The Definitive Model 40/42 Thread

[los]

Greetings, Everyone.

I thought it would be cool to have a Thread that was totally dedicated and specific to the S&W masterpiece that started it all. The safety hammerless J-Frame Centennial / Model 40. I intend to start a detailed and accurate time line that documents all the models, changes and serial number ranges from year to year.

So please feel free to post all the photos you'd like of your Centennials, Models 40, 42, 40-1 and 42-1 and also share photos of your carry rigs.

A little history on your piece would really be welcomed.

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Time Line for the Centennial and Model 40 :
(The Time Line will be amended and revised as information is obtained)

1952 - The Centennial Standard and Centennial Airweight (alloy frame) are introduced. The Centennial was named to commemorate Smith & Wesson's 100Th anniversary. The Centennial was designed with a [safety] hammerless frame and had a grip safety that required it to be depressed in order to allow the trigger to cock the internal hammer and strike the firing pin. Owner's had the option to disengage the grip safety by inserting a small pin that was supplied and shipped with each revolver. The subject Pin could be found in it's designated area in the frame between the stock panels. These handguns came with high horn smooth stocks and had a flat cylinder latch and a pinned barrel. They were produced with a numerical-only serial numbering system, that is, without a letter suffix. The frames had a 4 or 5 screw side plate. The Centennial Airweight had a weight of about 14.4 ounces as opposed to 20 ounces of the steel framed Centennial Standard. The Standard was available in Blue or Nickle finish. The Airweight was available in a Nickle or Matte Black finish.
SERIAL NO. range: - 0001,...11XX, -

1953: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range: - 248(April), -

1954: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range: - 3651(June), 3933(Nov), 455X, 5062(Nov), -

1955: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1956: Final year of production of the " Centennial Standard" and "Centennial Airweight". They are replaced with a new designated [model] name for the following production year.
SERIAL NO. range: - 8014 (May),...9720, -

1957 - The Model 40 and Model 42 [Airweight] are introduced. A notable change from the original Centennial is the re-designed side plate which now incorporates an improved internal bevel, eliminating the top side plate screw's original location, making it a 3-screw side plate. The model number is stamped and located on the portion of the frame that's covered by the cylinder crane. There will be no other variants produced until the re-introduction in 2008.
SERIAL NO. range: - *3647(Dec) - 13218,...15163 -

1958: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1959: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1960: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1961: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range: - 17699 (May)

1962 - Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range: -

1963: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1964: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1965: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1966: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1967 - This is the final year the numerical-only serial numbering system will be used. The last serial numbered piece is #30160. This is also the final year the flat cylinder latch will be used.
SERIAL NO. range: - 30160 (December)

1968 - Serial numbers are now assigned the letter "L" prefix. This new serial numbering system will continue until the end of production. The original flat cylinder latch is dropped for a re-designed latch. The new latch design will be used on all models until the end of series production. This is the final year the high horn smooth stocks will be issued.
SERIAL NO. range:

1969 - "Low horn" smooth stocks are now standard issue.
SERIAL NO. range:

1970: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1971: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range:

1972: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range: L137X.(June)

1973: Production continues without any changes to the series.
SERIAL NO. range: - L693X

1974 - Total production ends. The last known Model 40 to be produced was serial number L9861. According to Smith & Wesson data, total production numbers totalled about 40,000 units from 1952 to 1974.
SERIAL NO. range: - L9861

2007: The new Model 40-1 and 42-1 are introduced and shipped out to distributors in late 2007. The Model 40-1 is available in three finishes (Blue, Nickle and Case Hardened). The Model 42-1 is currently only available in a matte black finish. The only external difference between the new Model 40-1/42-1 and the original is the reinforced frame as indicated by the rib on the left side in front of the cylinder latch. The new models are rated for .38 Special +P ammunition and are stamped as such on the left side of the barrel. The barrels are not pinned and the stocks are low horn diamond checkered style.
SERIAL NO. range: - DBJ90XX(Nov)

2008:
SERIAL NO. range: -

2009:
SERIAL NO. range: - CML2648 (June)

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* Please refer to posts 49 and 50 of this Thread for clarification.


** The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson list serial number blocks by the years that S&W used them. S&W would manufacture a large amount of frames, but would not use them for assembly for weeks, sometimes several years. Many times a frame with a later serial number would be assembled and shipped before an earlier serial numbered frame. It is important to know that the firearm's "age" or "build date" is actually documented by the date that it was shipped out of the S&W factory, not by the date of it's assembly. The only way to verify an exact date of your firearm is to obtain a letter from S&W, which can be requested through their web site for a minimal cost.


** Standard factory "J-frame" grips and aftermarket j-frame grips will not fit the Centennial - Model 40/42 series. The semi-circular area at the top of the grip is smaller than the other S&W J-Frame revolvers.




List of Forum Member Ownership:
** Centennial Standard ~ Centennial Airweight / Model 40 ~ 42 ~ 40-1 and 42-1 **
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NFrameFred: Centennial Standard; vintage 50s: Flat Latch ~ Smooth High Horns ~ Blue
H Richard:Model 40; 06/1972: Pinned barrel ~ Smooth Low Horns ~ Blue
29aholic: Centennial Standard; 05/1956: Flat Latch ~ Smooth High Horns ~ 4-screw side plate ~ Blue
TSmith49: Model 42; early 60s: Flat Latch ~ Smooth High Horns ~ 3 screw side plate ~ Matte Black
los: Model 40-1; 06/2009: ~ Nickle
Lt JL: Model 40; 00/1957: 4-screw side plate ~ Smooth High Horns ~ Nickle
NCBeagle: Model 40; 00/1973: Smooth Low Horns ~ Blue
Malysh: Model 40; 05/1961: 2" Barrel ~ Smooth High Horns ~ Flat Latch ~ 4-screw side plate ~ Blue
Malysh: Centennial Airweight; 06/1954: 2" barrel ~ Smooth High Horns ~ Flat Latch ~ 4-screw side plate w/bug screw ~ Blue







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