Smith & Wesson Centennial Model 40

[427]

I thought some of you snub/J-frame might like to see my Model 40.

It's one of the newer ones that can eat +P ammo. It has no lock, but there were a set of keys included which I thought was strange, but whatever!

The grip safety is cool, but the trigger pull is like 12Lbs. The trigger is case colored, too.

The only thing I did was add a Tyler-T and that's it. I think it's a cool piece!

I don't think the Centennials are in production anymore.

Please excuse my dark picts from my cheapie camera.

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt354/MattP427/000_1942.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt354/MattP427/000_1943.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt354/MattP427/000_1946.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt354/MattP427/000_1948.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt354/MattP427/000_1949.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt354/MattP427/000_1950.jpg

[Gregg702]

Very cool little gun, thanks for sharing.

[ca survivor]

Nice, enjoy

[TN.Frank]

IIRC they stopped putting the grip safety(Lemon Squeezer) on em' long before they were rated for +P. I'd double check the SN# and date of manufacture before I'd run much +P thru it. Hit the S&W Forum if you want to find out more about it. Lots of great folks over there that'll be willing to help give you more info.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum.php

Centennials are still being made but they're called the 642 today. The reason that the little enclosed hammer J-Frame got the name "Centennial" was because it was brought out in 1952, the Centennial of S&W's company being started.

[Berto]

S&W reintroduced the 40 in their 'Classic' series and they are no lock +P rated guns.

I love the case hardened finish on the new ones.

[TN.Frank]

S&W reintroduced the 40 in their 'Classic' series and they are no lock +P rated guns.

I love the case hardened finish on the new ones.

Ahh, ok, that explains it then. :supergrin:

I remember once, many years ago(I was probably 12 or 13) being down here in Tennessee on vacation with the folks. Dad and I stopped in at a market on the side of the road to get a soda and something to eat and somehow we got to talking about guns. The store owner, an older guy, pulled out a Centennial of his pocket to show dad and I. I thought it was pretty cool back then and now I own the grandson of that gun, the 642. Funny how guns a person sees or learns about in his youth can effect our choices now.

[Six4Sure]

Very nice, I would love a centennial with the grip safety. The classic line definitely has the better looks then my airweight. If only they all had the bluing like that!

[427]

IIRC they stopped putting the grip safety(Lemon Squeezer) on em' long before they were rated for +P. I'd double check the SN# and date of manufacture before I'd run much +P thru it. Hit the S&W Forum if you want to find out more about it. Lots of great folks over there that'll be willing to help give you more info.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum.php

Centennials are still being made but they're called the 642 today. The reason that the little enclosed hammer J-Frame got the name "Centennial" was because it was brought out in 1952, the Centennial of S&W's company being started.

These are reissues of the classics. I bought this new. The date on the envelope for the spent shell is 03-24-08 and the left side of the barrel is roll marked ".38 S&W Special+P. :wavey:

[427]

Thanks for the compliments, everybody!!!

[kahrcarrier]

That is a very sweet carry revolver you have there............ Congrats!

[lilrinn1019]

i carry a centennial model 442 alot they are awesome revolvers

[Bruce M]

Very nice!

[Locoweed]

The original model is the model 40. The new classic line is the model 40-1. If it says 40-1 (look under the yoke) then it's okay with +P. The 40-1 is available in plain steel, nickel and color case hardened. No lock on any of them.

[DFin]

What did S&W do differently to make their steel J's able to handle +P? I have a 1982 made model 60. That was before S&W came out with the +P designation. Is it unsafe to put +P cartridges in it?

[TN.Frank]

What did S&W do differently to make their steel J's able to handle +P? I have a 1982 made model 60. That was before S&W came out with the +P designation. Is is unsafe to put +P cartridges in it?

Probably something to do with the alloy of the steel or the heat treatment. Just a guess though.

[snubfan]

What did S&W do differently to make their steel J's able to handle +P? I have a 1982 made model 60. That was before S&W came out with the +P designation. Is is unsafe to put +P cartridges in it?
I think it has something to do with the strength of the metal then and now. I have a Model 60 that I run +P's through that was made in the 70's. A gunsmith that I know said it would be fine running some every now and then, just don't do extended range sessions with them. I run 5 or 10 rounds through it once in a while and keep it loaded with them for carry. It hasn't hurt mine at all. It's still tight and still more accurate than I am.YMMV.

[Glock40man]

Very cool, congrats!

[pennlineman]

Cool gun 427. My LGS had a 42-2 like yours, it was a neat gun. I put an old 27-2 on layaway instead. If it's still there I may snag it up later. They have a habbit of getting more than one nice S&W in at a time. It make it hard to choose sometimes.

[427]

Thanks guys!

It's a 40-1. I got it at a LGS for a discount. It was a display model that has a tiny but noticeable wear spot from people picking it up and putting it down on the counter barrel first on it's right side. Since it hadn't sold for a while because of the cosmetic issue, I got a bit of a break on the price. A touch of Sharpie takes care of the spot!

Shooting regular ammo wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in terms of recoil. That being said it's not something that'd I can't wait to shoot, if you know what I mean.

An older shooting buddy gave me a couple of boxes of LE ammo that he calls the "FBI" load. It's a 158gr LHP that's +P. I'm sort of afraid to fire these out of the snubbie.

My buddy also says that he has some factory ammo called the "Treasury" load. From what I'm reading, I don't think I'll be shooting them out of my little revolver.

[Berto]

THe FBI load won't hurt that gun, the "Treasury Load" is a +P+ 110gr, which is hot, but won't hurt anything in limited quantities.