Found a nice pre model 40 Centennial

[mbliss57]

I seem to be on a J Frame / Centennial roll lately. I happened onto another really nice early Centennial pre 40 s/n 8294. I am not sure the year.. hopefully someone can get me close with one of theirs in that range. I am guessing late 50's maybe early 60's ? It fits in well with the 2 pre 42's I just picked up in September. The grips # to the gun and it even has the little pin to hold the safety down.

 

[snubbyfan]

Very nice collection.

 

[tops]

Mine is 58XX and was shipped in 1955. I bought it in the middle 60s and it is my favorite pocket gun. Larry

 

[Hondo44]

mbliss,
You certainly have found a Centennial glory hole! Another great find.

Tops has pinned it down pretty close and I agree it's earlier than you thought since it still has 4 screws which went to 3 screws c. '55-'56. So it could be c. '55 or earlier and remember the rule, they never shipped in # order. The Cent. reportedly began production at #1 in 1952.

 

[mbliss57]

Jim you were correct about mid 50's. Roy dated it as shipped June 1956.
These were not that popular as 4 years into production of both the Airweight's and the steel Centennial's we are only at SN 8K. Thats only about 2,000- 2,500 produced a year.

 

[hotrod150]

I'd like to see a photo of the pin holding the grip safety down. was that a factory item? Imagine them doing something like that in this day & age!

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Yes Hotrod it was a small pin stored in its own little hole in the frame.The factory put it there on the gun but MANY have been lost through out the decades.On later centennial's they stopped doing it,It is sort of bypassing a "saftey" feature.This day in age there is no way in Hell the S&W lawyers would let that slide.

 

[sandwtrader]

Great find. I have the same model, serial # 8357 which I believe shipped in 1956. An earlier model, serial #2638 came in the original red box with the papers and I believe shipped in 1953. I love these guns.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I have serial number 1177 which I beleive is a 1952 first year gun.Mine has the elusive factory pin under the high horn grips.They are great little guns.

 

[GRIM REAPER]

These really are great little guns. I love the fact that others out there like them enough to collect them. I have a couple of questions. First, were the grips numbered to these guns? The one I have just has JJ stamped on the inside of each grip. Of course, mine is later than what you have (mine has serial #93***). Also, How was the pin to be kept when not in use? In other words, if you didn't want to use the grip safety pin, where was it stored? Not in the grips, I assume. Just in the box? If so, that's probably why so many were lost.
And, I have been told that mine would have come in the red box. Is that correct?
Thanks!!

 

[ar15ed]

those are beauties! nice collection!

ed

 

[Black_Sheep]

Nice score, I would love to find a nice flat latch Centennial for a reasonable price...

 

[Mitch_D]

Grim Reaper:
When not in place to lock-out the safety, the pin is stored by placing it in a second hole through the frame. Many pins have been lost when the grips are removed and the pin falls out of the storage hole, un-noticed. It's best to apply a dab of grease with the pin to help keep it in place.

 

[PattonTime]

Pre 40's

So here are my two little Buddies.
Serial number 2159 and Serial number 2166
I bought first one on Auction Arms I believe, and then second one from this forum, when I saw they were only seven numbers apart I had to buy the second one.
I have also had two others in the past, I will have to say all four of the ones I have owned had lockout pin still in place.
So, I have been rather lucky in that regard, but if grips are off often , it will get lost.
One of the ones I have owned came to me with Scotch tape over grip pin , that is a good idea I would think.
Chris
P.S.
So I wonder if mine are second year then ?

 

[Hondo44]

I'd like to see a photo of the pin holding the grip safety down. was that a factory item? Imagine them doing something like that in this day & age!

hotrod,

If you want to send me your e-mail in a PM, I can send you a photo of the gun with safety pin usage instructions. I don't have a link to post it here.