It finally happened to me, the "I have a gun I don't want" gift!!!

[Shear_stress]

After looking it up, it would appear that I have a mint condition S&W Model 40 "Centenial" revolver.

Actually, with that upper sideplate screw, you might be looking at a "pre-model 40". That upper screw went away in 1955. Not many of these guns around, especially in that condition. You did very, very well.

Try this. Carefully remove the grip and see if there is a small pin stored there. The pin allows you to lock the grip safety. According to the Standard Catalog, you almost never find that pin.

 

[Brian Williams]

Nice, If I was looking for another pocket gun I would like one of these.

Not only nice but those High horn magnas are worth a pretty penny in them selves.

 

[saltydog452]

Not valuable, but not exactly 'unwanted' either..

but don't exactly know what to do with it. We have some stuff that fits the above description. Intestering in a historical perspective, but your 'find' ain't gonna appear on 'Antiques Roadshow'.

'Shadow boxes' make for intestering displays. Old rusty spurs, a trashy S&W spur trigger revolver that won't index the cylinder woluld make for an intestering display.

Who knows, if you ever get 'burgled' maybe the home invaders will go for cheap stuff and leave the safe alone?

salty.

 

[MMcCall]

Actually, I saved the admin rep's and supervisor's asses last week when JCAHO came to our hospital by fixing a huge problem with our new computer charting system literally the night before they came. She said that unless it is worth thousands of dollars (plural) she won't take a dime. I am not going to argue the point.

In my last position, I had to deal with JHACO/HIPAA compliance and the fallout from lack thereof. She should be buying you something Class 3

 

[tuna]

I think we're all misreading the title. Goalie, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're title means - "I have a friend with a gun she doesn't want who is giving it to me", instead of "I just got a gun as a gift that I don't want".

If my first interpretation is correct - I'm happy for you. I always get junk that I'm only saving for a "gun buyback" program. Mind you this is not CHEAP stuff per se, but is along the lines of a Remington .22 with NO interior parts (minor stuff like bolt, trigger, springs, etc), or a JC higgins with a cracked reciever.

If my second interpretation is correct - remember that I am your friend and everyone else is lying to you. What you have is also known as the "Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch" and is unsafe to load, let alone fire. Actually, since it is made from recycled hazardous waste byprocucts, it is unsafe to even hold! I am fully trained in proper disposal of this firearm. PM me and I'll dispose of it for you properly.

Seriously, nice catch!

 

[P. Plainsman]

Sweet acquisition.

I was hoping it would turn out to be a minty Colt or S&W Police revolver in .32 Long -- would love one of those -- but you got a great-looking, vintage S&W snubby from the Truman era, and that's a fine thing too.

 

[Scout Sniper]

You got a good one, that was a very nice thing for her to do. I got a gun given to me when an uncle died, I was the first person my aunt thought of. the gun turned out to be a ruger Mk I Target 22 pistol in @ 98%. tell her thank you very much and both of you will be happy

 

[Dienekes]

Nice. A Customs agent I worked with occasionally had one but knew better than to sell it. S&W finally brought it back in the 442.

Best pocket gun ever made.

 

[goalie]

I think we're all misreading the title. Goalie, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're title means - "I have a friend with a gun she doesn't want who is giving it to me", instead of "I just got a gun as a gift that I don't want".

Yeah, she had this and gave it to me because she didn't want it anymore. I am quite pleased.

 

[magsnubby]

I just got home, and I am pretty excited. I enclosed a few pictures, so I hope some of you S&W buffs can tell me what I have. It appears to be a 642ish type 38S&W Special hammerless revolver, but with a grip safety?!?!?!?! There is a white dot at the top of the grip safety, and the trigger cannot be pulled without the safety pressed into the handle enough so that the white dot is pressed in and dissapears.

The serial number is 204XX, and the serial number is on the butt of the grip. On the left side of the gun there is the S&W logo by the grip, and "Smith & Wesson" on the barrel. On the right side there are the words:

Made In USA
Marcas Registradas
Smith & Wesson
Springfield, Mass

the words are located under the cylinder, and up towards the barrel end of the gun. On the right side of the barrel it says ".38 S.&W. Spl."

It locks up tight, and appears to have been taken care of. It was in the original oil-paper from the factory. The bluing is beatuful and deep, unlike any handgun I have ever owned, and 100% intact, even around the muzzle.

The gun-rug that it was stored in also contained the original cleaning rod and bore-brush.

All I can say is WOW!!!!

I could care less if this thing is worth nothing, it is beatiful. I guess I finally know what the hype concerning quality blued-steel revolvers is all about.

