First gun I ever shot. Good gun, small/good as backup weapon, light weight. Just a dang good weapon. I'd take it any day as a backup!

I love mine. wish i was rich so i could by more ammo to shoot and get REAL good with it.

I've always been a revolver fan. This epitomizes compact revolver carry. Personally my department allows Glocks or .38 spl from S&W for off-duty. This is my revolver option, five for sure.

Good for a back up weapon...or for off duty carry in the summer time when you need a smaller weapon~

nice backup/off-duty weapon..especially for a female officer

LIGHT WEIGHT - PERFECT FOR CARRY - ACCURATE W/ OR W/O CRIMSON TRACE LASER - I NEVER GO ANY WHERE W/O MINE AND NEVER KNOW IT'S THERE.

Good concealed gun

Excellent back-up or concealment gun. Very lightweight and snag free.

I have a .38 snub nose.. but it is made with a titanium frame.Talk about light if its size but the recoil on federal ammo is really brutal kick back hard..

Very light weapon which is small enough to conceal most anywhere. Carries .38 +P rounds which are large enough for knock down power.

Great Gun, highly recommend

My 642 is dependable. Shoots perfect right out of the box. It's not a target gun by far, but it will print in the black at 15 yards without much practice. It's better than me at 25 yards. Perfect for concealed carry or back up use.

Good gun, but I would like it to have a better safety and more rounds in the wheel.

this is a great little pocket revolver or backup. Good quality

I've had one of these since 1977. I bought mine used and it still shoots well today (2008). I wouldn't sell it for anything. I've used it for undercover ops and off-duty. I paid $100.00 for mine in 1977, so you can see, the price has remained moderate, considering inflation and all... I'll keep mine until I die...

This is the perfect weapon for back up or off duty use. I love it. Wear it on my ankle or in a belly belt and never know its there. Very light weight and the kick isnt as hard as one would think. A+++

this a good weapon for back up it's light weight easy to hold and very accurate mainly with a laser on the side right above the hand.

I have one and its great as a back up weapon..Light, and very accurate..and I have the Plus P model....

great backup weapon

SMITH IS THE LAST AMERICAN COMPANY TO MANFACTURE A DA REVOLVER. THE 642 IS A MARRIAGE OF OLD SCHOOL WITH NEW TECH WITH ALUM FRAME AND STAINLESS CYLINDER AND BARREL. RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY, PULL THE TRIGGER IT GOES BANG. NO QUESTIONS NO EXCUSES.

ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE THE ACTION SUCKS BIG TIME. I HAD TO POLISH ALL OF THE INTERNAL PARTS AND ADD A SPRING KIT TO TO MAKE IT MANAGABLE. ONCE THAT WAS DONE, IT IS ONE OF THE SWEETEST SHOOTING WHEEL GUNS I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE TO OWN.

I never leave home without my little friend, lightweight and great!

Outstanding back-up firearm to have on duty. Every LEO should have one.

I carry this gun as a backup every day. It is my American Express. I don't leave home without it. This gun should be a standard issue item. When I make chief, it will be.

The best backup gun ever made. Small, reliable and very easy to shoot.
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light and ease of use.

small, light and easy to conceal for both on and off duty.
the sight is very low profile and very heavy trigger are down side.

Shot my uncles and it was pretty sweet.

Great back up weapon, Smith knows revolvers

The ultimate .38 snubbie! The Scandium framed S&W 340 is lighter but much more expensive and uncontrollable with 357 Magnum ammunition. The 642 is the winner in guns of this type.

Recently purchased for use when I want to carry light. Being hammerless makes it fit perfectly in front pocket of shorts or jeans inside a pocket holster which hides the outline. 38+P is all you need for that close encounter w/ a perp who wants to relieve you of your hard earned cash.

I like this weapon! Its great for concealed carry, both because its lightweight, and its easy to conceal. I use this as a backup weapon and an off-duty weapon. Most people I work with carry a G-27, due to it running the same rounds as our G-22's, but its much heavier and bulkier than the Smith. I strap on this snubbie and forget its there, until I need it! Shoots pretty accurately for such a short barrel too! I have a larger combat grip on mine, since I have large hands, but it still gives me sore fingers when I run a box of .38 +P through it. Great pistol!

Great off duty... Traded it in for the glock 26 as an off duty weapon, but still have it.. wont get rid of it..

This weapon is a perfect off duty-concealment/back up piece. It is extremely lightweight and the hammerless option aids in pocket carry. The only down sides are capacity and recoil (+P rounds can be rough with such a light frame).

Great weapon for it's intended purpose. I use mine as a backup and off duty most of the time. I have 4 other guns that are used for off duty/CC but this one is used the most. A speed loader and a speed strip accompany the gun for a total of 15 rounds at hand. The off duty autos I use give a little more sense of security but the size, weight, reliability and carry options of the 642 are ideal. You don't even need the stout recoil of the + P rounds, good .38 spc defensive loads are perfect for a close encounter. The 642 is a great all purpose gun.

This is what we use as backup weapon. It is great, lightweight, easy to shoot, and dead on. It is one of the best backup guns I have ever used. Our whole dept. switched to these after a few of us got them.

perfect conceal/ personal defense. light-weight, great quality perfect for all regardless of experience.

Great gun

This weapon makes for a good backup or off duty gun. We just got each of our office one of the Smith and Wesson 642 and we love them, very accurate and shoots very well. Up would think that accuracy would be a problem, we have officers shoot metal plates from fifty yards out.

Great weapon and reliable. Great as an off duty gun.

Great for personal use. Easy to shoot.

very nice gun i carry it all the time on and off duty

great back up weapon

I love it..

Carried one of these for the last 12 years. Zero problems with it and is one of my favorites. Kicks like a mule but with practice you can hit 10-ring out to 25 yards.

This revolver is light , very accurate and easily concealed. It is about perfect for non uniform carry and as a back up weapon for any uniformed officer.

I love this gun. ive been carrying this gun or the 637 for about 15 years. its light weight easy to carry and conceal. i give it a 5 star rating.

I carried one of these in the past but gave it up for a Glock 27. I recently went back to it because of it's light weight and ease of carry. It is perfectly reliable and easy to conceal. I keep it loaded with Speer 135 grain + P hollow points, which should do the job.

This is my warm weather off duty piece. Fits nicely in my front shorts pocket in a Safariland Pocket Holster. Amazingly great to shoot (I have bear paws for hands) and comfortable to carry around all day. Speed strip in the opposite pocket for a quick and concealable reload. I love it! Also makes a great "running to the corner store" gun.

Super for undercover and plain clothes. You can shoot it dry from your pocket, but you have to get a new jacket. Ammo is the key, use high tec ammo, no ball or solids. The .38 doesn't have alot of power, so get really good HP ammo. Pratice, Pratice, Pratice. It doesn't count if you miss when you need a hit.

Always been reliable for me. Never jams. Small enough to conceal, even in the summer months.

This is THE sidearm to carry as an off-duty weapon(and back-up)....totally reliable, and with +p hollowpoints, will do the job. As a former homicide detective, the .38 spl. has been more effective and used more often in self-defense situations than any other caliber in the 'real world. Wouldn't leave home without one (or two)! As an active LEO I am required to carry a semi-auto pistol as a duty weapon, however I am still comofrtable with a five or six hot revolver for self-defense.