640 +p+ rated

[aHFo3]

Sorry, no pics on this one.

I recently had dinner with my aunt and uncle. My uncle showed me his seldom carried, seldom fired 640 no dash. I drooled and admired the smooth trigger pull. The barrel isn't marked +p, but under the cylinder on the frame it is stamped "rated +P+"

Is that a common marking for this gun? I believe the serial is CEJXXXX.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Snowbandit]

It's common for the 640's. Mine reads, "TESTED FOR +P+".

 

[stiab]

Did it say "rated" for +P+ or "tested" for +P+? If you have an opportunity to look again it may says "tested".

 

[aHFo3]

Yeah, now that you guys say it, it read, "tested for +p+" Thanks for the info.

I couldn't get over the smooth trigger and the excellent lock-up.

Soooo much better than my 442-2 or my 360.

 

[John Sobieski]

+P+

Sorry, no pics on this one.

I recently had dinner with my aunt and uncle. My uncle showed me his seldom carried, seldom fired 640 no dash. I drooled and admired the smooth trigger pull. The barrel isn't marked +p, but under the cylinder on the frame it is stamped "rated +P+"

Is that a common marking for this gun? I believe the serial is CEJXXXX.

Thanks for the info.

I've read that there is no industry standard for +P+ .38 Special ammunition, but I don't have an authoritative link for you.

On the other hand, according to Smith & Wesson's manual for modern revolvers, +P+ should not be used in a S&W revolver.

"Plus-P-Plus (+P+) ammunition must not be used in Smith & Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated.

Given S&W's blanket condemnation of +P+ and the lack of an industry standard for +P+ I am very surprised that your uncle's revolver is marked "rated +P+." I'd like to see a photo of the frame marking.

 

[PMRet]

Some of the very first 640's produced had a serial number prefix of CEN, and were marked "Tested for +P+" on the frame inside the cylinder window. I have a couple of these, one ANIB and one that is my daily carry, and they are pretty smooth.

 

[stiab]

I believe it is just the early CEN sn guns that have that notation, as the later versions I have owned did not. There have been pictures of them before here on the forum clearly showing the notation. If anybody has one they don't need, I would be willing to buy or trade heavily.

 

[aHFo3]

It sure could've been a CEN and not a CEJ. My uncle has less than 100 rounds thru his. The smooth wood grips have a little wear, but the rest of the gun looks perfect. I remember firing 5 through it 15 or so years ago.

Does anyone manufacture +P+ 38 ammo anymore?

 

[Snowbandit]

As the next generation of these guns, the 640-1's, were .357 Magnums I don't see any problem with a limited use of +P+. Mine usually gets carried with +P though and mostly fired with reloads for practice.

I lobbied Smith & Wesson back in the early 80's to start building these. Wrote letters, made phone calls, then kept my promise and bought the first one I could lay my hands on.

Mine has taken over duties protecting the kitchen, the most important room in the house. Since I got my M&P340 the 640 just doesn't get out much anymore.

 

[tvchance]

My 640 is a "No Dash" model, Serial #CAC05XX and does not bear the +P or +P+ markings. Does anyone know if the "CAC" prefix indicates an earlier or later model of 640? Thanks!

 

[John Sobieski]

Some of the very first 640's produced had a serial number prefix of CEN, and were marked "Tested for +P+" on the frame inside the cylinder window. I have a couple of these, one ANIB and one that is my daily carry, and they are pretty smooth.

I didn't know that 640s existed with "Tested for +P+" on the frame. Now that I know, I'd love to own one! I think that they are especially interesting because they contradict S&W's warnings about +P+ ammunition.

 

[stiab]

My 640 is a "No Dash" model, Serial #CAC05XX and does not bear the +P or +P+ markings. Does anyone know if the "CAC" prefix indicates an earlier or later model of 640? Thanks!

To the best of my knowledge, the +P+ notation was put on relatively few guns at the beginning of the run of 640's. There are more 640's that don't have it than do have it. I owned one identical to the New Product Introduction ad I posted above, and it did not have the +P+ notation.

 

[jeffrey]

I too have a "CEN*****" 640 no-dash marked "Tested for +P+" on the frame. Aside from some photos on this forum some time back, I have never seen another. Not that I'm looking to sell it, but is there a premium on the guns marked this way?

Like Stiab said, my 3-inch barrel 640 no-dash is not marked this way.

 

[Sonny Crocket]

Sorry about the crappy pic, but here's mine. My brother has one also.

I need to try and get some better pics someday. All the early production have the serial number prefix CEN and were marked TESTED FOR +P+. After about a year and a half or two Smith started using whatever the then current serial number prefixes were and stopped marking them for +P+. As I read on here awhile back they realized that they could maybe get themselves in trouble stamping that authorization on there so deleted it.
I've had some other 640s over the years but this is the only CEN one I've ever had. The 640 is my all time favorite Smith and I will get another one or two someday.
Oh, and the action on mine and my brother's is just amazing for a factory standard production revolver. We've both replaced the factory smooth wood grips with UM rubber grips.

 

[colt_saa]

I didn't know that 640s existed with "Tested for +P+" on the frame. Now that I know, I'd love to own one! I think that they are especially interesting because they contradict S&W's warnings about +P+ ammunition.

I disagree that there is a contradiction here.

It does not say approved for +P+, it does not even say rated for +P+. All it says is tested for +P+. They do not tell you if it passed or failed that test.

 

[stiab]

Oh, and the action on mine and my brother's is just amazing for a factory standard production revolver. .

I agree, the actions on every centennial I have ever owned have been great, maybe because they do not have a hammer block.

And I have always though the "Tested for +P+" was a contradiction from the position S&W later developed. When you read it in the original ad, it certainly infers that the gun is OK to shoot with +P+. And I believe that it is OK.

 

[gagunner 2]

I have a 3" one like in the advertisement.S/N BFZ 12XX.Not marked +P+,Spec.Ord.1178.Definetely a KEEPER!

 

[bummer]

I own a CEN prefix that has tested +P+.

 

[Kirtsky]

Picked up my first 640 Saturday. No dash, 3' barrel. .38. Looking forward to shooting it. But it does not have the CEN prefix, and does not have the +p+ stamping.

It does have some other numbers on the side of the butt, and another 3 digits on the inside of the yoke, opposite the modle number. All look like a machine engaving though, they are not stamped in. Pictures up this evening.

On a side note, anyone know where I can buy some smooth magnas? Someone replaced them with Hogue, and I would like to get the original smooth magnas on here and a T Grip. Never have used one, but people seem to like the combo.

 

[jframefreak]

I own a CEN prefix that has tested +P+.

Me too, liked the first one so well, I bought another. One to carry, and one to keep in the safe. Didn't get a box or papers with either one, sure would like to have them though.