3" 649-1, did S&W make this?

Carmady · March 9, 2018, 04:06 PM

I've searched and found nothing that says anything about a 649-1 with a 3" barrel.

There seems to be a recent 3" 649, but that's a .357 with a full lug barrel and non-fluted cylinder.

This is a .38, and it looks polished, too. The listing has a bunch of pics, but the only one that shows the stippling on the backstrap is the pic of the grip frame, and you have to look for it.

I'd like to know if S&W ever made these (disregarding the stippling).

Any sightings?

**Mike Irwin** · March 10, 2018, 07:07 AM

I can't find anything out about it, either.

As far as I know, there were no 3" 649-1s made.

Carmady · March 10, 2018, 10:40 AM

Thanks for looking.

BusGunner007 · March 28, 2018, 11:39 AM

I'm sure 3" bbl Bodyguards were produced.
I've seen pictures, such as the one you posted.
I think that one may be nickle-plated.

The Model 49 Bodyguard is the first handgun I wanted.
I still want to fill that niche after almost 30 years!

Bill DeShivs · March 28, 2018, 03:02 PM

If a distributor ordered enough of them, S&W would have made one with a 42" barrel.

tranders · March 28, 2018, 03:16 PM

In the Standard Catalog of S&W 4th Edition they show production dates for the 649 as 1985- 1998, but no listing of a 3 “ gun. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t made just not listed in this book.

Thanks for sharing this very interesting revolver.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Carmady · March 28, 2018, 05:36 PM

Here's another weird one, from Armslist claiming to be a 640, but has AIRWEIGHT on the right side of the barrel. It looks like a regular stainless steel frame to me.

Bill DeShivs · March 28, 2018, 10:02 PM

Looks like an airweight aluminum frame to me...

Carmady · March 29, 2018, 11:42 AM

Maybe it's an early 642 instead a 640. That's the only pic from the listing.

An article says the 642 no dash was introduced in 1990, and the 3" barrel was discontinued in 1992.

I think I read S&W used different finishes on the early SS Airweights.

glock199mm · March 29, 2018, 04:53 PM

That is a 640 made in 1994 it is rare from what smith and wesson books they say it has a
standard stainless steel frame 3 inch barrel marked airweight .

smee78 · March 29, 2018, 05:02 PM

Well I don't know about yall but I like a 649 and one with a 3" barrel would be a neat addition. Thanks for sharing the picture.

Carmady · March 29, 2018, 06:13 PM

Quote:

That is a 640 made in 1994 it is rare from what smith and wesson books they say it has a
standard stainless steel frame 3 inch barrel marked airweight .

They must have used the leftover 642 3" barrels for those 640s. I was thinking it was made from mixed parts by someone.

Carmady · March 29, 2018, 06:16 PM

Here's a link to the finished auction to the 649-1 in the OP. Lots of pics.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/753138111

1MoreFord · March 29, 2018, 09:21 PM

I once saw a Smith 1955 target in a pawn shop with a 4" barrel for a decent price. I passed on it to try to find out more info on it. People with more knowledge said they didn't make one. When I went back it was gone. Come to find out Smith made a handful and they were worth big money. You just can't tell.

revolvergeek · April 18, 2018, 12:45 PM

That looks like a custom gun to me. The wider trigger wasn't standard, and the backstrap appears to either be checkered or have horizontal grooves in the picture with the grips removed. My guess is someone built up the gun that they wanted from factory parts. Very cool piece.

Carmady · April 19, 2018, 06:14 AM

Quote:

That looks like a custom gun to me.

Me too. I figured if it was a "real" S&W it would still have the original box since it's unusual.

Ibmikey · April 20, 2018, 03:08 AM

Smith made 3” J frames during that time periods, a 3” heavy barrel would be no big chore for them if a small special order were requested by a customer. I have a 3” heavy barrel model 60 with a square butt which was never cataloged and came from a special order of 100 pistols. Unfortunately I lost the box many years ago.

