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February 13, 2013, 12:40 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: January 30, 2013
Location: Custer county, Montana
Posts: 55
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Picking up Smith & Wesson 40
Yesterday in a local gun shop I saw a brightly polished stainless steel ( The owner of the shop said so) . It is in pretty good condition with few scrathces on the cylinder. Now I'm considering either to buy it or not. I need your opinions about this j-frame S&W. I think it some kind of a predecessor to the Smith & Wesson 642. If I'm not right correct me please. Thanks!
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February 13, 2013, 01:26 PM | #2 |
Staff
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,389
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Does it have the grip safety? If it's a Model 40, it should.
How much is the shop asking? Also, if it's stainless steel, it would be a 640 (and would not have the grip safety). If it is is marked 40, it would be carbon steel with nickel plating.
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February 13, 2013, 03:23 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 20, 2007
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 7,523
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In addition to what Mike said...
FYI the Model 42 is the predecessor of the Model 642. These two guns are "Airweights" with aluminum alloy frames, whereas the frame of a Model 40 is steel.
Also, it should not require an excessively firm grip to actuate the grip safety. The mechanism can get sticky from long-term neglect and cause trigger problems. Dry-fire it a few times while holding it in a normal firing grip, feeling for any hesitation or "hitch" in the trigger. IIRC a sticky grip safety is not necessarily difficult to fix if you know your way around the inside of a J frame, but not everyone does, or wants to.
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February 13, 2013, 03:35 PM | #4 |
Staff
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,389
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If it is a Model 40 (or variation thereof), the original guns with the grip safety also came with a small pin in a hole in the frame and covered by the stocks.
That pin could be used to secure the grip safety in the OFF position, meaning that the gun was simply double action only like the modern series 42/042/640/642/940 etc. Often the pin has been lost, but it's relatively easy to fabricate a replacement.
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"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. |
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