S&W 49 - New to Me

Mark_Mark

Mark_Mark

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Joined
Jan 9, 2021
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Does anybody know about the Model 49 Bodyguard?

Was looking at the old b&w photo of a Vietnam war execution photo. famous war photographer Eddie Adams took the photo, not going to show the photo but it’s very emotional

Anyways, that gun was the S&W 49 and I’ll be looking for one in my collection

anybody got one the want to show & tell?

not my photo:
IMG_0770.jpeg

video on the 49:
youtu.be

S&W Model 49 Bodyguard Revolver

S&W Model 49 Bodyguard is a 5 Shot 38 Special Revolver with a shrouded hammer. Made from 1959-1996, the Bodyguard is a dependable handgun for pocket carry. ...
youtu.be youtu.be
 
They were made in both aluminum and steel frames. As with any aluminum J-frame inspect for cracks under the barrel extension.

Just saw one of these a couple weeks ago at a local shop with a cracked frame, gun looked excellent otherwise. I told the clerk, who replied- "Ya, we know, it's priced accordingly." Price on the tag was $550.

Of course, the tag DIDN'T say anything about the frame damage, and the fella didn't mention it when I asked to see the gun, hmmm......🤔
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
They were made in both aluminum and steel frames. As with any aluminum J-frame inspect for cracks under the barrel extension.

Just saw one of these a couple weeks ago at a local shop with a cracked frame, gun looked excellent otherwise. I told the clerk, who replied- "Ya, we know, it's priced accordingly." Price on the tag was $550.

Of course, the tag DIDN'T say anything about the frame damage, and the fella didn't mention it when I asked to see the gun, hmmm......🤔
Click to expand...
Shops that I don’t know the owner by first name make me kinda question things. I did a test of a few shop i seen on Google and checked them out last weekend. Just a train wreck of shops. anyways, my local honey hole is a stand-up guy, well know collectors, and yes he’s trying to make money too. His shop had a Crash & Grab, so he’s been sleeping in is shop since New Years, that’s dedication to the business!

as for the 49 J-frame! I didn’t know they were a classic gun! I love my ChiefSpecial and these little guys will pair nicely together.
 
The Model 49 is the blued carbon steel version of the Bodyguard. The Model 38 is the alloy frame version of the Bodyguard, with blue anodize finish and blued carbon steel barrel and cylinder. In the Model 38 you better check the pinned barrel hole for cracks as well as the bottom part of the frame under the forcing cone, as suggested.
Then there are the Model 649, stainless steel version of the 49 and the 638, stainless steel version of the 38.
I used to own a 649-1. It was a great little revolver until the hammer stud broken for no reason except poor quality of the part. I had the revolver repaired at 1/3 of what I paid for the gun and immediatly sold it after a 50 round test fire. If a gun breaks in my hands, it goes away regardless.
 
Last edited:
One other note: I also used to own a Model 36-2. Both the Model 649 and the Model 36 I had were equipped with the nice original wooden grips. I replaced them in both cases with the two finger grooves Hogue Bantam Monogrip which are excellent in terms of grip, lightness and shooting comfort. The HKS 36-A speed loader works great with them. Unfortunately for my hands the original wooden grips are impossible to use from an ergonomic point of view, furthermore the cylinder release button hurts my thumb knuckle if I use those grips. On the other hand, the Hogue Bantam Monogrip are perfect and have no screws. Obviously I have always carefully preserved the original wooden grips and then resold them together with the revolvers. Another observation from a personal experience: one day a friend let me try his .38Spl Model 60 with the original wooden grips. After two or three shots the trigger stuck. We unloaded the gun, removed the grips and... surprise! One of the internal steel plate discs that hold the grips in place had come out of its seat and had blocked the hammer spring. It was his carry gun because he is a courier who also carries money. Imagine if he had needed the revolver to defend himself... I wouldn't have the confidence to carry a revolver equipped with those grips.
Some pics of my ex 649 and 36.
IMG_20240313_133834.jpg
IMG_20240313_133927.jpg
S&W 36-2 01.JPG
S&W 36-2 05.JPG
 
5-SHOTS said:
One other note: I also used to own a Model 36-2. Both the Model 649 and the Model 36 I had were equipped with the nice original wooden grips. I replaced them in both cases with the two finger grooves Hogue Bantam Monogrip which are excellent in terms of grip, lightness and shooting comfort. The HKS 36-A speed loader works great with them. Unfortunately for my hands the original wooden grips are impossible to use from an ergonomic point of view, furthermore the cylinder release button hurts my thumb knuckle if I use those grips. On the other hand, the Hogue Bantam Monogrip are perfect and have no screws. Obviously I have always carefully preserved the original wooden grips and then resold them together with the revolvers. Another observation from a personal experience: one day a friend let me try his .38Spl Model 60 with the original wooden grips. After two or three shots the trigger stuck. We unloaded the gun, removed the grips and... surprise! One of the internal steel plate discs that hold the grips in place had come out of its seat and had blocked the hammer spring. It was his carry gun because he is a courier who also carries money. Imagine if he had needed the revolver to defend himself... I wouldn't have the confidence to carry a revolver equipped with those grips.
Some pics of my ex 649 and 36.
View attachment 1198977
View attachment 1198978
View attachment 1198981
View attachment 1198980
Click to expand...
nice collection and configurations of J-Frames !
 
Started out many years ago with a nickel plated Model 38. Added a Tyler T-Grip adapter to it and it was one sweet snubnose revolver! Some time years later, I saw the new Model 649 being reviewed in the gun magazine "Combat Handguns" and decided that was the one for me! I really liked that it was all stainless steel. Still had the T-Grip adapter and put it on the 649. It's been a great gun for me, especially as a CCW. But for carrying in the warmer months I thought about getting something a little bit lighter and got a Model 638. with an aluminum alloy frame. Both guns have been very reliable and have decent triggers on them though I would say the 649 is somewhat smoother as it's been used more than the 638.
poKELn4.jpg

TyNf0Dv.jpg
 
1KPerDay said:
I love the 49 and all the weird S&W humpback models. I don't have one. I tried hard to find a good deal on one during the year I turned 49. But I couldn't. People are nuts lately.
Click to expand...

Sometime in the last 5 years or so S&W stopped offering the model 649.
I think the model 49 has been out of production for awhile...

I guess they just didn't move enough of them.
Model 640 is still being produced.


End result - looks like you have to pay dearly for steel humpbacks nowadays.
 
tubeshooter said:
Sometime in the last 5 years or so S&W stopped offering the model 649.
I think the model 49 has been out of production for awhile...

I guess they just didn't move enough of them.
Model 640 is still being produced.


End result - looks like you have to pay dearly for steel humpbacks nowadays.
Click to expand...
Humpback are going to be the new Hot Deal!
 
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