Smith & Wesson Bodyguard
Family of small, J-frame revolvers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard is a family of small J-frame revolvers with shrouded hammers manufactured by Smith & Wesson. They are available chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.[1]
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Models
Summarize
Perspective
Model 38
The Model 38 is aluminum-framed, has a carbon steel barrel, a carbon steel cylinder with a five-round capacity, and is chambered in .38 Special.[2]
Model 49
The Model 49 is an all-carbon-steel-framed revolver chambered in .38 Special.[2]
Model 638
The Model 638 is aluminum-framed with stainless steel cylinder and barrel. Chambered in .38 Special.[2]
Model 649
The Model 649 is an all stainless-steel framed revolver. Chambered in .357 Magnum or .38 Special.[2]
M&P Bodyguard 38
The M&P Bodyguard 38, introduced in 2014,[3] is the latest incarnation of a Smith & Wesson revolver using the Bodyguard name. It is a polymer framed revolver chambered in .38 Special, and available with a Crimson Trace (previously Insight) red-dot laser sight integrated in to the grip.[4] Like previous Bodyguard models, it has a five-round cylinder and a concealed hammer but unlike the previous models, the hammer cannot be cocked for single action fire.[5][6] The lockwork is different than any other Smith & Wesson revolver and the model has no parts interchangeable with the J-frame series.[7] In 2018, S&W announced a new version of the Bodyguard which lacks the integrated laser sight. It is most closely related to the Centennial models.[7]
History
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- Clyde A. Tolson, special assistant to FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, owned a Model 38 Airweight, serial number 512236, with his name engraved on the side.[8]
- Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, South Vietnam's chief of National Police, was photographed using a Model 49 Bodyguard to execute a Viet Cong prisoner, Nguyễn Văn Lém, during the Tet Offensive of 1968.[9]
- Bernhard Goetz used a Model 38 Bodyguard in the controversial 1984 New York City Subway shooting.
Users
United States
- Massachusetts State Police Plainclothes officers.[10]
Former users
Kingdom of Laos: used by the Royal Lao Army (RLA) and the Royal Lao Police (PRL) during the Laotian Civil War.
Rhodesia: used by civilians and Air Rhodesia aircrews during the Rhodesian Bush War.[11]
South Vietnam: used by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and the Republic of Vietnam National Police (CSQG) during the Vietnam War.[12]
Portugal: used by civilians and government officials during the Portuguese Colonial War.[13]
See also
References
Bibliography
External links
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