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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #151  
Old 02-03-2014, 11:28 PM
craigevans013 craigevans013 is offline
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I just joined the forum. I thought I'd add my baby to the mix. Serial #49xx
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  #152  
Old 02-13-2014, 02:43 PM
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My nickel m40 with 4th screw sn 16xxx
And blue m42 sn 19xxx like to keep a good thread going
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Old 05-29-2014, 09:27 PM
old tanker old tanker is online now
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Default Late to the thread, but here it is...

Here's my Model 40, serial 29108, a little peace, love and understanding from the Sixties. A classic S&W 03 shoulder holster. All I need now is a Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT 390, although it was a Diamondback that graced Steve McQueen's "Bullitt" holster.
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Old 06-08-2015, 07:53 AM
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This pistol appears to have a 1964 production date and is marked mod-40 in the crane recess with a 239xx serial number. But, the side plate is a 4 screw and it has the earlier cylinder release. Possibly another example of using parts made much earlier in a later assembly?
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Old 06-08-2015, 07:59 AM
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Default Serial number 239xx second pic

Not sure why the pics are upside down and was unable to attach them on the same page,my apologies
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Old 06-08-2015, 10:07 AM
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I recently purchased this one from a Gunbroker auction. It is serial #20978. It has the 4th screw and is stamped Model 40 in the crane area.



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Old 07-09-2015, 09:28 PM
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Default My "new" Centennial!!!

Just received this early Centennial. Serial 3XXX. Have not had time to take my own photos yet, this one was supplied by the seller. Looks like it was made yesterday, except they don't, unfortunately, make them like this anymore. Wish they did! I have had the rare treat to see the old drop forge in action at the Smith factory back in the seventies. Even then, quality was falling off somewhat from its peak. But as much as I may lament the demise of the old hand fitting that was a trade mark of Smith craftsmanship, I must admit that modern metallurgy has allowed us to have 11.4 ounce Centennials that are only a fraction larger than this one, and capable of withstanding .357 magnum pressures. (Whether WE can stand the recoil is another issue!!!). Anyway, I have several of each, so I can enjoy the best of the past and the present. This one shipped December 1953.

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Old 09-20-2015, 11:07 PM
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digging up an old post

i recently purchased a model 42 serial# 131XX
looking to find out the year and approximate value.
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Old 11-12-2015, 08:29 PM
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I just finished reading the whole thread. What a goldmine of 40/42 info, but so many variations! I recently acquired a Mod 42 Airweight. High horn grips numbered to the gun. "BUG" screw on the top right side plate (5 screw?) Still has the lock-out pin under the grips.
In an earlier post, "Mbliss57" was looking for the highest serial number with a BUG screw. I think I'm the winner with S/N 13738.
I have no idea when it was shipped. Roy Jinks isn't accepting any more letter requests until Jan.1.
This is a really cool little gun in about 98% condition. I like it a lot - unfortunately so does my wife. I may have to get her a 642, so the 42 can retire to the safe.
Great thread. Keep it going!
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Old 11-14-2015, 02:54 PM
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Well, 3S16, I'm sure that I echo the feelings of the rest of the forum... How about a picture??? We love pictures!!! Especially of really neat guns like the one you describe...
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Old 06-25-2016, 01:37 PM
Jlang13 Jlang13 is offline
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Default New to me Model 42

I just joined this forum as a result of finding the 42 I have now. Any information would be appreciated as it does not seem to fit the time line in the initial post. The sn is 137XX and 42 is stamped in side the crane. It has the 4 screw sideplate along with the extra retaining screw. As pictured it has the high horn stocks and the locking pin is present in the grip frame. Overal the gun is in excellent condition with no signs of wear or being refinished.
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Old 06-25-2016, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Jlang13 View Post
I just joined this forum as a result of finding the 42 I have now. Any information would be appreciated as it does not seem to fit the time line in the initial post. The sn is 137XX and 42 is stamped in side the crane. It has the 4 screw sideplate along with the extra retaining screw. As pictured it has the high horn stocks and the locking pin is present in the grip frame. Overal the gun is in excellent condition with no signs of wear or being refinished.
Jlang13:

Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum!!! I love Smiths, but I think I have more of this particular style of snub nose than any other type. Partly because they are very collectible and also practical.

I am not an expert, and there will probably be someone along shortly with some more explicit information.

