Model 640 marked for +P+ ammo??

[old bear]

The below is from an ongoing post at another forum.

QUOTE]I bought a used S&W 640 marked .38 Spl on the barrel. Inside the cylinder frame opening of my 640,on the bottom visible when cylinder is opened, is stamped, "TESTED FOR +P+". [/QUOTE]

The O/P did not post any photos. Yet a second poster did post the photo below, so if everything is correct there are at least two of these revolvers out there somewhere.
Anyone have any information on these. Yes, I do know that there is no recognized SAAMI specs for +P+ ammo.

 

[Boogsawaste]

More knowledgable folks will probably chime in but I think these were the earliest 640's that came marked as such. They had the CEN prefix, although I'm not sure all CEN guns were marked +P+. I'd love to stumble across one one day.

 

[murphydog]

The search function is your friend :

http://smith-wessonforum.com/search...6757862&cof=FORID:10&ie=UTF-8&q=640++P+&sa=Go

These have been observed in the early CEN prefix guns, which were produced out of alphabetical order in the factory SN system. The prevailing theory is the 110 gr "Treasury" load was the +P+ load in question. Stamping "Tested for Winchester-Western 110 gr +P+" probably wouldn't fit in the bottom of the frame window .

 

[old bear]

The search function is your friend :

I know it is, but you've forgotten that I'm old, tired, and lazy. thanks

 

[stevie-ca]

I have couple of 640s, S/N BND and BNN which do not have +P+ markings.

 

[pmosley]

If they rolled off the line sequentially numbered, I lucked into one of the first 50 made. It is marked for +P+ and has an amazing trigger for a J frame.

 

[M29since14]

I have seen two or three marked like that and presently own one myself. It is CEN54xx. Another one I owned had been polished by someone, maybe S&W? It was a very nice polish job - from a few feet it looked like nickel. I should have kept it. Sometimes I do silly things.

Nice guns. That's all I know for sure.

 

[adwjc]

I have seen two or three marked like that and presently own one myself. It is CEN54xx. Another one I owned had been polished by someone, maybe S&W? It was a very nice polish job - from a few feet it looked like nickel. I should have kept it. Sometimes I do silly things.

Nice guns. That's all I know for sure.

Mine is CEN18XX, it too is highly polished and has the +P+ marking.

Had a fantastic trigger from day one!

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

I have couple of 640s, S/N BND and BNN which do not have +P+ markings.

I have a BSD gun and it doesn't have it either. Only the first run CEN guns were so marked.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've carried a CEN prefix 640 with the "tested for +P+" etching every day for over 16 years. I've been told they were an early run--mine dates from 1990, when the 640 first appeared--and about 5,000 were made.

I like mine a lot. I haven't any interest in shooting +P+ ammo. Don't see the need.

 

[jughed440]

..I've been told they were an early run--mine dates from 1990, when the 640 first appeared--and about 5,000 were made.

I have a 640 with the "+P+" stamp in the CEN77XX range, and one in the 78XX range has been posted somewhere. Hard telling how many were produced.

 

[guttercat2000]

I have a BSD gun and it doesn't have it either. Only the first run CEN guns were so marked.

This is waht I always thought, but last year I purchased a 640 marked "tested for +p+" and is numbered BFUxxx.
Maybe I got an oddball.

 

[DonD]

I might wonder if someone mistakenly marked a run of guns with what was a proof load although proof loads are usually a good bit higher pressure than what +P+ might be? Might be out to lunch on that comment. Don

 

[M3Stuart]

A nice, clean 640 in the older .38 style has been on my short list for some time. Wouldn't mind stumbling on to one of these.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I have one of these "CEN" 640s, mine has a highly polished trigger. I don't know if that was a common factor in these or done after the fact.

 

[old bear]

Thanks everyone, I really thought the O/P had a factory stamping error. Oh-well live and learn.

 

[kthom]

I have a 640-ND with a serial number of CEN06XX. Dandy fine revolver made in 1990, I think. I am very proud to own it ... not it's first owner, but it was well kept prior to my purchase. It is still being well kept, but it is "on duty" all the time!

 

[Hook686]

My 640 5755 has the +P+. I emailed S&W. the response from S&W that stated my 640 was part of a limited production of about 1000, would be safe to shoot .38+P and was probably shipped about February 1990, so it was probably made in late 1989.