Smith & Wesson Model 042

[willmckee]

Wanted a mate to my old model 42. found one i'm having trouble explaining. It's stamped inside the yoke "MOD.042" and the stamp was done after the frame was anozided. No pinned barrel, no grip safety, and the radius cuts for the grip washers are the same as all other J's and the 40/42's had smaller cuts.

Google turned up some ancient thread on some forum with everyone claiming the 042 was a stainless version made for only 1 year - 1992. Well this gun isn't stainless. I was unaware there was a variation of the centennial made between the 40/42 and the 440/442/640/642 series guns. The serial # is 3 letters 4 digits; don't have it handy, don't recall the actual #.

Any idea exactly what this is and when it was made?

Roger

[demkofour]

Check this out for starters: Smith Model 042 Value?

[willmckee]

OK, thanks for the link. the one that's gloss black anodized with the Uncle Mike's grips is just like the one i got.
Roger

[shawn mccarver]

You have the Model 042, which was simply an Airweight Centennial. It was offered in both blue and satin nickel finish. The satin nickel was done, believe it or not, because some folks griped at S&W about the anodizing on the aluminium (aluminum) frame not matching the color of the satin stainless of the cylinder and barrel on the Model 642. So, S&W briefly offered the 042 in all satin nickel while they sorted out a finish issue which was, in my opinion, a solution to a non-existent problem. You said yours is blue, so it is essentially the forerunner of the 442.

[demkofour]

Originally Posted by demkofour

Check this out for starters: Smith Model 042 Value?

In a long winded nutshell, when the factory originally introduced the MOD-642 there was concern over the “match” of the finish of the aluminum allow frame and the stainless steel barrel and cylinder. The concern was so great that at some point in 1992 the decision was made to take uncompleted 642 frames and refinish them in both a matte and a polished blue finish. The original MOD 642 stamping was over stamped with the new model designation of MOD.042.
This model was never cataloged and reported at 4415 units produced.

[326MOD10]

The above post and the link gives good info on the 042. They were 642's that had been blued.

I have wanted one forever but always balk at the high prices.

The satin nickel was a 442. Here is a pic of one.

[willmckee]

This one wasn't high. Police surplus, but quite good shape, not much wear except to the grips. and it stayed much cheaper than any 42 i've seen lately. action is perfect, probably fired very little.

[demkofour]

Originally Posted by willmckee

This one wasn't high. Police surplus, but quite good shape, not much wear except to the grips. and it stayed much cheaper than any 42 i've seen lately. action is perfect, probably fired very little.

Post some pictures and the serial number. We all love pictures and there’s a couple of members here who keep track of the J Frames and their variations!

[willmckee]

i'd be happy to post pictures although it looks like what they look like. it is a 642 overstamp which took a magnifying glass to see. looking at the recoil shield and cylinder face i'm not sure it's ever been fired since leaving the factory.

someone will have to point me to directions for uploading pictures.
Roger