Exciting new S&W snub nose revolvers

[Mike1951]

329 Night guard, 6rd .44 Mag MSRP $1044.00
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/Sm ... 163420.pdf

325 Night guard, 6rd .45acp MSRP $1044.00
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/Sm ... 163421.pdf

327 Night Guard, 8rd, .357 MSRP $1044.00
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/Sm ... 163422.pdf

396 Night guard, 5rd, .44 spcl MSRP $980.00
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/Sm ... 163423.pdf

386 Night Guard, 7rd, .357 MSRP $980.00
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/Sm ... 163424.pdf

You can find these listed on the S&W site with a launch date of March 2008.

They are listed under New Products and also under J frame revolvers.

Looking at their specs, they certainly don't appear to be J frames, so this might have been an error by listing them in the wrong section. Or they may be trying something similar to their X-frame revolvers that use a K-frame grip.

[frankie_the_yankee]

They all seem pretty pricey. Are they all custom "Pro Shop" type guns? $1K for a snubbie seems like a lot of money.

[The Annoyed Man]

Their MSRP is overpriced. Just yesterday, I bought my wife a Model 642 Airweight with Crimson Trace grips. MSRP on that pistol is $798.00. I paid Euless Guns and Ammo $629.99 for hers - a savings of $168.00 over full retail. I doubt that you would have to pay much more than I did anywhere else.

[Mike1951]

They're not custom shop guns, just high tech.

Smith & Wesson introduces the Night Guard Series, chambered in .45 ACP, .44 Mag./.44 S&W Special, .357 S&W Magnum/.38 S&W Special and .44 Special. With 2 1/2" barrels, the revolvers feature a matte-black, lightweight Scandium frame; black stainless PVD (physical vapor deposition) cylinder; Pachmayr Compac Custom grip; XS 24/7 Standard Dot Tritium front sight; and the new Cylinder & Slide Extreme Duty fixed rear sight. The Night Guard revolvers will available in March 2008.


I would expect street price to be around $800, maybe a little lower.

[nedmoore]

Man, I would really like to own one of those! Why are they so high in price? I could buy a really nice semi-auto for that $$$$. Can anyone explain to me why revolvers cost so much more.

[Jungle Work]

I bought a New In The Box S&W Mode 28-2 four inch and a NIB Model 36, RB 3 inch last week. Neither gun had ever been fired. I paid $800.00 OTD for both guns from a Pawn and Gun in Amarillo. I can't imagaine paying a C-Note for a new S&W with a magic lock. I'll stick with the pre lock guns from S&W.

Jungle Work

[The Annoyed Man]

Can anyone explain to me why revolvers cost so much more.

It's a good question, but I have seen J frame S&W snubbies for something in the high $300s to mid $400s. But for that price, you don't get the airweight, the hammerless design, or the Crimson Trace laser grips. MSRP for the same pistol without the laser sight is $545.00, and I've seen them available NIB at the same shop were I paid $629 for the 642 Airweight with the Crimson Trace grips, for $529, or less. That set of Crimson Trace grips, by themselves, are $260 if purchased from S&W, and $300 if purchased from Crimson Trace. So if you buy the gun with the grips installed, you're only paying about $100 for a $260-$300 product.

And lots of modern Semi Autos have internal locking mechanisms now. My H&K USP Compact came with one that is activated with a key inserted up in the base of the mag well and which locks the main spring.

[aardwolf]

And lots of modern Semi Autos have internal locking mechanisms now. My H&K USP Compact came with one that is activated with a key inserted up in the base of the mag well and which locks the main spring.

That's a nice safety feature for a target pistol but I want my carry gun to go bang when I press the trigger.

[KaProw]

Wow, I really like the model 327 Night Guard. an 8rd .357mag w/ usable sights in a J-Frame is very appealing. I'm going to be on the look out for that one !

[The Annoyed Man]

And lots of modern Semi Autos have internal locking mechanisms now. My H&K USP Compact came with one that is activated with a key inserted up in the base of the mag well and which locks the main spring.

That's a nice safety feature for a target pistol but I want my carry gun to go bang when I press the trigger.

Agreed. And I don't keep mine locked like that - whether I'm carrying or not. That's what safes are for. That being said, Jungle Work said that he couldn't see buying a S&W revolver with a lock because of the price, and my point was that locks don't seem to affect the price much, lots of guns have them, including semi autos, and you don't have to use them.

I haven't yet heard of a gun's locking mechanism preventing the gun from firing, when the lock has not been engaged. I'm not advocating for them. I just don't let them bother me.

[DoubleJ]

When I fly, I always lock up my guns. with the Taurus, it's the little key lock in the hammer. with the Beretta, it's a cable lock.
sure, these things can be defeated, but IF someone does decide to "borrow" mah gun, least they'll have to fool with it for a while to get it to work!

[casingpoint]

Clearly, S&W has missed the concealed carry crowd by ignoring the new .327 round. An eight shot J-frame is beyond human expectations and the limits of engineering, but a six-shooter in that caliber would be welcomed.