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S&W Centennial

There are those among us who would suggest that the Smith & Wesson Model 40 Centennial revolver is the best all-around hideaway revolver–not only that S&W ever made but that anyone ever made. Although I wouldn’t be tempted to lay quite so lavish praise onto this petite, five-shot, double-action-only five-shooter, I must admit that I’d be hard pressed to argue the point either. It certainly is a world-class snubby by any measure. And it is a model that any well-acquitted gun guy should consider to be a mandatory must-have.
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The Model 40 came on the scene in 1953 and was discontinued in 1974. It is chambered for the .38 Special and features a two-inch barrel, fully concealed hammer, grip safety and smooth wood grips. It was available in blue or nickel finish (by far, most are blued steel).
My particular Model 40 is a pre-1968 specimen (after 1968, the serial numbers began with an “L” prefix, and this one has no prefix at all). There was another “Centennial” from S&W, the Model 42 Centennial Airweight that differed primarily in that it was an aluminum gun, rather than steel as is the Model 40 (see sidebar).
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Several factors made the Model 40 Centennial such a preferred revolver for concealed carry. First, it doesn’t weigh much (even being made all of steel). On the postal scale, my specimen weighs in at only 1.3 pounds.