Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-16-2010, 05:04 PM
kingofnapier kingofnapier is offline
Member
Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures?  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Can you please help me identify pictures?

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out what I have and what it's worth. This is a .38 spl with a four digit serial number beginninng in "1". Is this what they call "flat latch with five screw? Thanks a lot!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Picture 264.jpg (38.7 KB, 108 views)
File Type: jpg Picture 265.jpg (39.3 KB, 109 views)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-16-2010, 05:12 PM
murphydog's Avatar
murphydog murphydog is offline
Moderator
Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures?  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,741
Likes: 913
Liked 18,816 Times in 9,217 Posts
Default

Hi, and welcome! This is either a Centennial or Centennial Airweight (steel or alloy frame?). This is probably a four-screw, as the fifth screw at the front base of the trigger guard was deleted from production before this model was introduced. (The fourth side plate screw is under the stock panel on the right.) The steel-framed one was later called the model 40, and the alloy the model 42.

If the bore/chambers/mechanicals are good and its finish is just grimy, probably in the $500-600 range - if the photos show rust/pitting, quite a bit less. Hope this is helpful.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-16-2010, 05:23 PM
Art Doc's Avatar
Art Doc Art Doc is offline
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures?  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The kidney of Dixie.
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 49
Liked 13,408 Times in 3,290 Posts
Default

The Centennial was introduced in 1952 and the front screw dropped years later so a very early example may have it. It does have the flat latch (cylinder release). I think this was changed around 1964 or so.

If it's model marked on the frame under the cylinder crane it will say M40 (steel) or M42 (alloy). If not model marked then it was made before 1957.

These are popular but this gun looks to be in pretty sorry condition as far as finish. Would still be a good carry gun (I have one that looks even worse and I like to pack because I figure I can't hurt it any more) but $600 would get a like new example. This one MIGHT bring $250 or so from someone who wanted a carry gun and didn't care about appearances.


This is my beat up carry piece with the stag grips I got for $6. Below it is a near pristine example that I can't bring myself to carry.





__________________
No life story has happy end.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-17-2010, 11:01 AM
red9 red9 is offline
SWCA Member
Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures?  
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1,038
Liked 2,448 Times in 454 Posts
Default

I'm not as smart as Saxon Pig. On top is the once-pristine early model 42 marked Centennial that I carried off duty for many years, hoping that, if ever needed, it would survive five rounds of +P. Our department required that to carry a 2" Smith, you had to qualify with a 2" Smith. Below is the original Lew Horton m. 60 Target that I bought new and only fired once a year for qualifying. As I said, not smart.

Bob Hart #946
Attached Images
File Type: jpg m.42-60 002.jpg (88.2 KB, 44 views)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-17-2010, 12:41 PM
Art Doc's Avatar
Art Doc Art Doc is offline
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures?  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The kidney of Dixie.
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 49
Liked 13,408 Times in 3,290 Posts
Default

If I NEEDED to carry it I would. Have the old one so leaving the new alone... for now. But I have shot it and the other one with my +P+ loads with no effect to the guns.
__________________
No life story has happy end.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-17-2010, 01:25 PM
Combat_Diver's Avatar
Combat_Diver Combat_Diver is offline
US Veteran
Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures? Can you please help me identify pictures?  
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 587
Likes: 125
Liked 134 Times in 58 Posts
Default

kingofnaiper,

Believe you have a model 40 steel. Alloys should not rust on the frame like that.

CD
__________________
De Oppresso Liber
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-17-2010, 02:06 PM
Pisgah Pisgah is offline
Member
Can you please help me identify pictures?  
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 37
Liked 5,408 Times in 1,753 Posts
Default

Given good mechanical condition, I would buy that gun, but I'd probably go no higher than $250. It appears to be a good candidate for a refinish, if you leaned that way. I'd probably just clean it up , oil it, load it, shoot it, carry it -- warts and all.
__________________
Pisgah
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
airweight, centennial, lew horton, model 40, model 42, stag

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Can anyone identify the gun in these pictures? Hapworth The Lounge 16 11-15-2015 09:15 PM
Help Identify M41 I Just Bought (with pictures) 11Spot Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 17 05-31-2012 09:29 PM
Boar and Ram hunting in Oklahoma! Graphic pictures added! Mount Pictures added! Skip Sackett Reloading 46 01-08-2011 02:44 PM
Lake Fog at Sunrise Pictures - Added Buffalo River Pictures bmhiii The Lounge 16 08-21-2009 11:17 PM
Got my Smith 625 back yesterday...now with pictures! And more pictures! AZ Shooter S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 9 07-16-2008 08:21 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:28 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)