Smith & Wesson Revives Model 648 .22-Cal. Revolver

I think I might actually be drooling.

The Model 648 might be the greatest “first handgun” of all time…

The news that Smith & Wesson has finally decided to bring the Model 648 back to market has already got my accountant in a cold sweat and my credit-card issuer popping champagne. This long-barreled medium-frame revolver, chambered in .22WMR, may very well be the greatest “first handgun” of all time. The long sight radius and aggressive sights make it easy for a new shooter to acquire a proper sight picture. The weight of the “K-Frame” (which is what Smith calls their medium-sized revolvers) reduces the already-negligible recoil from the .22 chambering to nothing, so the new shooter can focus on their fundamentals instead of trying not to flinch. Finally, the fact that it’s a revolver makes loading, unloading, and verifying an empty chamber simplicity itself, even for people who are only just now collecting a clue.

But you don’t have to be a beginner to love the 648; it’s still one of America’s favorite handguns for leisurely plinking, target shooting, and even hunting for small game. Fashioned from stainless steel and boasting an adjustable rear sight and patridge front sight for enhanced accuracy, this eight-round revolver is every bit as serious and hardy a shooter as it is fun. It also sports a full underlug 6-inch barrel and black synthetic finger-groove grips.

Jan Mladek, General Manager of Smith & Wesson and M&P brands, said, “Built on the medium K-frame, the Model 648 is back in production to satisfy the needs of handgun owners who are looking to achieve greater  distance while hunting or target shooting.  With a full underlug six-inch barrel and a patridge front sight, the Model 648 has been designed with features to boost accuracy at longer distances.  While we currently offer .22 Magnum revolvers in both our J-frame and Classics line, we are excited to add this new .22 Magnum revolver to the modern K-frame lineup.”

Available now for an MSRP of $749; click here to learn more.