Before inserting my thoughts on the difference of these two models I'll just ask.

What is different about the 640-1 that caused S&W to add the -1?

Thanks

I think the -1 was the version that allowed the Centennial to go to .357.

That is correct the - 1 extended the frame and cylinder and was the introduction of the “magnum J frame” with the fully shrouded 2.125 barrel.

My 640-1 was the first handgun I ever purchased.
I bought it like new in 2008. It was shipped April 1995.
I added the Smooth Combat Grips. It was my first EDC.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

My 640-1 has been the gun I've EDC'd more than any other. Loaded up with the Speer GDSB 357's, I just drop it in a Mika holster, and into my front shorts pocket. I love my little Centennial!

Well, that is what I thought. When I looked up the 640 it says it can use both .38 Special and .357 Magnum.

SKU: 163690
Model: Model 640
Caliber: 357 Magnum, 38 S&W SPECIAL +P

I don't find the Dash One listed so I'm guessing the 640 is now the big man on campus! S&W also has a 640 Pro Series with an MSRP of almost $900.........!!!

Yeah, I know, I get bored easily.

That’s A beautiful gun and I see it’s an early gun pre 96” no MIM parts.

Yep, the -1 was chambered in 357 Magnum and I have one. It's a great revolver for CCW, fits great IWB or in a pocket holster. It is a real hand full with full power 357 Magnum ammo, it is a lot easier to control and much more pleasant with 38 Special +P. Of the all-steel J-frames, I think it is among the best and the caliber gives the owner a lot of ammo options.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

A no dash 640 would be a nice gun to have, I wish they still offered them.

S&W refuses to release the current standard 640 without the lock. The only centennial model they don’t. I’d probably buy two if they did. I guess they want to push the Pro and engraved models(both come without the IL), but I absolutely abhor night sights, don’t want my cylinder cut for moon clips and don’t feel like paying a bunch of extra money for a bead-blasted finish and engraving I don’t want or need.

Mini-rant over.

Love my 640 pro

It and my 642 are my EDC guns.

Not sure what’s so bad about night sights but the nice thing about the setup is they’re easy to change.

My 642 front sight is drilled with a small tritium insert as well.

Despite the Internet experts, I find the 640 easy to pocket carry and doesn’t create such a burden. I also find a speed loader easy to carry in my offhand pocket.

When I’m in dress clothes, the 642 is easier, but still the 640 is doable with a decent belt, even in a pocket.


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So people who've tried it and found it too heavy for them don't exist? They're just making it up?

Just because it works for you doesn't mean it works for everyone.

I like the moon-clip capability of my 640-Pro for the fool-proof extraction of the long .357 cases.

I bought a 640-1 in 1997 and carried it in a pocket or with the clip-grip. It is a handful with full-house 125gr Federal Mags. I had a 640 no-dash for a while, but it got replaced by a pair of 342ti's.

The 640-1 is one of the finest actions that I have had. I will be keeping mine around despite my daily carry shifting to a 340sc (much lighter).

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On the Oak Savannah

In total darkness, I find them terribly distracting. I didn’t notice that so much initially during lowlight training, but when I was convinced someone was breaking into our home one night, my opinion changed dramatically and I immediately moved away from them. YMMV

A couple quotes...

“I am not in the camp that recommends night sights.
Nightsights are a big marketing thing. They have their place, but that place isn't justified by the overwhelming presence in the marketplace except for the fact that they sell well. The conditions under which nightsights are actually very valuable are pretty contrived, for example:
Enough light to see/indentify the threat, but not enough light/contrast to line-up the sights and the need for precision dictates precise sight alignment. Perhaps you are in the dark and the threat is in a decently lit room, but wearing dark clothes and not within 10', for example.
I think (hope?) we are past the point where people are preaching a "need" for nightsights.“ - Rob Pincus

“Here is the thought - if it is dark, but there is enough ambient light to see my adversary, I neither need "night sights" nor a flashlight. I just shoot as I do during the day. If he is close, he is a short time frame problem. I shoot him. If I can see some sights, cool. But I am not waiting to see them. If he is far away, I probably won't be able to see where he is in dark environments so nights sights are of no benefit. The more I work with this, the more I am convinced that plain black non-illuminated sights are the best option for a CCW pistol.“ - Gabe Suarez

I purchased one of 640s with CEN serial number prefix. In the early 1990s It is rated for +p+. I carried it off duty for several years in a ankle holster. IT was a good set you as long as you kept the holster strapped to your leg fairly tight. I wore it on the right ankle with the butt forward. So I could draw it with either right or left hand. I still have it the 640. I wore the holster out and I never could find another like it.

Quite the contrary actually.
Folks for whom it doesn’t work like to write that it’s impossible to use as a pocket gun. My experience is different. I haven’t read too many people saying that.


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I think my feeling is that they don’t get in the way of anything for me, and I do t see myself shooting into total darkness if I can help it - I’d like to have some idea of what I’m shooting at. If I’m shooting during hand to hand contact, then the sights are pretty much moot as your Suarez quote states.

