“I gotta go to the bathroom.” “You gotta go, you gotta go.”
So began one of the most iconic scenes in mobster movie history, as Michael Corleone heads to the men’s room, to retrieve a hidden handgun to murder his father’s would-be assassin. The gun? A Smith & Wesson snub-nose revolver, chambered in .38 Special. When you think of the great detective movies, mafia movies and all of the books and documentaries of that era, the snub-nose .38 Special makes a constant appearance.
What is it about that particular handgun and cartridge combination that’s so iconic?
One would think that in a world of lightweight, striker-fired autoloading handguns—with their double-stacked magazines and tritium night sights—the short-barreled revolvers would have long ago gone the way of the dodo. But that’s not the case, for a number of good reasons. In fact, for many shooters, the snub-nose .38 Special makes a whole ton of sense.
Dating back to the late 1920s—where the Colt Detective Special made its debut—the snub-nose revolver is easily concealed, making it a perfect choice for the off-duty police offcer or plain-clothes police detective. Likewise, it makes a sound choice for those with a concealed carry permit who want the ability to
