Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 48 mm
- Weight, empty
- 425 g
- Introduced
- 1996
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight is a five-shot, double-action-only J-frame revolver chambered for .38 Special and rated for continuous +P use. It is widely considered the quintessential concealed carry revolver. The 642 features an aluminum alloy frame that brings the unloaded weight to just 15 ounces (425 grams), making it one of the lightest practical defensive revolvers ever produced. Its defining characteristic is the Centennial-style fully enclosed (shrouded) hammer, which eliminates any external protrusion that could snag on clothing, holsters, or pockets during the draw stroke. This snag-free design makes it exceptionally well-suited for pocket carry and deep concealment. The stainless steel cylinder, barrel, and crane provide corrosion resistance and durability where it matters most, while the aluminum alloy frame keeps weight minimal. The 1.875-inch (48mm) barrel delivers typical .38 Special +P velocities of approximately 790 fps (240 m/s) with 130-grain loads, producing around 233 joules of muzzle energy. The double-action-only trigger pull is approximately 12 pounds (53 N), which is heavy by modern standards but serves as an inherent safety feature for a carry revolver with no external safety lever. Fixed sights consist of an integral front ramp and a fixed rear notch cut into the top strap. The Model 642 was originally introduced in 1990 as a variant of the Centennial series, discontinued briefly, and reintroduced in 1996 as the 642-1.
The J-frame Centennial series traces its lineage to the original Model 40 Centennial introduced in 1952 to mark Smith & Wesson's 100th anniversary. The enclosed hammer design was considered revolutionary at the time. The Model 642 and its siblings have become synonymous with concealed carry revolvers in America, earning the nickname 'the gun in every nightstand' for their ubiquity as home and personal defense weapons. Many firearms instructors recommend the 642 as a simple, reliable backup gun because it has no safeties to disengage, no slide to rack, and will fire even when pressed against an attacker's body -- advantages no semi-automatic can match.
The Model 642 is perhaps the best-selling dedicated concealed carry revolver in America. Its simplicity (point and pull the trigger) makes it a popular recommendation for self-defense by firearms instructors, and it has maintained strong sales even as semi-automatic micro-compacts have come to dominate the CCW market. The heavy DAO trigger pull is both the revolver's greatest liability (difficult for some shooters to master) and its greatest safety feature (virtually impossible to fire accidentally). The light aluminum frame transmits significant felt recoil with +P loads from the 1.875-inch barrel, making extended practice sessions uncomfortable. Most experts recommend using standard-pressure .38 Special ammunition for practice and reserving +P loads for carry. The Model 442 is the matte black (blued/Armornite) finish variant of the same gun. The Model 640 is the all-steel (heavier, 23 oz) version. The LadySmith variant features a more refined finish and wooden grips. Performance Center versions offer custom actions with smoother, lighter trigger pulls. The internal lock (added circa 2001) is controversial among owners and a no-lock version has been periodically available. SKU 163810 is the standard production model. MSRP is approximately $539 with typical street prices around $400-450. The 642's rifling twist rate is 1:18.75 inches (476mm) with 5 grooves, right-hand twist. The loaded weight estimate includes five .38 Special +P cartridges at approximately 13g each.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1996
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 48 mm
- Overall length
- 160 mm
- Height
- 109 mm
- Width
- 33 mm
- Sight radius
- 117 mm
- Weight, empty
- 425 g
- Weight, loaded
- 490 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Double action
- Firing mechanism
- Double action only
- Trigger
- Double action
- Trigger pull
- 53.0 N
- Capacity
- 5
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Finish
- Matte silver
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 240 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 233 J
- Effective range
- 15 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
J frame
Centennial style enclosed hammer- Snag free design
Aluminum alloy frame
Stainless steel cylinder
Stainless steel barrel
Integral front sight
Fixed rear sight
Synthetic rubber grip- Rated continuous plus p
Five shot cylinder
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 25 .38 Special pistols | 425 g | 595 g | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 1,911 pistols | 160 mm | 196 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 48 mm | 51 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 5 | 5 | Holds fewer rounds than about 60% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight
How much does the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight weigh?
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight weighs 425 g (15.0 oz) empty and 490 g (1.08 lb) loaded. It is the 6th lightest of 25 .38 Special pistols in the catalogue.
What caliber is the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight?
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight is chambered in .38 Special and .38 Special +P.
How many rounds does the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight hold?
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight holds 5 rounds.
How long is the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight?
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight is 160 mm (6.30 in) long overall, with a 48 mm (1.89 in) barrel.
Who makes the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight?
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight is made by Smith & Wesson (United States).
When was the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight introduced?
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight was introduced in 1996.
How does the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight operate?
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight uses a double action, and its firing mechanism is double action only.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- U.S. Civilian Concealed Carry Market
- United States
- U.S. Law Enforcement (Backup/Off-Duty)
- United States
- Private Investigators & Security Professionals
- United States
Provenance
Confidence in this record
90%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
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Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/smith-wesson-model-642' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "smith-wesson-model-642", "name": "Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight", "manufacturer": { "id": "smith-wesson", "name": "Smith & Wesson", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1852, "website": "https://www.smith-wesson.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "6e259a578cb1b21d72610d761d652c983ff25806b9e736e2db8d2938596e9202" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1996, "barrel_length_mm": 48, "weight_empty_g": 425, "action_type": "double_action"}