The Model 42 was numbered concurrently with the all steel model 40. Production began in 1952. Smith and Wesson did not assign model numbers to their guns until 1957. You say that the gun has the four screw sideplate, yet that feature, the upper sideplate screw was deleted in 1955. Also, with this upper screw having the locking screw, which was only present in the very early guns.This seems to be a conflict. Are you sure that you are quoting the serial number? There is sometimes an assembly number, which is not the serial number, stamped inside the crane. The serial number would be the number stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. This number that you are quoting seems to be low enough that it matches the locking screw on the upper sideplate screw, but the "42" model number on the frame would indicate post 1957 manufacture. Please get back with some clarification on the serial number, with some detailed photos as well.

Edit, 7:22 pm, June 25, 2016: Reading over the earlier posts, I see the following, from post 146 on this thread, posted 10/24/2013, and I am copying from it here:

"I bought this a couple of weeks ago from "noconeetrader" aka Handejector...
It is a very very nice early model 42 from 1958. S/N 12284. The interesting thing about this is the very late date to still have the "bug screw" on the upper side plate. I have some early examples from 1953/54 with the Bug screw. See earlier posts. July 18 2013.
However, Peter2772000 has one 50 numbers different from mine also with the Bug Screw. Sn 12234. So the Bug screw may have been used much later than stated in SCSW. It is also possible when the upper side plate screw didn't seat well they just used them randomly until there was a design change. The pics are from "Noconeetrader" His are better than I could take."

So it seems that there may be a precedent for these higher serial numbers to have the Bug, or retaining screw. I am sure that someone will be along soon who knows more than I do. By the way, one of those guys who are very knowledgeable is the gentleman named in the above quote, "Noconeetrader" is the owner of this forum, "handejector", or also known as Lee Jarrett. He knows a heck of a lot more about Smith and Wessons than I do, and he might drop by to comment on yours. There are many other experts here on the forum, including the guys who "wrote the book", literally, the "Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson", which is now in the 3rd edition, with the 4th on the way. If you don't have this book, you need to get it.

But your serial is still higher than the one in the quote, and I'm still befuddled.

End edit

Also, it would be interesting to see which latch is present on the left side of the frame. These can also help in determining vintage.

Anyway, congratulations on a great collectible, as well as a gun you can carry for self defense.

I have quite a number of these in both steel and aluminum frames, and even recent ones with titanium and scandium frames. All the way from first year production to last year production. They are great carry guns, and have no protruding edges to catch on clothing when drawn, and could even be shot from a pocket in extreme circumstances, although I would not necessarily advise it.

Best Regards, Les
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Old 06-25-2016, 09:36 PM
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Default My new 42

Hi Les,
The questions you raise are the same that I have. I am attempting to post pics of th ser. no. ,cylinder release, model no. inside of the crane. You can see the bug screw in the pic already posted.
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Old 06-25-2016, 09:38 PM
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Cylinder latch pic
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Old 06-25-2016, 09:39 PM
Jlang13 Jlang13 is offline
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Model no. picture
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Old 06-25-2016, 10:15 PM
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Hi Les,
The questions you raise are the same that I have. I am attempting to post pics of th ser. no. ,cylinder release, model no. inside of the crane. You can see the bug screw in the pic already posted.
Well, Jlang, I'm not ashamed to say when I'm out of my depth. I'm going to PM one of the experts, and ask him take a look at your and my posts, and maybe see if he can shed a little light on this gun. In the meantime, maybe one of the other experts will be along.

One thing about this forum that makes it the best on the 'net, is that there are real experts here, that there are passionate scholars here, and that there are dedicated, knowledgeable collectors here, sometimes they are all the same person. You will always get generous, thoughtful, and courteous information here.

This may be one of the revolvers that would warrant obtaining a factory letter. It would clarify some of the information, and tell you where the gun was shipped, and any particular information that is in the factory records.

I'll be back soon,

Best Regards, Les
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Old 06-25-2016, 11:53 PM
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Default One more for the list

Found a nice old Model 40 no-dash at a gun show today. S/N L27xx. Three-screw frame, smooth low-horn grips numbered to the gun, with gold colored medallions, and the late-pattern latch. Incredibly tight mechanically, with just enough honest blue wear to give it a little "character". I'm guessing it's from about 1972.

I went to the show intending to buy a Shield, but I couldn't pass this one up. Kind of a grail gun for me since my uncle had one when I was a kid. I cleaned it up when I got it home, put a Tyler (my LAST one!) on it, and shot it just enough before dark to be satisfied that it hits where it looks. It will go into the carry rotation tomorrow.

Love this thread!

