I just ordered 3 of these bad boys. They are enroute to my ffl, and should arrive the 1st of the week. And the anticipation begins! I have a pair of genuine S&W combat stocks already waxed up for one of them.

Thanks
dcopper
aka Larry

I tried not to, but I also got one on the way.
Center Fire has great customer service. My FFL was not on their list so I called them and a gal named Kay looked up my FFL, called him and now it's a done deal.
I asked her to pick me out a good one, she laughed and said there aren't many left. So if your sitting on the fence, don't wait too long.

I ordered mine last night and just received shipping notification.

At this price, these "diamonds in the rough" are just too hard to resist.

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Free advice is worth the price

I just bit the bullet too. Who started this thread anyhow?

You guys that have taken the sideplate off: Did you have to use heat on the red LocTite?

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<><

I had no trouble with the screws. I think the red material on the screws is an "anti-vibration" treatment, and is not a traditional (loctite) red thread locker per se.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I ordered mine just now!
I tried not to, but, you know...
LOL

Yes, they come out quite easily. Actual red locktite would have taken a good bit of work. I did use a small dab of blue locktite when I put them back together. It's much easier to get loose.

Since I'm not one to detail strip & clean a revolver what would be a fair price for a gunsmith to charge for doing this. I ordered one this afternoon and from pics of others, it will need a through cleaning. I want it to fire afterwards, not sit in a box in pieces.
Like other projects I thought I'd do myself.

I ordered mine because of a similar thread on AR15.com.
Ugh!

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<><

Wow!!! They must have received a bunch in this last shipment, as they are still showing 10+ on the web site. Not that I was thinking about ordering another one. Nope. Don't need another one.

By the way, I got to worrying that I might get one with an IL, even though no one seems to have done so yet, and the picture on the web site doesn't show one. So I emailed them, and they got right back with me and said that they had not found any with locks yet.

For those of you who have already received yours, how are they marked? 640?, 640-1?, 640-2? Just curious, as none of the photos or posts have mentioned this, and the ad is for used 640. My understanding from the book is that the 640 was 38, and the 640-1 change was when they went to the 357 chambering and the J Magnum frame size.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Never thought about the IL, I figured if they are PD trade in's they have to be pretty old.

Mine is marked 640-1

Sure you won't

Les....

Mine is marked 640-1 and has MIM internals. It dates to late 2000, or early 2001, if I'm reading the 3rd Edition Catalog correctly.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I've been carrying a 640-1 for awhile, MIM, no IL CECxxxx.

Figured another wouldn't hurt to have around, especially at that price.

Ordered one at lunch, they had one of my FFL's listed, so I sent it there, fee is a bit higher but it's right up the street.

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SWCA #2817

Both mine were 640-1's.

Before pics. We need before pics. I want to see this paragon of beatupidness.



On another note. It is quite interesting putting my Model 36 next to this and seeing the difference in barrel, cylinder and frame lengths.







I found a set of the old Siles oversize combat grips on Ebay. They have two things that I really like. They are broad in the beam at the rear which helps spread the recoil over the palm. A must if I am going to shoot any .357 magnums through it. They also have just enough length to comfortably get all three fingers on them. They do not print much more than the bonded ivory grips in a t-shirt. If I wear a slightly larger shirt they do not show at all.

Anybody that needs to blame me to redirect some honey heat go right ahead. I gots thick skin.




That may have been my thread there as well. Oh yes, I'm the great...instigator.







Using proper hollow ground screwdriver bits and the proper size it took a fair bit of effort for two of the three screws. The yoke screw had been removed before and was buggered up a bit. Probably because of the Loctite, or whatever the red stuff is. It came out easy.

I spoke with Kay also. She had my FFL on file but was expired and offered that she would contact them to get a current copy. She really made the transaction easy. However, I have not received any notice that the gun was shipped.

It took me a while before I was comfortable taking out the internals for cleaning. Before I did that and something you may want to consider is-
Use the correct screw driver bits to remove the side plate screw and then remove the slide plate (there are videos on how to perform this) don't remove any internals and use a good cleaner /lubricant spray on the internals and let it soak and then using low air power blow out residue. Then oil and re-assemble. I've read posts here where others have used carb/brake cleaner to perform this task.
Others may disagree with this approach but it's worked for me in the past.

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Patriots Forever!!

Thanks, I'll give it a try. If the cylinder turns and the hammer hits the firing pin and the pin put's a hole in the scotch tape on the snap cap I'll be happy.
Will have to get a can of that low pressure air stuff at Ace.
2 packs a day has taken it's toll over 50 years.

