I have my eye on one of these at a local shop. Flat latch, high horn grips, 12 thousand range. It has an aluminum frame and a steel cylinder. It's not an especially good deal as marked. But I am a sucker for old guns, no excuses. Anyway. are the old pre model marked air-weights considered strong durable guns, or do they have a shortened useable working life. I inspected this one for cracks in the frame around the barrel, saw none, but I wouldn't want a gun that I had to really molly coddle. I hate that word as much as I would hate having to do it with a gun.
Thanks

They’re strong enough, but still, I wouldn’t buy an old one with the idea of using it a lot. You’ll have zero warranty and S&W would probably decline to work on it. If you do buy it, I would shoot it sparingly - with standard pressure ammo. JMHO.

Strong?

Not by today's standards. I would call it average

I agree with M29since14 shoot standard pressure ammunition in it.

If you want to shoot more powerful ammunition, purchase a more modern Centennial, one that is designed to take the extra stress and has a warranty along with parts availability

There is nothing wrong with buying the old gun just because you like it. There is no law that says you must shoot it.

I carry a Model 12-2 from 1963 that I shoot regularly with standard pressure ammo. The Winchester "Defend" ammo is great.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

There have been a number of the alum J frame guns that have cracked the frame at the barrel threads as has my M-38~~ I epoxied it but don't have much faith in that. S&W never answered my email inquiries~~~I owned the gun for years and have no idea when the frame cracked????

Thanks for the information. I am going to pass.

If it's a Centennial in the 12K s/n range then I'm a little surprised it's not model marked as a Model 42. I have a Model 42 12K and a pre 40 in 8K range shipped in 1957. I would think that was probably shipped in the early 1960s to mid 1960s. They only went to 30K by 1970 as they have their own Serial number system separate from the J frames like the model 37 and 38 in the air weights. But it's very possible it was not model marked and shipped later. The Centennials did not sell well in the beginning as you can see.. 30K over 18 years.


I have several pre Model 40 and 42s I would have no problem shooting or carrying. But, if you are not buying as a collector/enthusiast I agree I would buy a newer SS 642 or 640. I prefer the 649-3 chambered in .357 for carry. I prefer to be able to shoot in SA or DA which the Model 38/49 series gets you. The .357 I like as it wakes everyone up the the range... fun factor. I don't carry .357s in it as the .38 special is easier to control. We all have our favorites.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Airweight Centennials, like the old M42’s and M38s are strong enough for their intended use.

They aren’t intended for high volume shooting in comparison with a K38 or M15 or M14.

If you want to shoot tens of thousands of rounds over the gun’s lifetime, you’ll be better off with a steel framed gun: more for your comfort and enjoyable shooting than concern over the gun’s durability.

If you locate an airweight Centennial or M42 (or M38) that isn’t cracked now, it’s unlikely to fail on an indefinite diet of 50 rounds a month of standard pressure, standard velocity ammo.

If you’re like many folks now days that chase the upper limits of ballistics for standard velocity 38 Special in a 2” barreled gun, then the old airweight Centenials and M42s aren’t for you.

What folks miss is that the older airweight Centennials, M42s and M38s are physically smaller and svelte compared with the larger frames found on modern 638s and 642s. That makes them superior pocket pistols.

If you’re going to use the old airweight Centennial as it was intended, it’s plenty strong.