SAW SOMETHING I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

[glassman]

I went into a gun shop the other day that I'd never been to before. This place is real run down and full of all kinds of junk. In one of the cases was a used smith that looked like a 642 in blue finish. The thing about it was that it had a grip safety on the back strap. I've never seen anything like it before and would like more info. He wants $400 for it. Anyone ever seen this before?

[Skuggi]

Something like this?

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=74536520

[jdlv4_0]

That's a "Lemon Squeezer" Smith and Wesson early centennial model:

http://www.shoot-n-iron.com/pocket-pistols.asp

Later, Smith & Wesson came out with their little "J" framed, five shot revolvers also in .38 Special. These guns were, and are, in several configurations including the "Chief Special" with an external hammer, the "Body Guard" with its shrouded external hammer and the "Centennial", which had an internal hammer system. The early "Centennial" models had a grip squeeze safety located on the grip backstrap, which was a carry over from the Smith break top or "Lemon Squeezer" produced in the early 1900's. On the newer model Centennials the grip safety has been discontinued. Smith & Wesson now makes all of their "J" frame guns in .357 magnum and they will of course still shoot the .38 Special cartridge. I personally feel that for most people there is too much recoil with the .357 magnum round in this small frame gun. It's great if you can handle the "buck and beller" but most people can't hold it well enough to get back on target rapidly; besides, it hurts your hand.

See here for more details:
http://www.snubnose.info/docs/m640.htm

[glassman]

So what I saw was a model 40 centenial. It looked to be 100% at a glance. Worth the $400? And thanks a lot for the info.

[jdlv4_0]

Yeah to some it's worth $400, the age and the condition alone make it worth it to me, functionality wise, I don't think I'd care for the safety in the back of the grips like that.

I'd buy it just to have it.

[The Drew]

IIRC S&W was going to be reintroducing some of these older models, one of which was the lemon squeezer j frame. Reasoning is that it doesn't have to have the lock integrated...

[GeorgeF]

They are nice to carry - pop it in a pocket and no worries about hammer snagging on anything. But you HAVE to get a better grip cause with that skinny little stock grip they are terrible to shoot. Hard to get a comfortable hold on the gun and because its so light it beats the hell out of the palm (and its DA only).

30 rounds and my hand is so tenderized that anything after that is all over the place.

But nice little guns regardless.

[Montell C. Williams]

Years ago I saw a lot of those Centenials, another nice little revolver was the Terrier, built on the old 'I' frame chambered for .38S&W back in the 60s and early 70s before +p and hollowpoints they were moderatly popular but the frame is too short for the .38 Special.

[Azzy]

There was a good piece on them in G&A a few months back.

The backstrap can be locked in place by pullng open the grips, and using a pin thoguh a little hole in the frame.