S&W 640 Centennial 38 spl thoughts?

[JMike]

Hi guys,

I have a 640 Centennial in 38 spl, Stainless Steel pre-lock that I am thinking of selling. I believe it was manufactured around 1990. It is in excellent condition, comes in the original box with the original wood grips and a set black rubber Pachmayr grips. I am thinking of selling this pistol.

What say you as to value. I am thinking somewhere between $450-500.

 

[walkin' trails]

I don't see them available that often even though S&W probably made an ample number. You could probably get the price you're asking. Is your's marked +P+ on the inside of the frame? That certainly would make it one of the earlier guns.

 

[Workhorse]

I have one from 1989 with the CEN prefix and I wouldn't take anything less than that if I were to sell it. I think the older snubs are just going to keep increasing in value.I know that in my area I could put it in the paper for that price and it wouldn't take long to get that for it.

 

[photoman]

Current market is in the $450 range.

 

[shouldazagged]

I have a no-dash 640, 1990 vintage, etched inside the frame "Tested For +P+". I certainly wouldn't take less than $450 if I wanted to sell it (which I don't, it's been my EDC for years). Yours with the extra stocks should bring at least that. If it has the +P+ etch that's a talking point, though I carry only +P in mine.

 

[clevolver]

I got mine a few weeks ago for $400, but I think it was a good price. The guy who sold it to me told me he had had a ton of offers on it since I contacted him, so I was just lucky I got there first and he didn't entertain a bidding war

 

[JMike]

I don't see them available that often even though S&W probably made an ample number. You could probably get the price you're asking. Is your's marked +P+ on the inside of the frame? That certainly would make it one of the earlier guns.

Thanks for the reply. No, mine isn't marked +p+.

 

[JMike]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all of the replies. I appreciate them.

 

[JMike]

I have a no-dash 640, 1990 vintage, etched inside the frame "Tested For +P+". I certainly wouldn't take less than $450 if I wanted to sell it (which I don't, it's been my EDC for years). Yours with the extra stocks should bring at least that. If it has the +P+ etch that's a talking point, though I carry only +P in mine.

Thanks for your reply.

Educate me, what is a "no-dash" model? I am not familiar with that term.

 

[coach22]

I own 5 J Frames in various weights and finishes.
My 640 (38) bought in 1992 is without a doubt
the best finished of all.
All edges came rounded from the factory.
A VERY solid gun.
After carrying a 340PD in my right front pocket for years,
I've gone back to my 640 loaded with Corbon DPX +P's.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

What do they go for if they have the original box and papers?

 

[CAV]

Just picked up a 640 yesterday

Like new no dash with the original box and all the goodies. Asking price was $495, I paid $460.

S&W marks each gun with its model number then adds a dash and additional numbers to indicate engineering changes. The first change made to the 640 would make it a 640-1 (also refered to as a "dash one"). A "no dash" is simply a 640 (think of it as 640-0) and will not have a number following. Hope that helps.

 

[cometpx4]

640

Don't sell it. It was the best carry gun ever made.

 

[JMike]

Like new no dash with the original box and all the goodies. Asking price was $495, I paid $460.

S&W marks each gun with its model number then adds a dash and additional numbers to indicate engineering changes. The first change made to the 640 would make it a 640-1 (also refered to as a "dash one"). A "no dash" is simply a 640 (think of it as 640-0) and will not have a number following. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info. I guess I have a no-dash model.

 

[Alnamvet68]

If it's LNIB with all the original paperwork, cleaning kit, etc, and not a scratch or evidence of wear, then $500.00 is appropriate. In the abscence of the box, and minor wear, then $400.00 would be asking a lot, IMO.

 

[45moonclip]

In my opinion you just can't have too many 'centennial' style revolvers. I have four, a 'magnum' steel 640, a .38 special 640, and airlite in .38 special and an air weight in .38 special (model 442) that can use moon clips. Each has a purpose, they are all without integral locks, and I don't plan to part with any of them.
Unless you are relocating to a jurisdiction where you can't possess a gun, why would you want to sell it?

 

[slabside2]

Is my 640 no dash one of the early guns? It's SN began he BKF I picked it up a couple weeks ago NIB it's not marked with tested for +p+
All the corners are rounded and it has the smooth walnut grips.
Thanks Mike

 

[justicetyme]

I don't want to hijack the OP's thread but having purchased one of these original +P+ 640s in about 1989 I thought I might share a thought or two concerning them.

It was a superb pocket gun, probably the best one I have ever owned in my 65+ years. The weight and size were to me ideal.

However, when the 640 J-Frame Magnum .357 came out I thought it was an improvement and foolishly traded the original 640 .38 special off. The only real improvement in my opinion is the pinned front sight. The J-Frame magnum is larger and heavier and, to me, is not nearly as desirable as a pocket gun.

Since trading it off I have looked for another +P+ but have never seen a single one.

The OP may want to seriously consider selling his.

J.

 

[jakerson9]

I just bought one of these in just the same sort of condition that the original poster mentioned here. I got it in the original box with the original wood grips, with a set of Pachmayr Compac grips , a nice gun rug , and 2 hks speedloaders included for $500.
I am happy to have it, and I thought $500 was a very fair price, but I'm not looking at it from a "collector" perspective and I will agree that as a collector's firearm, this 640 Centennial sn CEN02**, in original box with original wax paper might not be worth $500.

I look at it as a firearm and ask - what other small revolver could I get, with these extras, and this kind of quality for $500 right now? In today's market, people can easily pay more than that for a Taurus 85. The list on S&W's 642 is close, but my personal opinion is that a vintage Centennial 640 is a superior firearm to a current production 642.

Am I wrong?

Since this thread reached the maximum number of posts without photos, here are a few:

**

**

**

 

[Hoppe's#9]

Love my Model 640 best pocket gun ever! Ugly as sin but I would sell my plasma before I'd sell it.