One of the biggest pieces of firearms news so far in 2025 is Smith & Wesson's just-announced "Classic" line, with which the venerable company has officially eliminated the internal lock system. (You see, back in the mid-20th century, Smith's carry-size revolvers were all like that!) In fact, each gun in the line was created as an homage to those iconic and collectible designs, but it's not just about nostalgia or collectibility. These "classic" guns are enhanced to meet the needs of today’s shooters.
The advantage is that the trigger pull tends to be much smoother and crisper without that internal lock. In this great video, Shooting Illustrated's Kevin Creighton tests that trigger with the J-frame-sized Model 36 depicted here. (Smith & Wesson's Classic line also includes a Model 10 and a Model 19.)
Chambered in 38 Special +P, the Model 36 Classic offers a five-shot capacity. It has a 1.88" pencil-style barrel that pairs a fixed-blade front sight with an integral slot-in-frame rear sight. With a blued carbon steel frame and cylinder, its nostalgic finish should be just as hardy as the old 1950's-era wheelguns, many of which are still in service today. MSRP $849; www.smith-wesson.com.
