In the J frame range? I happen to like the Smith 340. But there’s something classy with the Chiefs Special. (Doesnt have to be Smith only. Detective Specials welcome)

49 or 649 Humpbacks! Standard J frame with the shrouded hammer. Able to shoot double or single action but, there's no hammer to snag in a pocket or from concealed carry.

I have a bunch, but without a doubt my favorite is the 642UC. I love that thing so much I'm wearing it out. Better sights, chamfered chambers, smooth action and lighter than my 640 Pro. After swapping out the overly bulky and heavy grips that came on it from the factory, it's the perfect pocket gun. I prefer the Centennials to the humpbacks because there's no opening to get dust, lint, and other pocket crud into.



Honorable mention to the 640 Pro. It's great in a lot of the same ways as the 642, but got replaced due to weight. It does provide the ability to shoot magnums, though, and handles them pretty well. My 3" a model 60 is another good one...a nice ballistic bump from the longer barrel makes it a great belt/woods gun, it just doesn't really work as a pocket gun around town.

Another favorite from a different category is the 2 3/4" Model 69. That is just a really well put together gun, and it packs a massive punch from a small package. It gets sidelined a lot these days on hikes in favor of the 329PD just due to weight, but it's smaller L-Frame carries better on a belt than the bigger N-Frame. If Lipsey's had released a 369 Nightguard in .44 Mag instead of the 396 I'd find a way to get one, even though it's expensive.

J Frames are my main EDC. I have 4 of them and always had a soft spot for the Bodyguards. I have a 638 Bodyguard, 642 Centennial, an M&P 340, and a 1962 Chief’s Special that’s been bobbed. Sights don’t matter to me on a J (even on the 340 with the XS night sight) as the ones I carry all have Crimson Trace LG-405 grips.

There is no better trigger for me than the Ruger LCR. Perhaps its looks can be likened to Mary Grace from TAGS, but like Gomer Pyle, I enjoy dancing with her.

My favorite (6 shot) is Dad’s old Colt Cobra,1973 vintage and well worn.
Next up would be my M&P340.

M&P 340

My favorite 5 shot is a model 642 and one is part of my CCW gear often.

[IMG:left] 68E192F4-889E-4DB7-83D7-80EC4820F800 by David King, on Flickr[/IMG]

My favorite classic (classy) rosco is a blue steel Colt Detective Special that typically gets carried in a Milt Sparks VMII.

[IMG:left] 74E055CF-5955-4784-955D-608B36F8A80C by David King, on Flickr[/IMG]

It's a boat anchor with an extremely heavy DA pull, but I have my grandmother's 36
It's one of those 'never sell' items in the safe.

My wife's a great shot with it, in SA. She can't pull the trigger fully in DA.

I no longer own such revolvers, but when I did, Ruger SP101. Heavy AF, but comfortable to shoot with everything but the hottest fire-breathing, thunderclap report .357 Mag. loads.

The only true 5-shot I have is a S&W 36 No Dash. Can't say it's my favorite though.
Would a Uberti Remington 1890, 1875, or a SAA be considered a 5-shot? Load 1, skip 1, load 4.

I don't own one but have rented and fired one of these several times now and my experience was IMO FAR better than any S&W snub like a 642 that I had owned in the past.

Ruger LCR:





I actually want to get one in the 6-shot .327 someday

The S&W Body Guard


After buying the Mrs. five or six pistols she finally picked this to CC, I was happy. Bought one for my daughter too

I like the S&W 638 with an Apex trigger kit or a LCRX.

S&W Model 60. I've owned many J-Frames over the years and a few years ago I sold my model 60. One of the only guns I've ever regretted selling.

Not my pic but it was identical to below

Since other have mentioned 6 rounders, my current snub is a Kimber K6. J frame size with an extra round.

quote:

Originally posted by inspcalahan:
49 or 649 Humpbacks! Standard J frame with the shrouded hammer. Able to shoot double or single action but, there's no hammer to snag in a pocket or from concealed carry.

For simplicity- my hammerless 340PD is awesome!
Light, fits well in a pocket. Just keep the +p / +P+ and forget about the magnum rounds.

Now for a classy, old school, beautiful snubby: I dare anyone to beat a blued Humpback! The Lemon-Squeezer is a close second.
A blued Detectives Special (the shrouded ones) toss in some good engraving… another beautiful piece!

My dad’s chief, carried for a long time. Note the discoloration of the left side grip due to sweat/body oils, and how good the bluing looks. I think the bluing is amazing, nearly identical on both sides, despite the obvious years of being carried against the body.

I’m boring. Smith 442 with a set of CT laser grips (more to act as a “night sight” then anything). It’s pretty rare that I will carry a J-Frame these days but there is the rare ankle or pocket carry occasion. One thing I did always like about having a “J” in the pocket was to keep a firing grip on it unobtrusively. There were times that made me feel better in a given circumstance.

I’ve got a nice model 60 .357 Maggie as well but if I’m going to grab that much weight I’d just assume grab a bigger gun revolver or semi. Fun gun to shoot though.

I've owned lots of different snubbies over the years. While on duty, my BUG was always a S&W J frame, again; different models over the years.

Currently, my only J frame is a blue steel S&W Model 38 Airweight, the original Bodyguard. My dad bought it back in 93 and he gifted it to me in 2013.

I really like this gun, the only way that it could be better was if it was a 638. Have used a bunch of different grips over the years, currently using an Uncle Mike's Boot Grip.