Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
In 1950 S&W lengthened the I-frame, chambered it for the 38 Special and produced it as the J-frame “Chief’s Special”; they had an unqualified hit on their hands. About 7 years later S&W changed from model names to model numbers and the Chief’s Special became the Model 36. Prolific variations of that model were produced. When S&W introduced the first all stainless-steel revolver, it was the Chiefs Special that became the basis for the stainless-steel model 60.
S&W made lightweight versions of that little J-frame, they made nickel plated models, they made stainless-steel models, they made shrouded hammer models, they made square butt models and round butt models.
The slickest snubnose revolver of the J-frame clan (in my humble opinion) was the Centennial. This blued steel, internal hammer, 5 shot DAO snubnose 38 Special was the one I coveted. Introduced in 1952, the 100th year of Smith & Wesson’s existence and therefore named “Centennial”. The original models had a grip safety that could be used as intended or easily pinned down to delete that function. There was also a lightweight version of the same gun known as the Centennial Airweight. The Centennial and Centennial Airweight later became the model 40 and 42, respectively.
For reasons only known to Smith & Wesson, the models 40 & 42 were discontinued in 1974. Perhaps S&W believed the Bodyguard models (models 38 and 49) with their shrouded hammers, would fill the gap in the line? During that first 22-year run of the DAO models the finish options were blued carbon steel and nickel-plated carbon steel for the Centennial/Model 40 versions. The Airweight versions could be had blued and anodized, nickel and anodized and few two-tone models. Unfortunately, both the steel and Airweight models had enough carbon steel parts to be susceptible to rust; a common enemy of small combat handguns carried close to the body in all kinds of weather.
There must have been significant demand for the Centennial models because in 1989 S&W not only re-introduced the Centennial concept, BUT they produced it in STAINLESS STEEL as the model 640. This was much welcomed. S&W followed with the new Centennial Airweight equivalent model 442 in 1993. And then to really fan the flames of nostalgia – S&W introduced the 40-1 “Classic”, complete with the old grip safety. Some of those could be had with color case hardened frames or with nickel finish. In 2009 the Airweight version of the 42-1 was released. These re-releases of the 40-1 and 42-1 didn’t stay around but it sure was good to see them offered.
A friend has a pristine early model 40 that I had the privilege to shoot. I bonded with that gun instantly. It shot where I looked, and it did it every time effortlessly. I immediately offered obscene amounts of money for it. He would not sell it.
I have long sought a first-generation model 40. They seem to exist in only two conditions: Like new, collectors’ grade, with the accompanying tariff. Or thoroughly abused examples that are too light to be boat anchors and too expensive to be project guns. Prior to the introduction of the 640, my goal was to find a cheap but mechanically sound model 40 and pay to have some rough service finish such as NP3 or Black-T applied. When the 640 was introduced, I abandoned that expensive plan and found a stainless-steel model that needed nothing. All was right in the world.
S&W made lightweight versions of that little J-frame, they made nickel plated models, they made stainless-steel models, they made shrouded hammer models, they made square butt models and round butt models.
The slickest snubnose revolver of the J-frame clan (in my humble opinion) was the Centennial. This blued steel, internal hammer, 5 shot DAO snubnose 38 Special was the one I coveted. Introduced in 1952, the 100th year of Smith & Wesson’s existence and therefore named “Centennial”. The original models had a grip safety that could be used as intended or easily pinned down to delete that function. There was also a lightweight version of the same gun known as the Centennial Airweight. The Centennial and Centennial Airweight later became the model 40 and 42, respectively.
For reasons only known to Smith & Wesson, the models 40 & 42 were discontinued in 1974. Perhaps S&W believed the Bodyguard models (models 38 and 49) with their shrouded hammers, would fill the gap in the line? During that first 22-year run of the DAO models the finish options were blued carbon steel and nickel-plated carbon steel for the Centennial/Model 40 versions. The Airweight versions could be had blued and anodized, nickel and anodized and few two-tone models. Unfortunately, both the steel and Airweight models had enough carbon steel parts to be susceptible to rust; a common enemy of small combat handguns carried close to the body in all kinds of weather.
There must have been significant demand for the Centennial models because in 1989 S&W not only re-introduced the Centennial concept, BUT they produced it in STAINLESS STEEL as the model 640. This was much welcomed. S&W followed with the new Centennial Airweight equivalent model 442 in 1993. And then to really fan the flames of nostalgia – S&W introduced the 40-1 “Classic”, complete with the old grip safety. Some of those could be had with color case hardened frames or with nickel finish. In 2009 the Airweight version of the 42-1 was released. These re-releases of the 40-1 and 42-1 didn’t stay around but it sure was good to see them offered.
A friend has a pristine early model 40 that I had the privilege to shoot. I bonded with that gun instantly. It shot where I looked, and it did it every time effortlessly. I immediately offered obscene amounts of money for it. He would not sell it.
I have long sought a first-generation model 40. They seem to exist in only two conditions: Like new, collectors’ grade, with the accompanying tariff. Or thoroughly abused examples that are too light to be boat anchors and too expensive to be project guns. Prior to the introduction of the 640, my goal was to find a cheap but mechanically sound model 40 and pay to have some rough service finish such as NP3 or Black-T applied. When the 640 was introduced, I abandoned that expensive plan and found a stainless-steel model that needed nothing. All was right in the world.
