I am sure it has been posted here, but I cant find any information or old threads comparing a Model 64 to a Detective Special. So point me in the right direction guys .

I have a Detective Special for my wife. Like many ladies she does not have big hands. She shoots it well enough. As a matter of fact she shoots it well. Maybe she shoots the HK Compact better, but it is much harder to carry . I did have Herretts make some great stocks for the Colt that are fitted to her hand.

But I have transitioned from the Colts to much more S&W and I still have a few Rugers too. So I have chased up a couple of S&Ws to look at replacing the Colt with. One of them is a 64.

Is the 64 the same size as my Model 15 K Frame but just with a snub barrel and shorter grips? The J frame guns did not fit too well with her and seemed to kick and bite here more too.

I will have her try the 15 again. But it seems a bit too large for her going in.

I might have to keep a couple of Colts around if it is indeed too much reach to the trigger for her.

Thank you for your inputs.

The Model 64 is a K frame

The Colt Detective Special is a D frame, which is slightly smaller than the K frame S&W.

There are several types of stocks out there which work with smaller hands (Ahrends, e.g.). She may also handle a round-butt K frame a bit better. I suspect that your Model 64 is a square butt, and those are a bit large for small hands.

Texasrider....Here's a 2" 64. K Frame Round Butt....This is my Wifes gun and she loves it...It's coming back from Mag-Na-Port after some work and a Bobbed hammer. I'll post the "after" pics in a few days....Zebulon




Here are a couple shots of the finished work. Mag-Na-Port did what they usually do, clean up and improve already great guns....I need to trim the grips a tad, but this thing is slick. DA Only now, Action done, Red insert, and smooth as a bar of soap.....

Thank you Dennis. That is what I thought. I have the Big Book of S&W on the way from S&W . My 15 is of course a Square butt

Zeb - thank you for that. That looks to me like it would fit her hand. Based on looks alone, it looks like your beautiful 64 is not that much larger than the Colt. I may have to give it a try as I really prefer the stainless guns too.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it". I am a S&W fan myself, but I guess I dn't understand why you would want your wife to switch from a fine sixgun that she shoots well to something new.
Sizewise... to me a Colt d-frame seems more like a j-frame that someone forced a 6-round cylinder into than a k-frame. The DS I used to own even fit into my j-frame thumb-break holster, you just couldn't quite snap it closed.

Your wife will appreciate the nicer action on the S&W, for sure. Your current speedloaders will interchange. She may NOT be hip to the extra 10+oz of weight. That'd be my concern.

Thank you Louis . I think so too. She is muscular.

While I agree with you Rod, it is more than just one thing. The one 64 I am looking at in in stainless, which I like better. Also should her Colt need service it is now almost impossible to get inside of a year and maybe two for the Officers, Pythons, Official Police, Detective Special, etc . So we shoot it less as a result. I will give this a go and if she doesnt like it, ..... well what can I say, I'll just have one for me.

You're a winner either way.....The 2" 64 makes a very nice CCW....I like them because I don't have to fight to find the grip, and I prefer a hand full of gun......Zebulon

I love K-frames. The 64 is one the greats. However, when I read your post carefully, I saw something that stood out (here highlighted, underlined, etc.). Before your wife transitions with you, I suggest she try out a 64 first. The most important part of shooting is shooting well, then comes brand names, cartridge types, etc. Sounds like she may already be there.

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Si vis pacem, para bellum

I am a die-hard S&W fan but a Colt DS is my most used carry gun. Colt got this one just right as it is as small a revolver as one can have while also carrying a fistful of real six-shooter (yes, I know this is subjective, but this is what experience has taught). I love my K-frames (2.5" M19/ 3" M13), but they are huge and heavy for all day carry in comparison to the perfect Colt.

What shoots GREAT on the range does not necessarily carry great on the belt or perform great in the gunfight. We all have a tendancy to base our initial preferences on range performances.

You mentioned the J-frames. Have you tried a full steel Centennial, such as the M-640? That is a great gun and the higher grip frame and full steel make it quite controllable.

They are both fine revolvers, and I have both.
The 64 will, in general, be less costly. This allows more funds for training.
The Dick Special, in my opinion, is a far better CCW choice, but some don't like the stacking sensation in the trigger.

