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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.

Models

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.

Model 49

The Model 49 is an all-carbon-steel-framed revolver chambered in .38 Special.

Model 638

The Model 638 is aluminum-framed with stainless steel cylinder and barrel. Chambered in .38 Special.

Model 649

The Model 649 is an all stainless-steel framed revolver. Chambered in .357 Magnum or .38 Special.

M&P Bodyguard 38

The M&P Bodyguard 38, introduced in 2014, 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. 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. The lockwork is different than any other Smith & Wesson revolver and the model has no parts interchangeable with the J-frame series. 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.

History

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2018)

• 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.

• 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.

• Bernhard Goetz used a Model 38 Bodyguard in the controversial 1984 New York City Subway shooting.

Users

•  United States
  • Massachusetts State Police Plainclothes officers.

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.
•  South Vietnam: used by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and the Republic of Vietnam National Police (CSQG) during the Vietnam War.
•  Portugal: used by civilians and government officials during the Portuguese Colonial War.

See also

• Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380
• Smith & Wesson Centennial
• Smith & Wesson Model 36

References

1. Boorman, Dean K. (1 December 2002). The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms. Globe Pequot. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-58574-721-4.
2. ^ Ahern, Jerry (2010). Armed for Personal Defense. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-4402-1643-5.
3. "First Look: Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard Handguns with Crimson Trace Lasers - Guns & Ammo". Guns & Ammo. 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
4. "Smith & Wesson® Introduces New M&P® BODYGUARD® Handguns with Crimson Trace® Laser Sights" (PDF) (Press release). Smith & Wesson Corp. July 15, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
5. Shideler, Dan (20 August 2010). Guns Illustrated 2011: The Latest Guns, Specs & Prices. Iola: F+W Media, Inc. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-4402-1624-4.
6. "Smith & Wesson(R) Introduces New BODYGUARD(R) Line. Company Launches New Compact Pistol and Revolver with Integrated Laser System" (Press release). Smith & Wesson. 2010-01-19. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
7. ^ Wiley Clapp. "S&W's New Bodyguards". American Rifleman. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
8. Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2007-01-03). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. F+W Media, Inc. ISBN 978-0896892934.
9. Buckley, Tom (April 1972). ""Portrait of an Aging Despot"". Harper's.
10. Nonte, George (1980). Combat Handguns. Stackpole Books. p. 345. ISBN 0811704092.
11. Locke & Cooke, Fighting Vehicles and Weapons of Rhodesia 1965-80 (1995), p. 3.
12. Tarrius, La Police de Campagne du Sud-Vietnam 1967–1975 (2005), p. 42.
13. Telo and Álvares, Armamento do Exército Português Vol. I – Armamento ligeiro (2004), p. 82.

Bibliography

• António José Telo and Mário Álvares, Armamento do Exército Português Vol. I – Armamento ligeiro, Prefácio, Lisbon 2004. ISBN 972-8816-43-X (in Portuguese)
• Valéry Tarrius, La Police de Campagne du Sud-Vietnam 1967–1975, in Armes Militaria Magazine No. 236, March 2005, Histoire & Collections, Paris, pp. 37–43. ISSN 0753-1877 (in French)
• Peter Gerard Locke & Peter David Farquharson Cooke, Fighting Vehicles and Weapons of Rhodesia 1965-80, P&P Publishing, Wellington (New Zealand) 1995. ISBN 0-473-02413-6

External links

• User Manual

• Revolvers of the United States
• Smith & Wesson revolvers
• .357 Magnum firearms
• .38 Special firearms