Smith & Wesson Model 40
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 48 mm
- Weight, empty
- 595 g
- Introduced
- 1952
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Smith & Wesson Model 40 is a compact revolver built on Smith & Wesson's J-frame, introduced in 1952. Chambered in .38 Special with a 5-round cylinder. Built with a steel frame, this revolver continues Smith & Wesson's tradition of robust, reliable revolver construction. The 1.9-inch barrel provides maximum concealment in a snubnose configuration, making this an ideal backup or deep concealment weapon. The double-action-only trigger mechanism provides a consistent pull stroke and eliminates the external hammer, creating a snag-free profile ideal for concealed carry situations where a smooth draw is essential. At 595g (21.0 oz) unloaded, this lightweight revolver strikes a practical balance between carry comfort and manageable recoil during shooting sessions. Smith & Wesson has been producing J-frame revolvers for over seven decades, continuously refining the platform with improved metallurgy, ergonomics, and manufacturing techniques while maintaining the fundamental reliability and accuracy that has made their double-action revolvers the benchmark against which all others are measured.
The Centennial was revolutionary for featuring an enclosed hammer, eliminating the risk of the hammer snagging when drawn from a pocket.
Named 'Centennial' for Smith & Wesson's 100th anniversary in 1952. The grip safety was later removed in the Model 42 and 442 designs as shooters found it unnecessary.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1952 to 1974
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 48 mm
- Overall length
- 167 mm
- Height
- 117 mm
- Width
- 33 mm
- Weight, empty
- 595 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Firing mechanism
- Double action only
- Trigger
- Double action only
- Trigger pull
- 49.0 N
- Capacity
- 5
- Magazine
- Rotary
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 290 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 341 J
- Effective range
- 20 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Enclosed hammer
Grip safety
Swing out cylinder
Transfer bar safety
Fixed sights
Stainless steel construction
Exposed hammer
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 25 .38 Special pistols | 595 g | 595 g | Near the median |
| Overall lengthAmong 1,911 pistols | 167 mm | 196 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 48 mm | 51 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Magazine capacityAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 5 | 5 | Holds fewer rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the Smith & Wesson Model 40
How much does the Smith & Wesson Model 40 weigh?
The Smith & Wesson Model 40 weighs 595 g (1.31 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Smith & Wesson Model 40?
The Smith & Wesson Model 40 is chambered in .38 Special.
How many rounds does the Smith & Wesson Model 40 hold?
The Smith & Wesson Model 40 holds 5 rounds, fed from a rotary magazine.
How long is the Smith & Wesson Model 40?
The Smith & Wesson Model 40 is 167 mm (6.57 in) long overall, with a 48 mm (1.87 in) barrel.
Who makes the Smith & Wesson Model 40?
The Smith & Wesson Model 40 is made by Smith & Wesson (United States).
When was the Smith & Wesson Model 40 introduced?
The Smith & Wesson Model 40 was introduced in 1952 and discontinued in 1974.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/smith-wesson-40' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "smith-wesson-40", "name": "Smith & Wesson Model 40", "manufacturer": { "id": "smith-wesson", "name": "Smith & Wesson", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1852, "website": "https://www.smith-wesson.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "6e259a578cb1b21d72610d761d652c983ff25806b9e736e2db8d2938596e9202" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1952, "barrel_length_mm": 47.6, "weight_empty_g": 595, "action_type": null}