38 Special–capable revolver is the Model 686. 357 is not usable-and does not physically fit-in. 38 Special ammunition is readily usable in. 357 Magnum cartridge is actually a descendant of the. The 442 is “hammerless,” meaning the hammer is actually enclosed within the frame-so it can’t get caught on clothing in the midst of being drawn. Smith & Wesson still uses steel where it counts: the barrel is made of stainless steel and the cylinder of carbon steel. The 442 has an overall length of just 6.3 inches and weighs 14.7 ounces unloaded-in large part to its aluminum alloy frame. The Model 442 is one of the company’s “J” frame guns, intended for concealed carry. Smith & Wesson assigns its revolver frames a letter designation depending on the physical size of the frame, the size of the user and the caliber used. The Model 10 was very popular with law enforcement agencies, and 500,000 were produced during World War II for Allied armies. This made reloading much faster than using a traditional loading gate. It was one of the first revolvers with a cylinder that swung out when a latch on the frame was depressed. The revolver was originally known as the Smith & Wesson Model 38 Hand Ejector, but was renamed the Model 10 in 1957. Unlike many concealed carry revolvers-which hold five rounds-the Cobra has a six-round cylinder.ĭescribed as the “ Glock of the (Postwar) Law Enforcement World,” the Model 10 was the most popular. The stainless steel revolver features a two-inch barrel, adjustable sights, a Hogue rubber grip and is rated for powerful +P ammunition. The Cobra uses the same name as an older line of Cobra revolvers both are snub-nosed and meant for concealed carry. The company stepped back from double-action revolvers in the early twenty-first century but in 2017 relaunched its revolver line with the Colt Cobra. The SP101 was Ruger’s concealed carry handgun until the arrival in the mid-2000s of the Ruger LCR.Ĭolt’s Manufacturing Company, founded by Samuel Colt in 1855, was responsible for a great deal of the innovation in revolvers over the past three centuries. The revolver itself has a stainless steel frame with a satin finish. The SP101 has a 2.25-inch barrel, slightly longer than many concealed carry barrels, and features a five-round cylinder. The SP101 was similar to the larger GP100, but with a shorter barrel and more compact frame. Introduced in the early 1990s, the Ruger SP101 was the company’s dominant.

.38 calibre revolver long