Actually supposed to be for my daughter when she is ready to carry, but in the meantime, I will give it a good home. I am not familiar with this, and was wondering if anyone here could give me any insight into this fine looking handgun. I was given both the original grips, together with some replacement grips, which are pictured on the revolver.

Not sure I can put all of the pictures here, and they are bad ones from my phone, so forgive my poor photography skills.uploadfromtaptalk1450157678118.jpg

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A stainless model 640 in .38 special
Double action only revolver.
A very nice gun and would be an excellent
gun for EDC. (every day carry).

Congrats, Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Your father-in-law must think a lot of you to give you such a fine weapon. Until your daughter is ready, shoot it and enjoy it.

Smiths like that will last several lifetimes.

If you want to know how old it is post the s/n. It's on the bottom of the grip frame. Probably from the mid-90's.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

If you have some experience with double action only (DAO) revolvers, you know they have a fairly long and heavy trigger pull. This is a good one for building hand strength with dry firing, or using one of those spring steel hand squeezing exercisers. Perhaps some father-daughter bonding time with this .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The 640 is a favorite of many. However, with it's short barrel, small size, and concealed hammer, it is best in the hands of an advanced shooter. Don't give this to your daughter to shoot as her first gun as it very well might turn her off to shooting. You have a lot of years to get her prepared. I recommend getting her a BB gun first, then when you think she is ready, a 22. The model 63 currently offered with 3 inch barrel is a J frame like the 640 and is a good size for smaller hands. You'll know when she has mastered this that she is ready to try some 38's. Some day she will come to appreciate and treasure the 640 that came to her through you from her grandfather.

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Accuracy supercedes Speed

Thanks, all, for the comments, observations and suggestions. Much appreciated!

Couldn't agree more. It is not a great gun for target shooting either. Mainly a carry or back up gun. But a very fine piece for sure!

The 640 is all steel so it's not really uncomfortable to shoot. If she is going to carry it for defense, then hitting the target at 7 yards is all that is needed, and that isn't hard with a 640. By all means get her something more appropriate for range time fun, but I see nothing wrong with giving her the 640 and starting her out on it with some light wadcutters before gradually making her way up to self defense loads.

You don't say how old your daughter is. If she's a child and not able to carry yet, then by all means start her with a .22(I'd skip the BB gun part) and gradually introduce her to the 640.

She's of age, in fact, lives away from home now. Will be home for Christmas and will see if I can interest her in range time then. She's pretty skittish of the idea, but we'll see.

If she is "skittish," I would definitely go with the .22 or an air gun to begin. Reason: I have had many trying experiences as an instructor with students who were skittish.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I have a Ruger Mark III .22 that fits your suggestion, I think.

My 640 is my primary EDC gun. I trust it completely, and have been comforted by it's presence on many occasions. I prefer a Kramer pocket holster for casual dress. It seemed heavy at first, but that weight dampens the recoil, and reassures me in questionable situations.

Yes, the Ruger would be a great place to start, especially if she is uneasy about guns and shooting.

Don't forget to include a 686 along the way.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

The only thing that I got from my father in law is lying in bed with another migraine. Enjoy!

Darn my father in law didn't have any revolvers.

BIL got the 586. I got the 1929 Browning A5 shotgun.

The reason he gave it to me was because he knew I appreciated it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My FIL, who farmed, gave the 7.5" SS .357 Blackhawk he carried in his tractor to his daughter, my wife. She's pretty accurate with it. And he gave his dad's Marlin O/U to my son. Plus he gave my son a nice little .410 for Christmas one year. He said I can have his model 60 when he heads for the retirement home.

My late FIL, also a farmer, had matching bolt rifles in .22 and 30-30.
They were some store brand like "Sears" or "Wards" and had rusted up pretty good.
I had no real interest in them but I did clean them up for him.
They also had a Browning .25ACP I wanted, mostly to keep it out of the hands of anyone who thought it might be a good defense weapon.
Not sure what happened to it though.
It was so small I am not sure I could have fired it well.

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NEMO
"Everything 44"