Smith & Wesson Model 640
The Smith & Wesson Model 640 revolver is a 5-shot snubnosed revolver that is chambered in either.38 Special or.357 Magnum caliber introduced in 1989.
Smith & Wesson Model 640
Mike Searson · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Field
- service pistol.
- Region
- United States.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q7545036 · wikipedia · Smith & Wesson Model 640
In this article
History
History
The first model was chambered in.38 Special and fitted with a standard barrel of 1-7/8 inch length. The second model had a slightly heavier and longer barrel of 2-1/8 inch length. A 3" barreled version was offered until 1993, when it was dropped from production. In 1995 the model 642 was introduced which was made in aluminium and designated "airweight". In 1996, S&W began chambering the 640 in.357 Magnum. Because of the power of the.357 magnum cartridge, the frame is strengthened just in front of the cylinder release on those models.
Design
Design
The gun was constructed entirely of stainless steel. Like other "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers, it has a swing-out cylinder, but this model features a concealed hammer, and is part of the Centennial line.
Model 940
Model 940
Produced from 1993 to 1996 Similar in appearance to 640, but chambered in 9mm Luger
Model 340
Model 340
Scandium framed Introduced in 2001 Weighed 10.9 ounces Chambered in 357 Magnum
Users
Users
United States New York City Police Department Carried by officer Walter Weaver during the September 11, 2001 attacks Currently displayed in the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7545036: Smith & Wesson Model 640
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Smith & Wesson Model 640”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
scholarly index
- OpenAlex bibliographic index, 12 indexed publications naming Smith & Wesson Model 640.
General reference · OpenAlex
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Smith & Wesson Model 640, revision 1345124782 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Smith & Wesson. Model 640.
- 2.Hartink, A.E. The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers. Chartwell Books, Inc. 225. 2003. 978-0-7858-1871-7.
- 3.Ayoob, Massad. Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World. Gun Digest Books. 218–220. 2010. 978-1-4402-0825-6.
- 4.Supica, Jim. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Krause Publications. 151. 2007.
- 5.NRA Museum. 9/11 Revolver - Officer Walter Weaver.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly index
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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