Looking for something else to add to the stable and want to keep it to pinned barrels and SS. Though some of the old blued K-22's are tempting.

What should I know about these models? Good/bad, barrel lengths available, looks like they started around '77 and still made today? But w/IL and not pinned (pass).

What should I be looking for in this model?

Thanks Gentlemen.

Yes, they were the first stainless steel S&W .22's. The original Model 63's had 4 inch barrels and square butts. 2 inchers came along later, with round butts. There were apparently 5 and 6 inchers made way back then, but these are pretty rare, possibly prototypes; I have never seen even photos of them. I don't know if the first 2 inchers had pinned barrels; I don't think so.

Interesting, would love to luck into a 5" or 6". But a 4" would work.

I've looked at plenty of the K22's, model 16 and 17 - just don't know them enough yet to take that plunge.

I have a 4" 63-3; a wonderful gun. Generally they aren't considered as accurate as the K22s, but I sometimes wonder if that can't be attributed at least partially to the fact that small guns are just more difficult to shoot accurately.

Mine has a great trigger in both SA and DA. I bought target grips for mine and that helps a great deal, since the magnas they come with are tiny and add to the difficulty mentioned above.

They are good guns to teach others to shoot with, particularly ladies and children; i.e. people with smail hands. I use mine to review fundamentals of defensive shooting; it is like shooting my carry gun, which is also small. After a session with the 63, I practice again with the carry gun.

Hope some of this is helpful to you.
Andy

I bought a K22 thinking it would become my "go-to" .22.

Wrong.

More times than not, when I need a good dose of rimfire, the Model 63 is what I take. Mine has a wonderful double-action, and I think it has really helped me with my 2" self-defence guns.

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Georgia On My Mind

Go for a 4" 63. Could be $600+ cheaper (than the 1947 K-22 I want!).

63 no dash, shipped April '81 (30th Birthday!) Presentation (target sized) Stocks. P&R Found at a local Scottsdale gun store for $419 O.T.D. in January '11. It can be done.

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Bill - SWCA #2327

63's are great little guns, and putting a little larger grips on can assist the shooting of them. One of the best woods/walking around guns made.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

It is a matter of personal preference, but I think anything other than magnas make a j-frame too bulky. I prefer the classic look of the magnas and a tyler t-grip. Especially when the whole package is completed with a Lobo carved holster.

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Georgia On My Mind

Wow! OK that pretty much settles it for me. Something new to look for. And yes to help The Bride get used to the world of shooting & revolvers, then up to the 66-1, hopefully.

My 63 no dash came with number matching Magna's, but I put a set of nice Targets on, and it's much more comfortable to shoot, and I think looks great......

Looks like we need a Model 63 thread!

Beautiful guns, guys

I've only got the non-P&R 2"-er, but I will have a nice 4"-er one day sooner than later!

What is the function of the second pin under the rear sight?

Wonder how long it will take me to find one and to get the $$$ to do it.

Flint: 22s have frame-mounted firing pins, or strikers; these require a horizontal retaining pin to hold them in the frame.

Andy

Yep, Thanks Andy - I should have known that as I did note the lack of a firing pin on some pictures I had seen. All the K-22's I've seen at shows had the silly zip-ties around everything.

The hunt is on!

Any idea as to how many are out there with the Pinned Barrels?

It may not be pinned, but they're all recessed.

You got me there....all the .22's are recessed

I have carried my 63 in the field for 25 years everywhere from Alabama to Alaska and it has nver failed me. No problem shooting 1" groups at10 yards which has put a lot of small game in the camp pot.

It is one of 2 guns I own that I would never get rid of; the other is my Python!

I have owned several M63 no dashes over the years and traded / sold them. I have this one left.

I picked up a model 63 no dash and it will never leave my possession. Great little 22. I also put a set of target grips on it and I now shoot it much better.

I have my 4" model 63, with rubber grips on it. This is one gun I will never sell. I have a model 622, as well, and love it too.

