Sunday, October 14, 2007

Sunday Smith #18: Model 37, 1976


With Colt's having introduced an aluminum alloy-framed version of the Detective Special, known as the "Cobra", in 1950, it was perhaps inevitable that Smith would follow the introduction of their new Chiefs Special with an alloy-framed variant as well. Sure enough, in 1952 Smith & Wesson began offering the Chiefs Special Airweight.

By giving up one round in the cylinder, the new Smith was noticeably smaller than its competitor from Colt's. Further, thanks to the alloy cylinder, it was measurably lighter, too. Unfortunately, the aluminum alloys of the day weren't quite up to the stresses occurring in the chamber of a firearm, and persistent reports of catastrophic cylinder failures caused Smith to shift to a steel cylinder after less than 3,800 were made. The USAF showed some interest in the model, ordering a number for testing, but all save a handful were destroyed, making the "Baby Aircrewman" one of the most sought-after postwar Smiths by collectors.

In 1957, the Chiefs Special Airweight became the Model 37 and continued to be made with mostly minor engineering changes until it was finally dropped from the catalog in 2006. The most significant change was probably the one made when they started producing the gun on the slightly longer new "J-Magnum" frame in 1997, since this allowed the gun to be certified for use with more powerful, "+P rated" ammunition, which offers improved performance at the cost of sharper recoil in the twelve-and-a-half ounce J-frame. While newer snubnose revolvers have become all the rage at S&W, with their titanium cylinders and scandium/aluminum alloy frames, many feel that the old steel-cylindered Airweights offer a "best of both worlds" balance, being light enough to carry in a pocket while not being so light as to produce the bone-cracking recoil characteristic of the newer flyweights.

The revolver pictured above is a nickeled 2" Model 37 produced in 1976. From the condition of the breechface, forcing cone, and rifling, it is highly unlikely that this revolver has been fired since it left the factory. Being made before 1982, it has the characteristic barrel locating pin through the frame forward of the cylinder opening. "Pinned barrel" Smiths are starting to command more elevated prices on the market, but even so, they are still a fairly affordable field for collecting. This Model 37 was scooped up for $300 in '03, which was a low price on the market even then. Given condition and the fact that it's in nickel and has a pinned barrel, it could bring $450 or more to the right buyer these days. A serviceable shooter, however, can be bought for $225-$300.

6 comments:

Jay G said...

Drooooool...

That is one sweet shootin' iron, Tam.

I've got a model 38 from the early 1980s (according to the helpful folks at Smith & Wesson's excellent customer service), which (for those that don't know S&W numbers off the top of their heads) is the shrouded hammer (Bodyguard) version of that gun.

It's not nickel, although the retired police officer that I inherited the gun from was kind enough to leave it in a leather holster for about a decade - meaning of course that it was coated in a healthy layer of surface rust...

Tam said...

"That is one sweet shootin' iron, Tam."

Thanks! :)

Matt G said...

Only thing I'd do to it before carrying it would be to put a partial bob on that hammer spur. Then it would live in a nice polished natural leather high-ride, for training days, off-duty work, admin days, etc.

In nickel, it's far more sweat resistant than my old Ratso. M37.

BobG said...

Beautiful little pocket gun.

Hunter said...

Just today purchased a late '68, early '69 blued mod 37. Excellent condition, still deep bluing, almost no wear marks. Yowzah!

Anonymous said...

Very nice Tam! I bought one in nickel, identical to yours in 1985, if this old memory is correct. I carried it for years, until being replaced by a Ruger SP101. My neighbor bugged me for a couple of years about the Ruger, and last week I sold it to him.

I dug the trusty Model 37 out, slapped a set of Uncle Mike's grips on her, and headed to the range. She's still just as sweet as she ever was! I'm really enjoying having her attached to my hip again!