Let’s be honest. Revolvers are retro. And cool. They represent a very nearly 200-year-old technology that hasn’t changed much in over a century and a quarter. Smith & Wesson has been one of the big names in the revolver world, with standouts like the Model 19, Model 29, and the archetypal five-shot, small- frame revolver, the Chiefs Special, that would become the Model 36. First released in 1950, some 75 years ago, the little revolver evolved through the years, adding shrouded hammer and hammerless models, Airweight offerings and others.
In 2001 Smith & Wesson added a lock to the revolvers, just above the cylinder latch release lever. Intended to add another layer of safety to the revolver by physically blocking the hammer from moving, many viewed it as an unnecessary and unattractive addition to an otherwise beautiful revolver. Smith & Wesson recently released a series of classic revolvers with no internal lock, with the mid-size Model 10 in .38 Spl. and Model 19 in .357 Mag. joined by the iconic concealed-carry staple, the Model 36 in .38 Spl.
Designed to the same specifications as all Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers, the Model 36 Classic can accept all the same stocks as any other J-frame, and works with all speedloaders. It’s dimensionally identical to the all other five-shot, 1.88-inch-barrel J-frame revolvers. Unlike the early Model 36 revolvers, this evolution is designed to work with +P ammunition, too. Best of all, for the purists, there’s no lock to spoil the lines of a blued-steel and wood-stocked classic.
So, whether you want something retro that’s still a great defensive option, you have a classic revolver you love but don’t want to risk the wear and tear or simply want a J-frame just like grandpa (or grandma) used to carry, Smith & Wesson’s Classics Model 36 No Lock is just the thing. Visit smith-wesson.com for more information on this new release.