The 15 and 64 are the same frame size. It's possible a round butt might fit her hand a little different than a square butt.

It looks like you're in search of an answer for a problem that doesn't exist.

What is she going to do if her 64 breaks. While the repair time will be much shorter it will still likely be out of service for a couple weeks. Will she go without? If not, and she'll have another gun to use then just have her use that gun should the Colt break. However, use that backup till you can get her a suitable replacement.

It'll take you about the same time to buy a replacement S&W for her Colt as it will to have the 64 fixed. So, today, you're left with the exact same problem you would have if she had a 64.

I don't see that you've solved anything by replacing what appears to be a great choice *for her*.

In addition, I find the K-frame to *not* be a suitable CCW gun. Not sure too many females would want to conceal one???

I am not leaving Mrs. Rider defenseless here guys . It is her choice if she changes - I was just getting " The Facts Ma'am" as Sgt Friday would say. She can always keep the Colt.

I was just curious as to the size and weight of the 64 before I purchased it, as I had not seen one here. The chosen compairison would be the Colt. Then finally in how it might fit her as a carry gun versus the known size of the Colt.

She is not likley to be wearing it other than in a belt holster outside to practice shoot. Any carry would probably be purse carry.

I am fully aware that ANY of them can break, Heck I can break for that matter. But to put a hand in the Colt as basic maintainance, which it doesnt need today, would be TWO YEARS. I am not planning on anything breaking - it is just a side factor.

She does have, and regularly shoot a HK Compact and she shoots it the best of all. But it is heavier and bulkier especially with another mag if you choose to add that. So she doesnt want to carry that regularly. But the HK is here for her and not going anywhere.

Now she might not want to go to the S&W PC 629 or the Ruger Alaskan with me .

Thanks for all the inputs and help.

Here's a shot of (top to bottom) of a Detective Special and a 3" Model 10 (K Frame):



And here's a top view of the Model 10 and the Detectice Special:

In the early '70's I used my department issued Det. Spl. in a gunfight with three armed robbery suspects. It served me well and your wife is well armed with this classic old revolver. Another plus for the Colt is that the ejection rod is longer making it easier to clear empties quickly. The Smith, while a fine weapon, has a shorter ejection rod which may require more than one hard smack to clear the cylinder.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

"Here Honey, you try this old model 64 Smith and if you don't like it you keep the Colt you love so much and I'll just keep this old heavy Smith for myself." It worked for me once.

Thank you Dragon for that picture. While the S&W is larger it is not as much as I might have thought.

Oldcop I agree with you. I have had Colts for quite some time with a Colt Python being my fist purchased revolver way back in the late 70's. I have never felt under protected by any of them - as is further evidenced by the fact that she has her Detective Special.

My Colt Lawman snub did experience a timing issue just a year or so ago. I called and sent it to Colt who essentially warranted the repair. It had shot less than 400 rounds since new with only about 100 full house 357s. Colt said it should have never failed. The point is Colt service is back much better after going downhill for quite some time. I realize Colt can not make repairs on the Det Special of course.

Good one Charlie .

The 64 is on its way. It is going to get some work just as S&W intended it when it rolled out of the factory.

I would be interested in knowing your opinions of how that MagnaPort turns out. That is in terms of performance primarily, but secondarily in cosmetics as well.

Maybe you will post to the thread again when you get a chance to evaluate the 64 after the work.

These pictures should give you a good idea how the two snubbies stack up.The S&W is a model 64-2 with a trigger job and bobbed hammer.The Colt is a Commando Special which is the same as the detective special except for the finish.As the pictures show they are very close in size and weight.I always pick the S&W,It has a MUCH better DA trigger and the extra 4oz vanish in the IWB holster.I find the extra weight also helps tame the recoil on such a small gun allowing me faster follow up shots.I say go for the S&W and don't look back.

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Great information there 05 DRZ. Do you carry it on the Suz too ?

Yes the Model 64 will be on its way to my FFL next week, so she and I both will get a chance to try it out soon.

