This is a 9mm S&W Model 940-1 from around 1995, the last year before S&W started using MIM parts...so this one still possesses the forged steel hammer & trigger. It's a 5-shot J-frame Centennial that uses moonclips to load, unload & headspace the 9mm ammunition; much like .45ACP revolvers. It's not a rare piece, but it's scarce enough to be called "less-than-common".

These weren't very popular in their day, for a variety of reasons. 9mm costed more than .38 Special in most areas, some guys don't like moonclips, it was a "new fangled" model, etc. Some of the guns also had to have a chamber or two honed after leaving the factory, as some examples had an issue with sticky extraction. S&W ended up dropping the 940 from the line due to a lack of demand. Well, fast forward 15 years and these little guys are harder to find and demand some good prices...they finally got the appreciation they deserved :)

I never really wanted one, but couldn't walk away from it once I saw it on a table at the show. So, it'll probably end up on the block before too long. I may end up buying some moonclips for it though and tossing it in a pocket, as it'd make a great CC piece. The 9mm round does very well out of the snub revolver and can be had much hotter than a .38...notice the difference in the two barrel profiles in the last photo below, it's beefed up to handle the much higher pressure of the 9mm. I think it looks cool


That's it I suppose....the 9mm S&W Model 940-1

-Rob

Rob, I love the history lesson and the detailed description of the gun!

I love the idea of a revolver that shoots the same caliber as semi-autos that I own, since I'm mostly a semi-auto kind of guy. That's the reason I couldn't pass up the convertible Blackhawk that I own, which shoots both .45 Colt and .45 Auto.

Very nice little revolver!

Hard to get a faster reload in a revolver than what you can do with "moonies". As for the hassle of "mooning" and "demooning" the ammo, there are some tools that make the process a piece of cake.

Revolvers are still, for my money, the best pocket weapon made. One can fire while still in the pocket if a life/death situation and not risk jamming after the first shot.

Great looking pistol. I may have to consider one for myself and do away with the only .38 I own. Make 'em all "nines".

Dang, usually revolvers are nothing more than gun porn to me... But a 9mm snubbie? I like!

That is pretty damn cool. Nice one.

Those are rare as hell.

I covet your possession.

I know of two in the Federal Way PD evidence room.

I saw this at the show after Rob picked it up. I had no idea they even made them and this one is in pretty nice shape. Great find.

Nice

Cool gun, great barrel profile. It looks really good with the extra beef.

Thanks, guys

I just ordered a holster, some moonclips, a demooner & a SS thumbpiece (to replace the MIM one pictured ) from Midway...should be here Monday. Then I'll have to take a trip to my first norfend range and try this little 9mm out to see how it shoots.

If I don't find it "too much of a hassle" to use the clips, then I'll probably hold onto it for a while...if it's more hassle than I'd like, then it'll probably hit the ol' dusty trail. It's a desirable piece though, so I shouldn't have too hard a time trading it for something more appealing to me if I wanted to.

Thanks for looking