Smith & Wesson just dropped a gem that’s got revolver purists grinning ear-to-ear: the Field Ethos Model 36 DAO, a no-lock 38 Special snubnose cooked up in collaboration with Field Ethos adventure magazine. This isn’t some watered-down modern reinterpretation—it’s a deliberate throwback to the Chiefs Special roots of the original Model 36, stripping away internal locks that have plagued S&W’s post-2000 lineup and delivering that pure, old-school mechanical soul. Double-action-only trigger for simplicity in the field, boot-grip friendly 2-inch barrel, and chambered in trusty .38 Special +P capable rounds. At a glance, it’s the kind of pocket rocket you’d trust for backcountry bear spray backup or urban gray man carry, evoking the gritty ethos of hunters and explorers who don’t mess with battery-dependent gadgets.
What makes this collaboration sing for the 2A crowd is the unapologetic nod to heritage amid today’s regulatory headwinds. Field Ethos, with its rugged outdoor focus, pairs perfectly with S&W’s revival of lock-free J-frames—think of it as a middle finger to the nanny-state fears that birthed those safety features in the first place. No more worries about glitchy locks failing at the worst moment; this is reliable, heirloom-grade engineering that screams self-reliance. Implications? It’s a market signal: demand for purist, California-compliant (sans the lock) classics is surging, pressuring manufacturers to ditch the fluff. For concealed carriers and woods runners, it’s a sub-$1,000 (MSRP around $900) invitation to rediscover why snubbies ruled before polymer fever—light, lethal, and utterly dependable.
In a sea of striker-fired striker-fired striker-fired, this Model 36 is a reminder that sometimes the best defense is the one your grandpa carried. If you’re building a wheelgun collection or need a trail gun that won’t ghost you, hunt one down quick—these limited collabs vanish faster than ammo during a panic buy. S&W’s betting on nostalgia with teeth, and the 2A community should cheer it on as a win for freedom-forward design. Who’s grabbing one for the holster?
