Need Help with New S&W Purchase

[Wolverine]

In the next week, I'll buy a new S&W revolver. I've narrowed my options down to two

1) A new Model 637
2) A secondhand Model 37

If you ignore price and compare them, and weigh the benefits of each, then which is the better gun? The most obvious differences between them are the presence or absence of the lock, and the location of the firing pin. Aside from this, they look just the same. The 37 checks out according to the buyers guide that was somewhere on this site.

I don't know if the frame mounted firing pin on the newer 637 represents a significant improvement or a concession to attorneys. Let me know what's the story on this.

I'm not interested in the internal and shrouded hammers, nor Taurus or Colt.

If there are any other features of these two SW's that make one better than the other, then fill me in.

 

[Brian Williams]

If you are going to carry it either one it ok, but I feel that the Stainless one have no soul, where the blue ones even older one have a heart and soul.

Get the 37 and have fun.

 

[Round Gun Shooter]

If I were choosing between the two, I would choose the 37. I have had both and was not at all happy with the fit if the 637.

Regards,

 

[Rangie]

If it's going to live in your pocket get the stainless.

 

[Wolverine]

I haven't compared the two side by side, but they both appear to have the same dimensions. Both have the same grips on the same sized frame, with the same length barrel, so to me, they've fit the same.

Both have a stainless barrel. I don't think that either has a stainless frame. I know that the new 637 is aluminum alloy, and I think that the 37 is the same material. I understand that the new 37's are black. This older one is silver in color. I don't know when it was made. If some years are better than others, then I'll try to find out when it was.

Soul? I'm interested in functional differences between two guns (like the difference in the hammer and action itself), not emotional projections of human characteristics based on cosmetics

 

[Majic]

Put both in your hand, ask if it's alright to dry fire or supply snap caps, and see which one you prefer. The used M37 may have a smoother trigger than the new M637. There are reports of the M637 having it's clear coat finish flaking off from the use of certain gun cleaners and normal wear.

 

[DragonFire]

then which is the better gun?

Better for what? Sounds like you're asking which one is mechanically superior, but I don't think there is that much difference between the two to make one that much more desirable than the other.

I think the frame mounted firing pin is an improvement and not a concession. They are a bit more sturdy, but the hammer mounted ones never had a big problem.

Personally I chose the used one to save some money for my next purchase and the new one if I was going to shoot it alot.