Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum – Superb Classic Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum is The Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum takes the all-steel Centennial, the small revolver that has quietly been the standard answer to pocket carry for decades, and dresses it up. The stainless frame, cylinder and barrel are scroll engraved, and the synthetic grips are replaced with checkered and engraved wood. Mechanically nothing changes.

It is still a five shot J-frame chambered in 357 Magnum, still double action only with the hammer fully enclosed inside the frame, and still built entirely from stainless steel so it carries the weight that makes magnum ammunition tolerable. What changes is that this one is worth looking at.

Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum Engraving And All Steel Build

The engraving on the Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum covers the sideplate, frame and barrel with a scroll pattern, and the wood grips carry a matching treatment. It is decorative work, and buyers should understand what that means in practice. It does not make the revolver shoot better, it does not add durability, and engraved surfaces show wear and holster rub more visibly than a plain satin finish does. What it does is turn a purely utilitarian handgun into something you might hand down.

Underneath the decoration is a serious gun. All stainless steel construction puts the weight at roughly twenty-three ounces, which is the single most important number on a 357 Magnum snub-nose. An alloy-framed magnum of the same size is punishing to shoot. This one is merely firm.

The hammer is fully enclosed within the frame, so there is nothing to snag on a pocket lining or a coat hem. That also means it cannot be cocked, and every shot is a long double action pull. For a handgun that is carried constantly and fired rarely, that consistency is a feature rather than a compromise.

Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum Ammunition, Recoil And Honest Limits

Full-power 357 Magnum through a two inch barrel produces a great deal of noise and muzzle flash and not as much velocity as the cartridge is capable of, because there simply is not enough barrel to burn the powder. Many owners of the Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum load 38 Special plus P for carry and keep magnum ammunition for the range or for the woods. That is a sensible decision, not a failure of nerve.

The revolver fires 38 Special with no modification, which makes practice affordable and considerably more pleasant. If you do carry magnum loads, look for ammunition specifically designed for short barrels.

Five rounds is the capacity, and a revolver reload is slower and clumsier than a magazine change no matter how much you practice. Speed strips and speedloaders help. If capacity is your primary concern, a compact semi-automatic holds more in the same space.

A word on carrying an engraved gun. Holster wear will show on the engraved surfaces, and a decorated revolver carried daily will not look new for long. Buyers who want this one to stay pristine tend to shoot it sparingly and carry a plain model instead, which is a legitimate way to own it.

Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 150784
• UPC: 022188142228
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Barrel: 2.125 inches
• Frame: stainless steel, J-frame, round butt
• Finish: engraved stainless
• Grips: engraved wood
• Action: double action only, enclosed hammer
• Sights: fixed, integral rear notch and ramp front

Anyone cross-shopping the Smith Wesson 640 Revolver in plain and decorated form is choosing between a working tool and a keepsake that still works. As a 357 Magnum J Frame Revolver the mechanics are identical either way, and as an Enclosed Hammer Revolver both draw without snagging. The engraved version simply asks whether you want the gun to be looked at as well as used.

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum

Buy the Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum if you want a small revolver that works as hard as any other Centennial but looks like something more than a tool. The all-steel frame makes magnum ammunition manageable, the enclosed hammer gives a completely clean draw, and the engraving and wood grips make it a gun worth displaying or passing on. Mechanically it is identical to the plain model, so nothing about the decoration costs you function.

Skip it if you plan to carry it every day and would be bothered by holster wear on the engraving. Skip it if carry weight matters most, since an alloy Airweight is roughly eight ounces lighter. And skip it if you simply want the cheapest reliable pocket revolver, because you are paying for the finish here and the plain version shoots exactly the same.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum

The Smith Wesson 640 Engraved 357 Magnum suits This revolver suits collectors, buyers looking for a gift or a handgun to hand down, and shooters who want a Centennial that is more than utilitarian. It also works for occasional carry by owners who accept that a carried gun eventually shows wear. It is a poor fit for hard daily carry, for high-volume practice, and for anyone new to handguns who has not fired a magnum snub-nose. All firearm sales ship to a licensed FFL dealer for transfer, and handgun and carry rules vary by state, so confirm your local law before ordering.

Learn more from Smith and Wesson, or browse the rest of our firearms selection.

Every firearm we list ships to your chosen FFL and is transferred there after a background check.