**Mike Irwin** · April 20, 2018, 10:07 AM

I think the only way you're going to know for sure is if you spring for the letter from the factory.

bluetopper · April 27, 2018, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BusGunner007

I'm sure 3" bbl Bodyguards were produced.
I've seen pictures, such as the one you posted.
I think that one may be nickle-plated.

The Model 49 Bodyguard is the first handgun I wanted.
I still want to fill that niche after almost 30 years!

No nickel plated S&W models ever started with a 6 model number. Model numbers starting with a 6 are stainless steel only.

Yes I think that gun is rare enough and worthy of spending the $75 for a factory letter.
I own a 649 no dash and a 649-1, both 38 Spl. Superb carry pieces and both with 1 7/8" barrels.

March 10, 2018, 07:07 AM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	I can't find anything out about it, either. As far as I know, there were no 3" 649-1s made. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 28, 2018, 11:39 AM	#4
BusGunner007 Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Upper Left Coast Posts: 2,116	I'm sure 3" bbl Bodyguards were produced. I've seen pictures, such as the one you posted. I think that one may be nickle-plated. The Model 49 Bodyguard is the first handgun I wanted. I still want to fill that niche after almost 30 years! __________________ "...if you're not havin' fun, you're workin'..."

March 28, 2018, 03:02 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	If a distributor ordered enough of them, S&W would have made one with a 42" barrel. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

March 28, 2018, 03:16 PM	#6
tranders Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 233	3" 649-1, did S&W make this? In the Standard Catalog of S&W 4th Edition they show production dates for the 649 as 1985- 1998, but no listing of a 3 “ gun. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t made just not listed in this book. Thanks for sharing this very interesting revolver. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

March 28, 2018, 10:02 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Looks like an airweight aluminum frame to me... __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

March 10, 2018, 10:40 AM	#3
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	Thanks for looking.

March 29, 2018, 11:42 AM	#9
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	Maybe it's an early 642 instead a 640. That's the only pic from the listing. An article says the 642 no dash was introduced in 1990, and the 3" barrel was discontinued in 1992. I think I read S&W used different finishes on the early SS Airweights.

March 29, 2018, 04:53 PM	#10
glock199mm Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2007 Location: louisiana Posts: 227	That is a 640 made in 1994 it is rare from what smith and wesson books they say it has a standard stainless steel frame 3 inch barrel marked airweight .

March 29, 2018, 05:02 PM	#11
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	Well I don't know about yall but I like a 649 and one with a 3" barrel would be a neat addition. Thanks for sharing the picture. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

March 29, 2018, 06:16 PM	#13
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	Here's a link to the finished auction to the 649-1 in the OP. Lots of pics. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/753138111

March 29, 2018, 09:21 PM	#14
1MoreFord Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2014 Location: Arkansas Posts: 244	I once saw a Smith 1955 target in a pawn shop with a 4" barrel for a decent price. I passed on it to try to find out more info on it. People with more knowledge said they didn't make one. When I went back it was gone. Come to find out Smith made a handful and they were worth big money. You just can't tell.

April 18, 2018, 12:45 PM	#15
revolvergeek Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2001 Posts: 289	That looks like a custom gun to me. The wider trigger wasn't standard, and the backstrap appears to either be checkered or have horizontal grooves in the picture with the grips removed. My guess is someone built up the gun that they wanted from factory parts. Very cool piece.

April 20, 2018, 03:08 AM	#17
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	Smith made 3” J frames during that time periods, a 3” heavy barrel would be no big chore for them if a small special order were requested by a customer. I have a 3” heavy barrel model 60 with a square butt which was never cataloged and came from a special order of 100 pistols. Unfortunately I lost the box many years ago.

April 20, 2018, 10:07 AM	#18
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	I think the only way you're going to know for sure is if you spring for the letter from the factory. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.