LGS today had a used 64, frame stamped 64-2, round butt, 4" standard (thin) non-pinned barrel, 6 digit serial number beginning with D5, and corresponding serial number stamped on the flat underside area of the barrel. NO OTHER MARKINGS. My understanding is that the thin barrel should be pinned and came several years before the round butt and -2 model. Piece should also have serial number beginning with K. S&W Standard Catalog (3rd) edition indicates no such animal. S&W revolver fans, what say you?

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Metro Man

I've never heard of such. I have a 64-0 and as you say the barrel is pinned. It also has a square butt. It sounds like somebody monkeyed with a 2" round butt except you say the barrel serial number matches the butt. I'm interested to see what this is. Maybe somebody smarter than me will come along later with some info.

Charlie has the most likely explanation, someone (possibly at the factory) replaced the 2" with a 4" barrel. This was well after the practice of stamping the SN on the barrel flat so a photo showing the font and size of this may clarify this. There are 2" model 64s that appear identical to a 2" 64-2.

All 'fixed' sight K frames of this era had some form of D prefix. Adjustable sight models would have had a K, so no mystery there.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I'm not sure where you get the idea that the serial should start with a K, but you are correct that there is something wrong with a serial starting with the D. At least according to the SCSW, the serial on 64/65's has to have a 1 or higher before the D.

A serial D5xxxxx would be about 1973, too early anyway for a 64-2 which wasn't introduced until 1977. And the SCSW doesn't have the pinned barrel on the 64 eliminated until 1982.

Good catch . Missed that completely; there shouldn't be a number on the barrel if it's factory original.

Serialization on the Model 64 is a bit odd. The earliest examples of the no dash variant, did have the D in first position. But sometime in late 1975, the company skipped over the remaining D numbers on the Model 64 and went to xDxx numbers, even while the Dxxxxxx numbers were still in use on other models, like the Model 10. Any Model 64 from 1976 onward would not have the D in first position. But, as noted by others, there is no way that a -2 should have a number like this. That, coupled with the serialized barrel, makes this one strange - and interesting.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Another point - all standard/tapered 4" model 64 barrels were pinned. It may have been installed in a later (unpinned) frame but all D prefix guns without a number in front would have had the pin. The mystery deepens...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks to all who responded and offered an opinion. The consensus appears to be that the characteristics of this revolver remain a mystery. Since I already have one, there is no need to buy this one. Then still.......

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Metro Man