Les Jones

Guns > Grant Cunningham Picks Centennials Among J frame S&Ws

Background: the J frame is Smith &Wesson's smallest currently-produced frame size and the Centennials are the J frames like the 642 that have a hammer that's fully concealed so it can't snag on clothing or let lint or coins into the frame.

Revolver-only gunsmith Grant Cunningham writes in Battle of the "J" frames why he prefers the Centennials:

I'm not qualified to talk about tactics, but there is one salient point that is missed in the crossfire: the Centennial models simply have better actions!

The enclosed hammer Centennial models have slightly different sear geometry than do the exposed hammer models, which gives them a pull that is more even - more linear - than the models with hammer spurs. For the savvy shooter it's a noticeable difference, making the Centennial a bit easier to shoot well.

The Centennials also have one less part than the other models: since they have no exposed hammer, they don't have (nor do they need) the hammer-block safety common to all other "J" frames. That part, which is quite long and rides in a close-fitting slot machined into the sideplate, is difficult to make perfectly smooth. Even in the best-case scenario, it will always add just a bit of friction to the action. Not having the part to begin with gives the Centennial a "leg up" in action feel.

Interesting. I wasn't aware that Centennials didn't have a hammer-block safety.