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S&W 442 or S&W 642 - What's the difference?

TSteen
Profile name should be HANDGUN ROOKIE - But I'm thinking of getting my wife one of the S&W Airweight's in a .38 caliber. what's the difference between the 442 & 642 guns?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • duckhunter
    Models with a "6" are stainless.
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  • dcs shooters
    Blue and stainless, in that order.
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  • dfletcher
    The 642 is stainless, the 442 is an Airweight version - much lighter and alot more recoil as a result.
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  • Bill DeShivs
    Both are airweights. The 642 is stainless. The 442 is blued.
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  • TSteen
    THanks everyone for the help. I kept looking at the specs but didn't realize that it could be as simple as this. Cheers...
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  • Boomerang
    quote:Originally posted by TSteen
    THanks everyone for the help. I kept looking at the specs but didn't realize that it could be as simple as this. Cheers...
    Actually both have alloy frames, one is blued the other is not. Only the cylinders are stainless in both versions. Both fire up to 38+P. The 640 is all stainless steel and will fire .357 mag.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by Boomerang
    quote:Originally posted by TSteen
    THanks everyone for the help. I kept looking at the specs but didn't realize that it could be as simple as this. Cheers...
    Actually both have alloy frames, one is blued the other is not. Only the cylinders are stainless in both versions. Both fire up to 38+P. The 640 is all stainless steel and will fire .357 mag.

    While Smith models starting with the number "6" are IN GENERAL stainless, that's not the case here.

    Boomerang has the the correct answer. Neither the 442 nor the 642 have stainless frames, though the cylinder in both is stainless. (Don't know about the barrel, though its definitely steel). Hammer, trigger, and other parts are conventional carbon steel, not stainless.

    Both guns use aluminum alloy frames.

    The 442 has a black (blue) colored frame.
    The 642 has a natural/gray colored frame.

    I think the finish is anodized with a clear coat over it. . .but don't hold me to that.

    Either way, the only real difference between these guns is the color.

    Some people like a dark finish, to help concealment. Other people prefer a shiny/bright finish, for exactly the opposite reason. . .it draws attention to the gun, presumeably making it appear larger or more threatening.
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  • CS8161
    I thought the cylinder and barrel in the model 442 were blued, carbon steel??? The 642 has a stainless cylinder and barrel with an alloy frame, correct?
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  • Boomerang
    quote:Originally posted by Chris8161
    I thought the cylinder and barrel in the model 442 were blued, carbon steel??? The 642 has a stainless cylinder and barrel with an alloy frame, correct?
    Actually a 442 can have either a carbon steel or a stainless steel cylinder. Same goes with the barrel. I have both a 642 and a 442 and both have stainless steel barrel and cylinders.
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  • Maniacman
    quote:Originally posted by dcs shooters
    Blue and stainless, in that order.

    A few years back, I bought my wife a 642. Recently her dad died and he had a 442 but it looks to be stainless (bright) and the only difference I can see (other than the barrel doesn't say +P) is the sight groove on the 442 is smaller and the ejector plate is not stainless.
    Both have hidden hammers.

    I can't find any other info about the 442 having a bright finish.

    Does anyone know about this ?
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