Looking at a 640. SN CBPXXXX
.357, Enclosed ejector rod, 2.25", pinned front sight, no lock
What year is it and what value on a nice clean example??
(1996-7, thanks L-2)
Thanks for any and all help. - Jim
EDIT: Pics, sights, springs...
Ok, finally got my front sight installed. A #54 drill bit isn't that easy to come by locally I learned. Install went real smooth though. Drilled from both sides like your supposed to. The sight was then pretty stuck in place so I skipped the usual Loctite and installed the pin. It's in there nice and tight.
I installed an Apex spring kit with new firing pin. Another easy job thanks to their great video. Has anyone ever used this kit? I will say the trigger is worlds better! I did smooth the rebound slide and lube per video instructions. Feels so good I hope it passes its range test coming soon. The kit looks well reviewed.
Another gun I have enjoyed making mine .
Last edited by jjmIII_Ruger; 09-29-2021 at 12:37 PM.
Supica, Jim,Nahas, Richard. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (Kindle Locations 17056-17059). F+W Media. Kindle Edition. "
Mine is one of the cop turn-ins sold by Centerfire a few years ago. I carry it with 158 grain LSWC .357 ammo. The factory rubber grips it came with work fine. It has the smoothest action of any revolver I own. The recoil is heavy but not sharp and quick like the 125s so is more manageable for me. Inside, at night, the blast and fireball are going to be pretty impressive. Hand size groups at fifteen yards are not uncommon.
I also have a couple of the Centerfire trade ins. Wish I would have bought more. Both are on the job. One close to my front door. My wife carries one as her car gun.
I have the Pro model of the dash 1. I like the standard barrel of the dash 3 better then the fluted one on the Pro, but I had to buy the Pro dash 1 to get it without the "hole". I have long thought that S&W has done a great job of marketing ploy. Add a feature that is generally not wanted, and then charge a premium to eliminate it. I do use the moon clip, but only for my carry rounds. Any spare ammo is in a strip. The clip does provide for quick and positive extraction, a worthwhile feature.
John Rippert informed us about the Centerfire 640 Trade Ins.
Some of the Best Info I ever got on this Site!
I also regret only buying one.
It was go Big or Go Home Time!
I guess I was confused because I was already Home!
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!
Anyway, Thanks John.
John Rippert informed us about the Centerfire 640 Trade Ins.
Some of the Best Info I ever got on this Site!
I also regret only buying one.
It was go Big or Go Home Time!
I guess I was confused because I was already Home!
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!
Anyway, Thanks John.
Definitely the biggest post of mine in terms of likes and replies.
I originally bought one but decided as soon as I received it that another was in order. I expect the guys here on our forum got their fair share of them.
This is mine. Not a Centerfire pickup like others have mentioned though. I picked it up at a pawn shop a few years ago. Been a nearly constant companion since then.
It stays loaded with Speer Gold Dot 135 grain .357 Short Barrel ammunition. A little more than .38 Special +p, but not as hot as a 125 grain mag load. Recoil is manageable.
Looks in good condition, but is there a magic soak solution and stainless gun just comes out so nice??? Or just use the old elbow grease? Did order a grey Scotch-Brite pad. Was that a bad idea?
My usual is just the Birchwood Casey 1-2-3 kit. Maybe some Rem-oil.
I hope yours is as good as mine has been. Never an issue, accurate, quite a handful will full power magnum ammo. These days, with aching joints, mine is stoked with Speer's 38 Special +P Short Barrel 135 gr JHP rounds.
Looks in good condition, but is there a magic soak solution and stainless gun just comes out so nice??? Or just use the old elbow grease? Did order a grey Scotch-Brite pad. Was that a bad idea?
My usual is just the Birchwood Casey 1-2-3 kit. Maybe some Rem-oil.
Help wanted...
I've used a paste wax type stuff called Flitz on my stainless revolvers; learned of it from this Forum. Follow the directions. It really shined up my 629 but for some reason didn't make much difference on my GP100.
Nice gun there. I would probably go with the .38 spls. myself, but would have to try some .357s first.
Flitz is a metal polish. Ruger might have a better passivating system or perhaps the passivation layer was already worn through on your Model 629, the 629 polished better.
Gun looks great and just needed a basic cleaning. Ran the grips through the dishwasher to freshen them up and make them mine. Really like the grip. Just wiped it down with some Barricade I had here at home.
People talk about the quality of these revolvers, but this is one of the cleanest built S&W's I might have. Not my favorite, but just a chunk of stainless precision. No tool marks, and so solid. Just a treat to hold in ones hand.
I ordered a big dot sight and an Apex kit, but maybe I should wait. Just a 1996-7, but a no lock classic I'm starting to think.
MIM in this year?
People talk about the quality of these revolvers, but this is one of the cleanest built S&W's I might have. Not my favorite, but just a chunk of stainless precision. No tool marks, and so solid. Just a treat to hold in ones hand.
I ordered a big dot sight and an Apex kit, but maybe I should wait. Just a 1996-7, but a no lock classic I'm starting to think.
MIM in this year?
Just a plus 1 for the early no lock/no dash models.
Love the centennial platform, I have a few, including the 342PD, Pro - I don’t care for the sights.
This is my latest 640-1, ser# CATXXXX - guessing it’s a ‘96. I picked it up in June at a show in Phoenix for $700. Trigger is smoother than my Pro. It’s wearing Tulipwood grips from Hogue.
Put the Apex Duty/Carry Spring Kit for J-Frame Revolvers in today. Was a fun easy job and the trigger cleaned up real nice. Apex has a great install video too.
Worked on the front sight and got the old one out, but need a #54 drill bit still to install the new one. NO one sells one around here and Amazon will have one here Monday.
Yours is clearly built on the J-magnum frame and handles .357 Magnums, but I don't think you have a MIM trigger. Does the back of the trigger have a hollow channel from top to bottom? No? Not MIM.
I have a 2015 640-1 Pro (MIM, but no IL). It's a terrific EDC. I like the looks of the fluted barrel, but I must say I like yours more.
My Karl Nill "Centennial" grips push my hand up high on the back strap, which makes it feel like a k-frame with magnums -- that's all I ever feed it -- and no problem. Not hard to conceal, either.
I've used a paste wax type stuff called Flitz on my stainless revolvers; learned of it from this Forum. Follow the directions. It really shined up my 629 but for some reason didn't make much difference on my GP100.
Nice gun there. I would probably go with the .38 spls. myself, but would have to try some .357s first.
I don’t like my stainless handguns to be shiny.
Causes too much glare in bright sunlight.
A dull, dark gray finish would be my first choice.
Last edited by smoothshooter; 09-25-2021 at 10:32 PM.
Ok, finally got my front sight installed. A #54 drill bit isn't that easy to come by locally I learned. Install went real smooth though. Drilled from both sides like your supposed to. The sight was then pretty stuck in place so I skipped the usual Loctite and installed the pin. It's in there nice and tight.
I installed an Apex spring kit with new firing pin. Another easy job thanks to their great video. Has anyone ever used this kit? I will say the trigger is worlds better! I did smooth the rebound slide and lube per video instructions. Feels so good I hope it passes its range test coming soon. The kit looks well reviewed.
M640 questions (bought gun, updated with pics)
It's a 357
357
Gun looks great
Linear Mode