I see you deciphered my username,Your one of the first.I ride my Motorcycles mainly for fun so I usually do not carry when I ride.With the Supermoto the front wheel is usually off the ground quite a few times and I would hate to drop my gun.

Excellent comparison!!!

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Si vis pacem, para bellum

Here's a shot of my 2" SB model 36 laid on top of a 2" Detective Special. Hard to tell from the camera angle, but they're virtually the same size. The DS even fit into my j-frame belt holster, you just couldn't quite snap the thumbbreak closed. IMHO if you took a j-frame and heated it up so you could force a 6-round cylinder into it, you'd have something the size of the DS. Comparing a k-frame and a DS, the k-frame looks well-proportioned while the DS looks like it's all cylinder.

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An SP 101 2.25" Ruger is almost identical to the DS. My DS and SP share the same holsters with perfect fit and security.

Thank you guys. Now I am REALLY looking forward to the 64 getting here.

I have a brand new DS II, a slew of J frames and a neat 3" model 65. I rarely carry the 65; a tad heavy. The J's are a piece of cake to carry, esp. the 442, as is the DS II which I like best to carry since it does have the extra round. I find there is little or no effort to transition between the Colt and Smith triggers; I avoid staging and try to press through smoothly. I would, however, like to get my hands on a nice 2" 64.

HiCap

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HiCap

When it comes to S&W CCW revolvers, I'm very partial to my 649, but the Colt DS and Cobra are my overall favorites for that type of gun. I like the grip ergonomics, the 6 round capacity and the solid mechanics. They fit a niche for me that S&W can't quite fill.

This is not as useful as the other pictures on this very interesting thread, but it may be of interest.

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Now go make God proud...

"I find there is little or no effort to transition between the Colt and Smith triggers; I avoid staging and try to press through smoothly. I would, however, like to get my hands on a nice 2" 64."

I have a M64 2"


And a Colt Cobra


Carry both, but the Cobra bites the hand that feeds it with the wood grips.
Harder to control under recoil even with Goodyears on it.
So, I prefer the Smith most of the time.....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Weight wise, the DS is near the M60 .38 Spec, maybe 2 oz heavier. The M60 mag is a couple oz heavier than the DS. The 2 in M64 is about 10 oz heavier. The photos don't seem to show that. I think the weight is more of a problem for carry than physical size.

Best,
Rick

This thread jogged my memory that I have a stack of old Gun Tests (I dont know if these are considered a flier or magazine) that had the Cheif Special vs. the release of the Colt Gen 4 detective from 1993. I think I can scan it and send via email from the new fangled machine here at work if any one is interested in some light reading.

I asked in the past to the mods if I would be able to post them up on the site but was advised not to due to copyrighted material.

So if anyone is interested in "Colts Detective Special aint what it used to be.. but was still good enough to beat out a Smith & Wesson Chief Special", I guess let me know your email and I will try to get it out via a PDF file. At least thats how I think it scans the file as.

Kevin

BTT.....with photo edit...Zebulon

That is just great looking work by Mag-na-port Zebulon.

I like the red insert and the polish work both. I am sure it is smooth as silk.

Did you also have them port the barrel as well? Do they still have a porting package for snub barrels ?

Thank you for returning and posting that up.

Thanks to erich, STCM, river, and rev for all adding into the thread. Great pics and info too!

No porting Snubs for me TexasRider...They offer it but I find it distracting on short barreled guns...Thanks for the interest (sure looks goofy to me without a Hammer... ), but I won't have to look at it, this one is my Wifes and DAO made more sense....Zeb

I dont blame you on the porting. I dont have anything ported either, but I have fired a few big mags with ports. Sometimes you can bracket the target picture with V flames .

But I bet yours will perform quite well.

Yes I have and prefer the hammers too. That said I did buy an older nickel 442 and of course it has no hammer. But it removes some of the snag issue.

But overall I like having a hammer.

Which is interesting because while I like shooting my revolvers in single action, and especially at longer ranges, I have almost all double action revolvers. I think I have one single action, a Ruger in 44 , and it is probably on the sell or trade board.

My 64 is not in yet, and with the rain and being gone a day or so, when it does come I may not get it until next week. Grrrr.