The first thing I did with my gun was put the target stocks on it but after a while I came to the same conclusion. My 63 and 651 both wear their factory magnas. The J-frame .22s are easy enough to handle without big stocks. They are not like .38s that fly around in your hand when they go off, but as you said, JMHO. Very nice looking holster.

I waited a long time to find this one to come along. I thought the cocobola grips were after market but after seeing this post I am wondering if the grips are stock. They do seem rather large for the gun. I am going to refinish them either way. I also found a nice pair of Herrett's Shooting Stars with the cross checkering that I have yet to receive and look forward to trying on this revolver.
The first 2 photos are before I refurbished the SS. The last 3 are with a couple of coats of Ren Wax.
P.S. Not being pinned was a non issue for me.

Attached Images

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	S and Wesson model 63 no dash trans 003.jpg (94.8 KB, 278 views)
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	S and Wesson model 63 no dash trans 009.jpg (77.8 KB, 253 views)
	S and Wesson model 63 no dash trans 031.jpg (48.3 KB, 236 views)

I bought my wife a 4" Model 63 for our first Christmas. I had it on layaway at the local gun shop and would go in every paycheck to put money on it.

Unknown to me, she put a Model 18 on layaway for me at the same gun shop.

The dealer later told us they'd get a good laugh because every payday the two of us would go in to pay, missing each other by a few minutes.

That's a neat story, Brian. My 63 came to me as a Christmas gift too. The giver is long gone, but the gun remains.

63s are neat little guns. I never thought of them as being the first stainless S&W .22 but now that the OP brings that up, I do recall the demand for them at the time. They were as hard to get as the Model 60s and Model 66s were in their hey-days. It was fun time back then for us revolver-hacks with the "new" products coming along that now seem pretty mundane. But it was fun nevertheless, even if lack of supply was sometimes a bit frustrating.

These are factory universal fit (both square and round butt) Target stocks, which were available in both smooth and checkered versions. They were sold as replacement stocks only as far as I have seen.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

1. Great minds think alike .

2. It's kind of like "The Gift of the Magi", except with weapons .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Good looking holster. Who made that one?.....OK saw it Lobo. If you don't mind, what price range
was that one in?

Here you go . . . .

Lobo Gun Leather - The Classic Tom Threepersons style holster

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Georgia On My Mind

I foolishly traded my 63, and then spent many years looking
for a replacement.
Did it with a model 34, which, as a blue gun, I prefer.

You might consider a 34, 17 or 18 if you can find them.

A 6 inch 17 would be and was my first choice for my
first .22lr revolver.
6 shot like a "six shooter" should be.

Beautiful rig! Great gun!

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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

That's a love story!

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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

Back in the early '80's... my woman purchased five raffle tickets in my name to assist the volunteer fire department. It was for a Colt MK III Trooper in .357. However, unbeknownst to me... she slipped up... and accidentally put her name on the first raffle ticket before puttin' my name on the rest of 'em.. A couple of weeks later, I get a call telling me that my woman won the handgun... I corrected the caller... and told him that he really meant me. He corrected me... and said that he really meant her. Dang.

Well... (she had previously shot my Model 66)... and didn't want no part of a .357. So... I swapped the Trooper... for the 63 in the pic below. That's what she wanted... and that's what she got... and still has it.

I have large hands and put this set of Badger grips on my 63. It really works for me.

Have to concur with the majority here... I have many .22 handguns but for what most .22s are used for the 63 is just about perfect. I have two of the no- guns. The first one I purchased simply has the best sights of any 63 I have ever seen...only wish I could find out who did the work.

The red ramp front was replaced with a Patridge with a white dot. The rear blade has two white dots...have never seen another like it. A few years ago I also added a 651 .22 Magnum cylinder...





This is my second 63...I got it very cheap from a dealer I know because after he bought the gun a customer was going to buy it, but when they took the grips off it was found that someone had done a butcher job converting the gun from square butt to round...but the target grips hide everything...



