I’ve always been enamored — is it okay to be enamored? — with the Model 12. If you’re not up to speed, it’s a K-Frame S&W with an aluminum alloy frame weighing about 18 oz. in the 2″ version. Early guns were made for the Airforce and even had aluminum cylinders, but it was soon found they just didn’t hold up. Introduced to the commercial market around 1953, the same gun with aluminum cylinder suffered from the same ills — go figure — so the aluminum cylinder got tossed for a steel one. Problem solved. From then until about 1986 the Model 12 (in four “generations”) remained in the Smith catalog in blue or nickel. I’m blessed with one of each flavor thanks to my talking Tiger McKee out of his nickel one lately. Don’t hate me Tiger.
When I was a new cop, I stumbled onto a blued police trade-in Model 12 with a 4″ barrel from, of all places, the Hong Kong police department. It even had a lanyard loop. It was just an old cop gun in those days and I think I paid something like $125 for it. It was actually minty inside with little sign of being fired, just carried a lot. While I loved J-Frames and D-Frame Colts — and still do — the K-Frame sized Model 12 simply handles better. Being a “full-sized” K-Frame, the bigger grip, better sights, longer/smoother action make it much easier to handle and shoot accurately.
I took to that Model 12 fast and carried it off and on for quite some time. I did have the sense not to beat it up with hot ammo — they just can’t take +P stuff — and with a diet of primarily .38 Special Target Wadcutters, it’s still alive and kicking. I did customize it in the late 1980s — check out the picture — and snubbing the hammer and shortening the barrel to about 3″ really made it handy.
To put some perspective into things, a J-Frame Model 36 (steel) weighs about 19 oz. and carries five rounds. An “Airweight” J-Frame like the classic Model 37 weighs pretty close to 14 oz. depending on the grip style. So with a 2″ Model 12, you get all the advantage I talked about, in about the same weight range. Speaking of weight, for more reference, that elegant little .22 LR in the pic on p. 96, the Model 43, has an aluminum cylinder and is a feathery 14 oz. The Colt Cobra in another pic manages a comfy 16.5 oz. while the more austere early Agent (with Tyler T-Grip) is about 15 oz. give or take. Almost birds of a feather, if you will.
But we’re back to what I learned earlier. Even with six shots, the Colt models are smaller than the Model 12, but the distinctive Colt action which sort of “stacks” as you pull the trigger, makes them not quite as friendly to shoot as the bigger Model 12. You’ll feel it the instant you pick them up. For shooting, I’d take the Model 12, while for simply carrying around, with little shooting, the smaller guns win — barely. Slightly bigger means a bit tougher to conceal in a pocket, sure, but lord, the 2″ Model 12’s are delightful to shoot! And frankly, as accurate as any 4″ at 15 or 25 yards. Decisions, eh?
