Info on Centennials? 640 vs. 640-1 & Later Models?

[Banjo 10-79]

My 640-1 is my favorite J for lighting off 357 magnums. Besides an old family heirloom Ruger police service 6 it's my favorite belt carried snub magnum. The trigger is superb for a stock J frame and its stout weight dampens recoil. I'd buy another in a heart beat.

 

[326MOD10]

To color your front sight buy white and whatever color you want your front sight to be Tester model paint.

I like bright orange.

Buy some small, almost dauber, size paint brushes.

Tape off the sides of the sight and paint about halfway down from the top.

One coat white and let it dry completely.

Then two coats orange, complete drying between painting.

Remove the tape and you have an easy sight to see that hasn't permanently changed the 640.

 

[mikerjf]

Just my opinion: For a pocket gun, go with a 642 for the lighter weight. For a more all-arounder, a 640-1 with bigger grips gives you more weight for recoil mgmt and 357 capability (in case that's all you can get, or for that extra edge in the woods).

Use paint on the sight, works well and easy to change or refresh.

In my experience, holsters and grips work with both.

Get 'em both! 642's are cheap and available, take your time and find a nice 640-1.

 

[413Maxwedge]

My 640-3 with a front night sight installed.

 

[Bill In Texas]

This my 640-3 that the Mothership sent me to replace my -1 that was unrepairable. It's my warm weather carry, as the 640-1 was. The -3 came with a great trigger.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Like donuts they're cheaper by the dozen!

 

[murphydog]

Happy 7th birthday to this thread!

 

[STCM(SW)]

My 640-1 has the best DA I have any J frame action I have owned...

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Yes it's an Old Thread-
But it ain't a Dead Old Thread!
I also have one of the LE trade-ins.
Forget exactly what I paid, but I did post- Should have bought 2!

 

[bobsguns]

Is it possible to get a breakdown of each of these models from left to right then down a row at a time?

Centennials, Bodyguards (bobbed hammer) & Model 36s is what I see.

Only the 36 isn't made in an alloy version of some sort.

As a polite suggestion, don't over-analyze the choice of gun. Better yet, maybe get two. One with a bobbed hammer & one without.

My .o2

 

[bobsguns]

This my 640-3 that the Mothership sent me to replace my -1 that was unrepairable. It's my warm weather carry, as the 640-1 was. The -3 came with a great trigger.

Pardon my curiosity, but what made it "unrepairable"?

 

[Bill In Texas]

My 640-3 with a front night sight installed.

I just put the same sight on mine.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Pardon my curiosity, but what made it "unrepairable"?

No problem with your curiosity. Thanks for asking. S&W never told me what was specifically wrong and I asked several times. What I know is that the cylinder locked up and wouldn't rotate. I took it out of the frame, but I couldn't find anything wrong, which is why I sent it in. They offered to replace and did with the -3, but wouldn't send me the -1 back.