Let's see your Centennials/Models 40/42!

[PALADIN85020]

These little follow-ons to the New Departure "Lemon Squeezers" first came about in 1952, S&W's centennial year. Like the old top-break New Departures, they featured a hammerless design with a grip safety. In later years, they morphed into similar guns without the grip safety.

Let's see some grip safety Centennials! Either the originals or the models 40 and 42. Although I don't have one of the early ones, I do have one example of the recently introduced model 40-1, which does have the grip safety, but is strengthened for +P ammo. This one is nickel plated:

Here's a couple of shots of an original Centennial instruction sheet:

Let's see whatcha got!

John

 

[H Richard]

# L137X shipped June 1972.

 

[BlackSky]

 

[jcelect]

Centennials!

This is what started the madness!

And this is it what it turned into!

And still looking for more varations!
jcelect SWCA#LM723

 

[NCBeagle]

Here is a 1974 M42:

 

[ar15ed]

some of my favorites! here is a 40 from 1964:

and here is a 42 from 1974:

i am on the hunt for a nice pre-42 with the bug screw!

 

[Leonard]

My pre 40

 

[Al56]

My 40-1 with the plastic stag grips

 

[DHENRY]

Handy indeed.
Don

 

[DC7]

An early-70's Model 42

I sold this one to another forum member a couple years ago:

 

[girvin02]

My every-day carry piece.

 

[feralmerril]

This is serial # L 2137. I figure it was built in 1971/1972. I also have the original high horn grips. Back around then I bought a NIB and let it get away. Replaced it with this one. OT, but I notice when I carry this one loose in my right front pocket, it tends to get turned upside down. I never had that problem carrying a snubbed hammer model 60 the same way years ago. Maybe I wear looser pants now.

 

[kwill1911]

 

[Gatorbaiter]

PRE MDL 40; SN 147 MADE IN 1953:

 

[coiler666]

^^^That right there is the cats ***

 

[rebelray84]

^^^That right there is the cats ***

It dam sure is!I am drooling.................aah so many guns so little money.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Gone but not forgotten. I never could bring myself to shoot it so eventually sold it to a forum member...numbered stocks, box and all.

40-no dash

 

[PALADIN85020]

Just got this one - it's a Model 40 (no dash) which was manufactured in 1966. The optional smooth high-horn grips are numbered to the gun.

John

 

[tops]

I bought this used in the middle 60s and these are the grips that were on it and they are not numbered to the gun. I carry in in my front pocket. Four digit ser. #5xxx. Larry

 

[Hondo44]

I've been wondering for some time; do the 'dash one' and later versions have the pin under the grip that can be moved to pin the grip safety down to de-activate it like the original 40 and 42s did?