I am getting closer and closer to picking up my no dash 642! I'm not a huge fan of Centennials except the original 40's and 42's but it's growing on me. Since it has no coating I'm going to polish it up a little and put some magnas on it and it just may grow on me yet. I just got my 4th edition of the SCSW as well! I've been wanting one for a long time. I was really hoping for more pictures of different models and pictures of more rare Smiths but I still love the book. I just read that they had a few early no dash 642's with a polished blued finish on it. I'd LOVE to see one of those. Of anyone has one please feel free to share it! I also saw the 642 with a polished blued finish, no shroud on the ejector rod and it was a 6 shot 32 mag. That would be pretty cool too.

Another thing I discovered is why the boxes from mid 60's to early 80's were gray sometimes. Apparently that was for nickel guns. I bought a nickel Mod. 36 and it came with a blue box. I know Smith had a lot of inconsistencies so that's probably why, that or someone swapped the label but it looks like it would be the original.