +P ammo of today is on par or even weaker than the factory loads back when, and so information technology's completely safe to use them. I try to err on the side of safety, though, so the regular .38 Special rounds will work for me.

Shooting and handling

Obviously, a ane-pound, aluminum .38 is going to accept a pregnant corporeality of recoil. Didn't think that a niggling .38 could brand your hand sore? Call up once again. The Airweight packs a dial, even with regular factory loads. For virtually of us, this isn't a gun nosotros'll savour shooting all day at the range.

It is a double-activity pistol, meaning that it tin exist operated with or without the hammer pulled dorsum. The pull in double-action style is quite heavy, merely in single-action, information technology seems but correct. Again, considering this pistol will hands fit into even the smallest pockets, I call back that a heavy trigger pull is a great idea. Many a toe has likely been saved because of it.

Also, because the gun itself is so short, the front end and rear sights are closer together, which will effect aiming when it comes to longer distances. Most range reports say that a shooter can average three-inch groups from up to fifteen yards. Most shooters say they feel the Airweight could hit a man-sized target at 25, only most accuracy will be out the window.

Overall…

Used Airweight pistols in really good shape volition sell for roughly $450, but my bet is that you can selection one up for much cheaper at a gun show or auction. Keep your eyes open up, considering deals do come up effectually.

Depending on the age and condition of the pistol and how delusional or non its seller is, I have seen them for as depression as $250 and as high equally $750. It's probably fair to enquire $450 for a perfect piece, in my opinion, just more than than that and things only get silly.

The Airweight I have is an older model from the '80s, but the bluing has held upwardly very well, only showing bare steel on the trigger guard, which is common for holstered guns. Because of the steel cylinder and butt, the gun is a tad nose-heavy, simply nothing out of control.

I would personally charge per unit this trivial pistol very high on the pocket-carry list of available makes and models. The merely possible negatives are its extremely short barrel (only once again, it's meant for close-upwardly activity) and the extended hammer, which could maybe catch on clothing if the shooter isn't careful.

That existence said, you tin't actually get incorrect with the Airweight. Information technology'due south light, it will shoot .38s all solar day long, information technology's tiny, and it's a dandy conversation piece when gun enthusiast friends come to visit or at the range.

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Source: https://www.guns.com/news/review/smith-a-wesson-36-airweight

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