The nice thing about the 640 night sights is that they’re dovetailed and exchangeable if you want something different. My other j frames doesn’t give you that choice.


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The 640-1 was my on duty second gun and one of my off duty sidearms. As has been mentioned earlier, with .357 rounds it is a handful, but .38 special +P loads were not an issue.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Weight was the reason I got my 642-1.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Had a 640-1 that was a fine revolver, and was tolerable to shoot with full load 357s. But - - was too heavy for me in pocket or ankle carry, so sold and bought a 642, which we still have and wife uses for a daily carry. BTW my MI State Patrol sister carried one as a duty gun for her career. These days I use my 60-15 in an IWB or belt holster. Love those J's!!

I have the 640-1, 642, 638 and several / many other J frames. I love the 640-1 for ankle carry as a BUG. I can and do pocket carry it but prefer the lighter 642 or 638 for that as then don't even notice they are there. But I have and do carry the 357 magnum in my pocket occasionally. I like to shoot the little bugger at the range. The crack of a 357 magnum from a diminutive J frame always wakes up a few people in the vicinity. I will also say that with 38 +P ammo the heavier gun is easier to do follow up shots.
The cousin 649-3 is also a 357 magnum "humpback with a shrouded hammer but open for cocking ability. The difference between the 640-1 and 649-3 is only the shroud and I like both equally. The 640 is a little less "humpy" for concealment but it's a very minute difference.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Here's my youngest daughter shooting my 640-1 loaded with .357 Magnums.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I bought this 60-14 Lady Smith from a good friend a few years ago and it remains unfired since leaving the factory.

The funny thing is I'm not sure that I ever will shoot it.



He gave me a package deal.

I bought my 640-1 unfired from my brother, it was the first gun I ever bought. Its not going anywhere.

It was my EDC for 6 years until he gave me his 642-1 BUG that he carried for years until he retired from LE.

The 642-1 replaced the 640-1 as my EDC which I carried for another 6 years. So I only have 3 J-frames.

I have now replaced my 642-1 with a M&P 45 Shield M2.0 for my EDC.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I loved to shoot my 640, until this 640-1 came along!

The banana grips make it quite manageable with 357s! However, the bananas make the use of the moon clips impossible! I need the grips for my big hands and don't need the clips!
jcelect

I've not had a 640, but I sure like my 640 Pro. The Karl Nill grips fit my big mitt.

There's one thing about Centennials, though: they multiply in the safe.

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	2 Bits & 3 cents (2).jpg (177.3 KB, 101 views)

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I'm very happy with my no-dash 640. It's got the smoothest action of any Centennial I own and the recoil is quite manageable even with +P .38 Specials. .357 would be less than desirable for quick follow up shots, as recovery would take longer. This one has given me good service since it left the factory. Those are Herrett's Shooting Star stocks, custom made for my hand, and the pocket clip obviates the need for a pocket holster. It's a very nice combination.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Love my 640-1. Yes I realize this thread is OLD, but wanted to post pic of mine. Thanks for indulging me 😀

After all that, still can’t figure how to get my pic viewable

Go to advanced, then click on manage attachments, a small window will pop up, select browse the small windows screen, this will allow you to pick the photo you want from your computer. Once you select the photo it will be listed on small screen, you just need to select upload and it will become attached tto your post then hit submit reply.

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shot placemrnt.jpg (53.6 KB, 34 views)

Just acquired my 640-1 Pro from fellow forumrunner “tflt”; newer model with April 2021 ship date.

Can’t wait to take this to the range and put it through its paces.

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	F2D13887-EB49-439B-9ABE-32E2D37F625A.jpg (53.4 KB, 29 views)

Funny, I picked up a MI State Patrol gun off of Centerfire Systems a few years ago. It goes into a pocket just about every day.


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I CCW many guns, but my 640-1 probably gets the most holster time. The triggers on my centennials always seem lighter, smoother than my 36/60s.

Attached Images

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213th FBINA

I love the centennial models. I have a 442, 642, and now a 640-1. I’ve had the 640 for a month and have already put 400 round of 38 special through it. I’ve fired exactly 5 158 grain full power magnum loads through it. Never again.

Love my 640 in 9mm. It has an awesome trigger.

I like the 640-3 model. From size & balance perspective, it’s almost perfect! I just wished S&W cut all the 640 models for moon clips with a slight up charge. They’d sell more guns.

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"Non sibi, sed patriae"

I am still happy as a pig in slop with the two I got when the Michigan State Police backups came up for sale a few years ago. With proper grips so you can get all your fingers on them they are quite manageable shooting .357's.

I posted the above post 2 years ago and have since had it lettered.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

the centennials

Attached Images

thecentenennials.jpg (54.3 KB, 16 views)

640-1 with Spegel walnut boot stocks, loaded with Speer GDSB .38+P is my EDC. I have a 640 no dash and 642-1 but the 640-1 is my first choice for pocket carry. Pictured here with 13-2 Trout Slayer.

Model 13 3 in and 640-1.jpg

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

I have the 640 Pro and I don't find it too heavy to carry in a pocket holster in my blue jeans. YRMV.