Last edited by Snuffy2; 06-25-2016 at 11:57 PM. Reason: new info
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Old 06-26-2016, 09:38 PM
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Model no. picture
Jlang13:

This photo is just too blurry for me to make out. Could you try to get a clearer shot? This is, after all, one of the clues at the heart of trying to pin down this revolver.

Best Regards, Les
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Old 06-26-2016, 10:55 PM
Jlang13 Jlang13 is offline
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Here is a better shot of the model number.
Also, I am having an issue posting more than one photo to a post, any suggestions?
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Old 06-26-2016, 11:12 PM
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Jlang13:

Well, I have heard back from one of the real authorities on Smith and Wessons in general, and especially on the little "I" frames, and "J" frames. Your Model 42 is a "J" frame. He goes by "Hondo44" here on the forum, and whenever I run across his posts, I try to pay particular attention, as I am usually about to learn something. He has given me permission to post his reply to my PM inquiry to him. Here is his message:


"Hi Les,


#1. One must recognize Centennial models are a breed of their own. During they're entire initial production run from 1952 thru 1974, both models, steel and airweight, barely sold over 40,000 units. They were slow movers, hence deleted from the line in '74. IMO they were ahead of their time, even though based on the same concept of a much older design. They are much more popular today than in the past. See the significance of being a slow seller and its affect on its time line below.

#2. The SCSW is a great source, but not perfect. This is especially true of the the '50s I and J frame sections. They were collector 'orphans' whose focus was on the glamorous N and K frames of the period. Only now are they becoming appreciated. Jim Supica was happy to get my corrections to the 3rd ed. for his 4th edition, because 90% of that I submitted dealt with correcting information about the I and J frames of the '50s.

#3. As you know, nothing with S&W is absolute. And S&W never attempted to assemble or ship their guns in evolutionary or serial # order. They forged and machined frames in large batches and stuck them in inventory. When they decided to build more, they just grabbed a batch of soft fitted assemblies, stamped with the 3 assembly #s, (but un-serial numbered), from stock; serial numbered them from a block of numbers and completed them. The block of numbers could be a block of serial #s higher than an unused block of lower numbers, saved for another model using the same serial range, such as the airweight. They paid no attention to which evolution of frame/yoke/side plate assemblies that they grabbed. The 'first in, last out' rule prevailed.

So there are many anachronisms (serial numbered guns with early features way out of the normal considered time line). This is exacerbated when we talk about 'slow movers' like Centennial frames that sat in stock much longer! We see lower #'d 3 screw frames that were forged/machined last, but completed before higher or lower serial #d 4 screw or 4 screw with bug screw frames.

Another anomoly: lower numbered guns completed first, can be placed in the back of the safe, with higher # guns filling the shelf towards the front of the safe as the batch is completed. Which do they grab first to fill an order; walk to the back of the shelf for lower #d guns? Nope, the ones in front with higher #s get shipped first!

So I see no issue with 4 Screw frames, or even 4 screw with bug screw frames shipped in 1957, or later and stamped with Model #s. So although the upper side plate screw deletion was ordered 12/13/55, we still see them being assembled and/or shipped long after.

I'm in the minority because 'shipped dates' mean little to me. They don't reflect production time all that well, especially again, on slow moving models. That's why I'm more interested in the evolutionary features of a model.

A word about assembly #s:

Assembly (factory work) #s: These multi-digit numbers of 3 to 5 digits, are on the yoke at the hinge, in the ‘yoke cut’ on frame opposite the yoke near the hinge, and inside of the sideplate, for the pre war and early post war period. The assembly # in the yoke cut of the frame was relocated to the left side of grip frame after model #s were assigned and the serial # was added in the ‘yoke cut’ where the assembly #, now moved to the left side of the grip frame, used to be. You know they are assembly (factory work) #s because of those 3 locations that always match on guns that are original, and that’s the only usefulness for them after guns leave the factory: still used to this day, long after serial number locations decreased.

I hope this captures the essence of your question. If not, pls let me know.

Jim"

Well, I would still like to see a better photo of the crane recess stamp for "MOD 42". And I would still advise you to invest in a factory letter from Roy Jinks, the Smith and Wesson Historian.

Best Regards, Les
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Old 12-19-2016, 04:10 AM
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Default My model 42

Inherited from my mom. Was her EDC.
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Old 12-19-2016, 04:19 AM
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Greetings, Everyone.






.


