Model Marked 42 with Bug Screw

45Wheelgun · Oct 13, 2013

I recently picked up this Model marked Model 42. Interesting to me is that it has a bug screw. It shipped in November of 1958. That seems rather late in my mind. Another forum member recently purchased a similar gun on Gunbroker that shipped in December of 58.

It was my impression that bug screws were a feature of early production guns (53/54/55). I am pretty sure I have seen pre-model marked guns without the bug screw. Strange to have never seen a model marked gun with a bug screw and then to see two in a short period of time.

Comments from the experts?

The gun I purchased is not nearly as nice as the one that was on Gunbroker, but it is still in pretty nice shape. The grips number and the pin is still hidden under the grips.

All in all I am pleased with my latest acquisition.

05CarbonDRZ · Oct 13, 2013

Who bought the one on Gunbroker?

linde · Oct 13, 2013

I also have a model marked 42 that shipped in December 1958 with the locking bug screw. My guess is November & December '58 were year-end clean out the parts bin months so they would not be in the work-in-progress inventory numbers.

You didn't mention serial number . . . mine is 11689.

Russ

SDH · Oct 13, 2013

Two very desirable revolvers!
From what I've seen Centennial ship dates are all over the map

JayCeeNC · Oct 13, 2013

Nice guns, Dave and Russ.
I saw the one on GB as well and wondered about how the "bug" screw showed up so late.

Hondo44 · Oct 13, 2013

Two very nice examples.

It's not so much the bug screw showing up so late as the 4 screw sideplate frame (of course they go hand in hand) showing up after 1956. Those are clearly old frames.

The light weights were not as appealing as they are today. They were those "newfangled" aluminum guns. We didn't even have aluminum beer cans yet. The light weight pre-model 10s with alloy cylinders had just acquired their bad reputation after being destroyed by the airforce at about the time pre 42s were introduced, I believe. So I can see why these may have taken a long nap in the vault.

45Wheelgun · Oct 14, 2013

Thanks for the insight guys. So now we know about 4, all shipped in the same time frame in the same serial number range. (There is a 4th talked about in a thread from 2010) Mine is 11510.

What is odd to me is that these serial numbers are correct for the 58/59 time period which would suggest that the frames were not serial numbered until then. I always thought the serial numbers were applied contemporaneously with the frame being manufactured.

Malysh · Oct 14, 2013

Hondo44 has hit the nail on the head. The main criteria that makes these interesting is not so much the locking screw, but the 4 screw frame on a model marked post 1957 J frame.

I owned this gun for quite a while. Centennial, SN 17,699, shipped in May 1961 to the Charles Daly Company in a town near NYC. This 4 screw frame was obviously made before the end of 1956, no locking screw. It is stamped Mod 40 in the frame inside of the yoke recess.

I have referrenced this gun in some posts here and there over the years on the S&W Forum. This seemed an appropriate thread to mention it again.

I also have Centennial Airweight SN 3651 with a 4 screw frame and a locking screw. It is one of my favorites.

hotrod150 · Oct 14, 2013

How about someone posting a photo of a Centennial with the grips off, and maybe another one showing the locking pin installed? I've never seen how the grip safety mechanism on these is configured. Thanks.

05CarbonDRZ · Oct 14, 2013

SDH · Oct 14, 2013

hotrod, there are some detailed pic showing what you are curious about on my web site:
S&W .38 Centennial

bullmack · Oct 14, 2013

SDH said:
hotrod, there are some detailed pic showing what you are curious about on my web site:
S&W .38 Centennial

Very nice photo's and descriptions! Thanks

Hondo44 · Oct 15, 2013

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/191687-brief-history-centennial-revolvers.html

A good Centennial thread.

hotrod150 · Oct 15, 2013

Thanks for the photos posted and for the links. I know a little more about the Centennials now- enough to know I need one! I used to have a 442-2 but it's just not the same....

Malysh · Oct 15, 2013

For those of you who are missing the grip safety lock out pin for your Centennials and Centennial Airweights.

I made one for my Centennial Airweight from 1953, SN 3651. I suggest using a 3/4"x 18 steel brad. The pin is 8mm long. Cut the end of the brad with the head off and then cut from the other end to make the pin 8mm long. You can use a Dremel with a cut off wheel or simply cut the brad's ends with the wire cutter that is at the axis of any set of needle nose pliers. Either method will leave a tiny bit of distortion which may have sharp or uneven edges. Lightly file and slightly round the cut edges of the brad with a fine file resting on your work table while holding the pin in your thumb and index finger.
Then clean it off and degrease it with denatured alchohol. Apply a good cold blue like Oxpho Blue Paste from Brownell's or Vann's cold blue. I suggest two coats.

This size brad is a perfect match for the original pins. I used the original pin in the 1961 Centennial I posted for a model. If you are worried you will lose the pin when you take your stocks off, simply apply a very tiny amount of grease to it before you place it in the storage hole in the frame. The grease will prevent the pin from falling out when you remove the stocks.
You shouldn't need to do this to the hole that renders the safety inoperable because the pin is normally held in that hole by the back pressure of the grip safety spring. So unless you are depressing the grip safety when you have the stocks off, the pin should not fall free from that hole.

HTH,
Mike

JSR III · Mar 23, 2015

I owned this gun for quite a while. Centennial, SN 17,699, shipped in May 1961 to the Charles Daly Company in a town near NYC. This 4 screw frame was obviously made before the end of 1956, no locking screw. It is stamped Mod 40 in the frame inside of the yoke recess.

Since it's a Model 40 and not an airweight Model 42, it doesn't have the locking or bug screw.

Malysh · Mar 23, 2015

JSR III said:
Since it's a Model 40 and not an airweight Model 42, it doesn't have the locking or bug screw.

Thanks for stating the obvious - 2 yrs. after the post.

Model Marked 42 with Bug Screw

45Wheelgun

Member

05CarbonDRZ

Member

linde

US Veteran

SDH

JayCeeNC

US Veteran

Hondo44

45Wheelgun

Member

Malysh

Member

hotrod150

Member

05CarbonDRZ

Member

SDH

bullmack

Hondo44

hotrod150

Member

Malysh

Member

JSR III

Malysh

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts