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A Brief History of the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Centennial Airweight
Caliber: .38 S&W Special.
Produced: 1990 - 1992 and 1996 - date.
The S&W 642 is a double-action-only revolver built on the round butt alloy J frame with three screws. It's chambered in .38 S&W Special. The 642 comes with a 2” or 3” barrel and a 5-shot fluted cylinder with a nominal length of 1.53”. The barrel and cylinder are made of stainless steel. It ships with Uncle Mike’s Boot Grips, 1/8” serrated ramp front sight with square notch rear sight, fully concealed hammer and .312” smooth combat trigger. The logo is found stamped on the frame and also laser etched on the sideplate on most examples. The S&W 642 was produced from 1990 to 1992.
In 1996 it was reintroduced with the new J Magnum frame. The J Magnum frame has three screws and is rated for +P ammo. It's a hammerless Centennial with a slightly larger alloy frame and stainless steel cylinder. The firing pin was changed to a floating design, the cylinder stop is now machined into the frame. It comes with a frosted satin finish, “Airweight” laser engraved on the side plate with the S&W trademark found on the frame as well as the sideplate. It comes fitted with Uncle Mike’s Boot Grips on a round butt frame, .312” smooth trigger, flat faced internal hammer, fixed sights, 5-shot fluted cylinder with a nominal length of 1.59”. New shape MIM thumbpiece. Weight 15.8 oz.; 1.86” barrel (actual); cylinder opening is larger than its predecessors’ at 1.345” x 1.732”. Shipped in a blue plastic case. Master trigger locks shipped in fall of 1997. The LadySmith version is marked with “LadySmith” laser engraved on the side plate instead of “Airweight” and fitted with rosewood laminated grips from the Ace Grip Co., packaged in a “LadySmith”- marked softside zipper case. This is the first Airweight so marked in a LadySmith version. Mixed early production is also noted with MIM hammers and standard non-MIM triggers. Offered with Mag-Na-Porting by various distributors. Beginning serial number range reported as CNT0001 but not verified.
Notes: This information is a cumulation of sources, including the book "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas.
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