Bruce Banner
New member
Just bought a S&W 640-1 and was wondering what the -1 means after the 640. Thanks
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what does the -1 mean on S&W 640-1 mean???
- Thread starter Bruce Banner
- Start date
Badger Arms
New member
Smith puts the "-" numbers on their guns to signify changes in the design of some significant sort. Was at a gun show where a guy had a book of all of the "-" variations. For instance, my model 61 (recently acquired) has a -3 after the model number and this signifies a change in the frame manufacturing method. The previous dashes signified a magazine disconnect being added and a barrel nut design change.
Bruce Banner
New member
Is there a 640-2? And if so what are the differences from the -1? Thanks
Badger Arms
New member
Don't have a clue here. The gun was new in 1991. That's about all I know here.
Mike Irwin
Staff
As others have mentioned, the -1 (or change numbers, as they're commonly called) signifies an engineering or production change to the gun.
The original 640 is the .38 Centennial Stainless, and was introduced in 1990.
The -1 variant was added in 1995 when the gun was reengineered (frame dimensions were changed) to make the gun suitable for use with .357 Mag. ammo.
The best book for finding this information (really the ONLY book) is "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Jim Supica and Rick Nahaus.
It's a WEALTH of information on S&W handguns as well as other products the company has offered over the years.
It's currently out of print, but the second edition, according to Rick Nahaus, should be coming out around July.
The original 640 is the .38 Centennial Stainless, and was introduced in 1990.
The -1 variant was added in 1995 when the gun was reengineered (frame dimensions were changed) to make the gun suitable for use with .357 Mag. ammo.
The best book for finding this information (really the ONLY book) is "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Jim Supica and Rick Nahaus.
It's a WEALTH of information on S&W handguns as well as other products the company has offered over the years.
It's currently out of print, but the second edition, according to Rick Nahaus, should be coming out around July.