Lucky dawg.

 

[MillCreek]

Hey! You two, and you know who you are, don't go ruining a perfectly good thread by mentioning JCAHO or HIPAA! What is next, EMTALA?

 

[gunfan]

Schweeeet!

Those sell at a "premium" price on many auction sites!

A $450.00 "gift" of an unwanted firearm! You can't beat that!

DAYUM! Am I jealous!

Just kidding! Nice deal, brother!

Scott

 

[BluesBear]

You made out like a bandit!

What you have is a very early S&W Centennial*.
WITH the original longhorn grips.

The one she gave you was made in late 1954 or 1955.

In that condition it's worth at least $400!


*It didn't become the Model 40 until 1957.
It appears to be the steel frame version and not the aluminium framed Airweight.
(Steel frame = Model 40)
(Aluminium frame = Model 42)

 

[Hammerdown]

Guns from Friends

Hello
That is a very special friend you have there. I too have a good friend who sent me this one early spring of this year. It is a drop dead MINT model 31-1 in .32 S&W Long cartridge.He know's I love the .32 Round and was working in a store when a guy came in and needed some money for it.He said he knew the minute the guy left he would not return. he had this in mind for me and sent it after the 30 Day loan lapsed.He also would NOT allow me to even pay for the Background check when I picked it up in the gun shop that transfered it to me best regards, Hammerdown.

 

[Brian Williams]

Is it marked with a model number, IIRC you were told it was a 40, but you did not tell us, so I am figuring it is really a Pre-40 because there is an upper sideplate screw, that would make it before model numbers(1957) and before they dropped the upper screw which was 1955 and there were three variations of the flat thumb latch and I am not sure on those.

 

[goalie]

Well, I took it to the range today and gave it a trial run. It is incredible. It shoots quite well, and I wa able to keep all the shots inside the 9-ring at 10 yards easily, and inside the head at 7 yards. The recoil is very moderate as well.

 

[TrafficMan]

Well, I took it to the range today and gave it a trial run. It is incredible. It shoots quite well, and I wa able to keep all the shots inside the 9-ring at 10 yards easily, and inside the head at 7 yards. The recoil is very moderate as well.

trip to the range- 12 dollars
box of ammo - 10 dollars
getting a free gun from a friend - priceless!

good deal guy!

 

[P0832177]

I shoot that gun better then you do! I only needed 5 shots! You sure got a nice gift! God sure smiled upon you! That is one nice pristine example of American workmanship! Man oh Man Goalie!

Well, I took it to the range today and gave it a trial run. It is incredible. It shoots quite well, and I wa able to keep all the shots inside the 9-ring at 10 yards easily, and inside the head at 7 yards. The recoil is very moderate as well.

 

[goalie]

I shoot that gun better then you do! I only needed 5 shots! You sure got a nice gift! God sure smiled upon you! That is one nice pristine example of American workmanship! Man oh Man Goalie!

John, you shoot ANY handgun better than I do. Then again, I recall a few groups shot with YOUR rifle....

 

[absolute0]

There's only one thing better than guns...

FREE Guns!

Good for you, it sounds like you deserved it

 

[P0832177]

That is a nicest thing anyone I know ever got! The gun is pristine! I think Goalie needs better pics posted! It is a treasure! Almost a crime to shoot it!

 

[P0832177]

Goalie is a saint! A real peach of a fellow! Uses Brasso to keep his halo in blinding mode! If you did what he did, you too would be a saint!

FREE Guns!

Good for you, it sounds like you deserved it

 

[Rain_Man]

That is one HELL of a gun... Think I might get me one of them for myself one of these days.

Goalie, you're one lucky guy. Wish I had a co-worker that would give me a $400 gun.

 

[redranger1]

nice girft!

that is a very nice revolver youve been given. i know it is hard to not look at the value of such things, but would you really sell it? i guess maybe im one of a small group of people that believe it to be wrong to sell gifts. i will admit that i did recieve a daewoo 9mm from my dad fer my 21st b-day and i traded it fer a couple of guns that i would not now get rid of because i look at them as gifts. funny thing is that when i asked my dad if he minded if i traded it he asked why i wanted to and i told him that the fixed sighs where off pretty bad and i couldnt hit anything with it and he said that was part of the reason i got that gun fer my b-day. lol

 

[goalie]

that is a very nice revolver youve been given. i know it is hard to not look at the value of such things, but would you really sell it?

Oh no, I wouldn't sell it. In fact, I carried it to the movies (Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) last night in a Galco Royal Guard IWB holster.