Bob

The Model 63 comes and goes from my "short list" but it would be hard to turn one down if it became available any time! Even with a K-22 in hand, there's just something about a handy, durable little J-frame 22 that seems to speak to me. While historically the Model 60 predates the 63, the little 22 will always have a special place in S&W history.

Froggie

To add to the Model 63 porn - here is my factory engraved 63, Sambar Stag grips...



I also have it's cousin, the 651 - factory target grips...



Bob S.

I bought my 63 no dash back in 1982. It was my first gun purchased post law school. I paid $212 OTD for it. I was the first owner. The magnas were stamped from the factory wit the serial number but it was one off. On the inside of the factory magnas, there was/is a pencil mark from the factory crossing out the incorrect last number with the correct number penciled in! Must have been a Monday morning run. It will be the last gun I get rid of. (Actually the LAST gun I'll get rid of is my father's Ruger .22 pistol made in 1952).
Oh and currently it wears a pair of chgeckered targets which make all the difference in the world and is carried in a left handed basket weave El Paso Three Persons holster.

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Forum consigliere

I bought each of my nine Grandchildren a Model 63 or a 34 four inch gun to learn to shoot a revolver with. Paid $275.00 for my first one and $350.00 for my last one. This was back in the 1990s and 2000s. Did seem to be much intrest in those guns back then.

Rule 303.

Beautiful 63s. Please keep the pics coming guys

I have a 63 with 2 inch barrel but I don't know how to put a picture of it in this message.

I bought a Model 63 4" brand new when they were introduced. Of all the revolvers I own, this would be the last one I would let go. I love it.

I have the grips and need a screw. Bought two and both were wrong. One I believe was for a K frame and stuck out of the right grip and is blue. The other is threaded from top to bottom and drops through both grips and is to thin to engage the threads.
I read some where the screw is .9?? long. I can't find the thread now.
Anyone know what I need? If some has the right screw would measure it's lenght and diameter I would greatly appreciate your help.
Thanks,
John T

The 63 is the perfect carry gun for walking
Creeks fishing for small mouth bass.
I have two one of them has a .22 magnum
Cylinder fitted to it.

Attached Images

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I bought my son a new 63 along with Herrett Shooting Stars for his 14th birthday. He is 55 now and that is the last gun he would part with. He carries a cleaning brush with him to the range because the new ammo can get very sticky in the cylinder after two or three loadings. For him this gun leaves nothing to be desired.

I was on the hunt for an older Model 63 about 10 years ago. I never saw one for sale locally or at the guns shows I attended. I ended up buying a new, modern 3", 8-shot Model 63-5. It's a good revolver, no complaints except the lousy fibre-optic sight. But then I finally saw and handled and older 4" Model 63. It seemed lighter and thinner than my 63-5, it balanced well and looked stunning. I see why they are hard to find, nobody is willing to sell theirs. But it's worth the effort to find one.

Have a 4 and a 2.
Shot the 2 inch just the other day.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

The 63 no dash models had pinned barrels initialy.

But towards the end of the no-dash production some were made without the pin. Probable transition versions.

Better check before you buy if you really want a pinned barrel.

To my knowledge there is only "1" Model 63 with a 6" barrel. I understand the owner has been offered a somewhat substantial amount for it but I don't think has ever parted with it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I bought my first 63 while stationed at Lajes Field , Azores. Picked it up at the Rod and Gun Club $125.00. Traded it off at a pawn shop in Fort Worth when I got back for a 5 screw Pre-17. Finally replaced it a couple of years ago, traded a Dillon 550 straight across for it.
SWCA 892
PS. also brought back a Sako 223, $250 and a Sako 338 Win Magnum, $315 and ended up trading them both off on Smith and Wesson Revolvers.

Just switched the 4" barrel for a 2" barrel on a friends 63. Now he has a 2" with a square butt. Sorry, I didn't think to take a picture. Looks great though.