Small gun great peace of mind

Enviado desde mi XT1580 mediante Tapatalk

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Old 04-03-2017, 04:55 AM
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I purchased an S&W model 40-1 several years ago when they were reintroduced. As I accumulate J Frames, does anyone know of someone who could duplicate the original high horn smooth stocks? Also I wonder how hard it would be to drill the frame and grip safety for a locking pin. I have a period correct Tyler T Grip. Everything would be correct but the cylinder stop
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Old 07-12-2017, 05:48 PM
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Was wondering if anyone has an idea of exactly how many model 40's with the "L" prefix serial number were made from '68 to '74? I know from my 4th edition book they shared that "L" prefix with the 42 and they ended with L9861. Got one I'm looking at at a local store that is L760'X' and am curious. Thing is mint with a minor turn ring, but sadly no box.
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Old 07-12-2017, 11:27 PM
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For the record here's my '55 steel model. All the numbers match.

Slàinte,

Bob
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Old 10-15-2017, 04:12 PM
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I have been looking for a pre-40 Centennial for several months. I had three things in mind while I looked. It had to be presentable. It could not be so nice that I was afraid to just stick it in my pocket on the weekend. It had to be under $550.
A couple of weeks ago, I found this one in about 90% condition for $535 delivered. I'm very happy with it.

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Old 10-15-2017, 11:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce5781 View Post
I have been looking for a pre-40 Centennial for several months. .... I'm very happy with it.
Rightly so, bruce. Congratulations! You did very well.

The Centennial was my "must have." Everything else sort of pales in comparison. Yours is a beauty.

Wear it in good health.

Bob
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Old 06-25-2018, 06:09 AM
JordonC2 JordonC2 is offline
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Default Bug Screw 42

Hi I just picked up this 42.
Learned a lot about it reading this thread.
Anything else you can tell me about this gun would be great!
Orig. Box and high horn grips.
Has the bug screw and the grip safety lockout pin!
S#125XX
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Old 06-28-2018, 06:53 PM
JordonC2 JordonC2 is offline
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Hi my post is above.
Can anyone give me a value? I received an offer and I am not sure if I am getting taken. I don't need to get every last penny, but I would like a fair deal. If anyone can help please PM.
What is this thing worth?
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Old 06-28-2018, 07:10 PM
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Jordan, value may depend on a few things we don't know from the photo. For example, is it stamped model 42? Or are you calling it that because eventually the Cenntenniel Airweight became the 42?... Does the serial number on the box correspond to the serial of the gun?...how are the bore and chambers? .....

Maybe a couple of more photos,many answers to some of these questions would help the experts here (no, I'm not one!) to give you an approximate value. Partly this will depend on where you live.

Are you aware that this exact model you have is one of the James Bond guns? Issued to Bond at the same time he got his more famous Walther PPK!! (In the book "Dr. No). Things like this might have some effect on value, or at least serve as a selling point.

Best Eegards, Les
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Old 06-28-2018, 10:13 PM
JordonC2 JordonC2 is offline
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Les
When you open the crane it just says BOND.
Ha I never knew it what it meant seriously though there is no model number.
Numbers match on gun, grips and box. Bore is perfect. A few chips in the paint but over all very good condition. It even has the easy to lose grip safety pin.

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Old 06-29-2018, 09:58 AM
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You said it has the "bug" screw. Do you mean the 4th screw or the 4th screw plus the smaller screw that holds the 4th screw in place? Some folks tend to misname the 4th screw as the bug; that's why I ask.

Have you tried a magnet on the cylinder? The earliest examples had aluminum cylinders (probably earlier than your sn, but it's worth checking).

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Ed., shows a range of $700 for Excellent through $1,300 for ANIB. You said the blueing has some chips, but for my money the box makes up for some of that.

My two bits.
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Old 06-29-2018, 10:26 AM
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2Bit
Thanks for info. Bug screw has a second screw on top and off center of the 1st.
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Old 02-17-2022, 07:27 AM
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1974 - Total production ends. The last known Model 40 to be produced was serial number L9861. According to Smith & Wesson data, total production numbers totaled about 40,000 units from 1952 to 1974.
SERIAL NO. range: - L9861


I just picked Up L9867 which included a letter referencing it as the third to the last, or L9879 as the last in this series.

Last edited by Elmer Fan; 02-17-2022 at 07:28 AM. Reason: Photo correction
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Old 11-20-2023, 06:43 PM
StevethePirate StevethePirate is offline
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Just picked up this 40 Centennial from around 1964 (SN 237XX) I think. Hoping to put it to some good use!


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