Kay sure is a great CS rep for Center Fire. I was impressed that the phone only rang twice and within 5 minutes I had a receipt of the order in my email.
No notice of it being shipped yet, but if the company is anything like Kay it should be at my FFL early this coming week.

Does anyone know if the XS front sight and Wilson spring package and Hogue Bantams on my current 360J will fit the incoming 640-1? I may decide to CCW the 640-1 if the weight is not too oppressive. Thank you

Finished the cleanup on mine.
Brushed finish, FO front sight.
Borrowed Altamonts from my Model 60.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Tell me more about those front sights. They look great.

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Patriots Forever!!

Oh rats! They got more in and I just bought a 10-5 so I'm broke...

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Centennial Every Day

My son went over this morning and picked mine up. Apparantly they got 250 of them.

Mine had the rubber grips with the S&W logo on them. He was told 2 had the original wood grips on them.

Believe he said they came from the California Dept. of Corrections.

Need to take the side plate off and see what it looks like on the inside. Scratched up pretty bad. May have to polish it up some.

Link says all. Only FO I know of to fit these little revos.
HIVIZ Front Sight S&W J Frame Revolver with Sub-3" Barrel & Pinned Front Sight Steel Fiber Optic

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

That's why God gave man credit cards!

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Ordered mine last night. My FFL is not on file so I will call Kay on Monday. Let you know how it turns out.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ordered one earlier today. I hope they are in decent shape like the first batch was.

Retired LTC, USAR, are you able to post a picture ? Did yours have the older style thumb latch and stamped writing or does it have the newer style thumb latch and etched writing ?

The kid I ordered from said that centerfire is rating them at good to very good and they all have the older thumb latches, but he followed that up with, he had only seen a few of them.

I hope he wasn't stretching the grade a little, but as long as it's mechanically sound it should clean up well.

Thanks

If I didn't just get a 642, I'd be all over this..

I ordered one this morning. I'm looking forward to receiving and shooting it. I only wish it was a model 649 instead of a 640.

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DRB #2276

I just placed my order as well. I can't wait to check it out.

You guys are all s bad influence 😁

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Don't really need a J-frame but I can't help myself. Trying to decide between on of these 640's or snagging a 442.

Stop procrastinating. You know what's going to happen.

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I took a piece of the pie this morning and will call Monday with FFL information. Dang it again for the countless time I am saying " I am not buying any more guns". I am again proving I am such a liar.

YEP, and proud of it!

I stopped saying that a long time ago.

well said!

I didn't order the first go around, but just did. The really funny part is while the guy I always use for an FFL wasn't listed 14 others were. I live in a town of 6000 and less than 12,000 in the whole country.

Mine was ordered early as well but fulfilled after the new year. I might have gotten lucky, but mine was/is both cosmetically and mechanically excellent, which surprised me, especially for getting my order in late. A light cleaning under the plate with Hoppes and CLP via toothbrush brought out just a bit of grime; a standard general cleaning and then a good wipe down and she looks almost new; even the front sight bluing is still clean and the grips aren't nicked up.

Action is perfect on snap caps; can't wait to get it to the range!

Attached Images

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Looks like yours might have been kept in the gun locker as a spare. Good for you! That's a nice specimen right there.

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Patriots Forever!!

Lucky man, you likely received the revolver that was issued to the chief of detectives. Never left his desk drawer!

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

So overall, for the guy's who have received their 640's, do you feel they are worth the $353.26 we have paid for them? I'm using the CC fee total, not the 3% check discount. (I hate waiting.)

It appears that the only way I'm getting my Model 36 back from SWMBO is to replace it with something.

Here's hoping She likes the 640. Or maybe I'll like it better then the 36.

Just ordered this morning. Man alive you guys are expensive to hang around with.

Yes, I do. If you look at the price of many J frames on the market I think this is a great deal for a fine revolver. If it is cosmetically challenged - it's not anything that can't be remedied with a little elbow grease. The stocks are serviceable and the revolver can go to work just as it's received. IMHO

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Patriots Forever!!

Can anyone compare the trigger on the 640 to that of a Ruger SP 101? My wife shoots our SP 101 but it takes 2 fingers for her to pull the trigger even after I've changed the main spring. I'm really tempted by this deal on the 640, especially if it would be easier for her to shoot.

Sheesh, you aced it, amigo! Here's hoping the rest of 2017 treats you just as well - wow!

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Now go make God proud...