I apologize if I shouldn't start a new thread, but I wasn't sure if I would be hijacking or being an idiot to bring up an old thread.

in review...nice nice ANIB pieces hit pretty $$$$ on auction sites
really decent in $500-600
police trade ins about $400ish?

there is one at a local shop, that no one has bit on for $499 (+ the tax)

I would say it's cleaner than a standard police trade in, but not what I would call decent....I really do not trust my skills at grading firearms and I know a descripton is not a great reference point..
Bore is clean, as are the chambers, what i can see internally.
does look carried some, but I know that can be cleaned up to an extent. Pachmyer wood looking grips...

best they will do right now, since they haven't had it long is $499 with them covering the tax.
Should I wait for a better piece? I picked up a Model 60 .357 2 1/8" i'm loving and I want to get another revolver. Just iffy on the price:condition.
thanks for the help anyone can offer

Prices on S&W's have seemed to go up lately. I paid 500 for a beater model 17 to possibly use to make another 32 something gun, project. That 65 has a 3" bbl and is pretty desirable, not a bad price. Make sure the timing is good, Larry

I bought one last year from SOG for $400 & its a police turn in.

You did not mention the -# on your 3", or the serial number. Lew Horton (SN LHFxxx) produced a 3", and there were other 3" variants along with the 4" guns. That all might influence the value. Nothing to lose by putting $450 on the table to see what they think. Some times cash talks (no credit card). One question you might ask yourself is can I get my money out of this gun should I need to sell it? Five bills OTD might be good for the right variation, in the right condition. I say look it over good and make the call. It's your money.

I don't have enough data for much of a trend, but maybe a half vast average:

Smith & Wesson Model 65 3-inch Barrel Revolver in .357 Magnum,.38 Special, Plus P. Blue Book of Gun Values (33rd Edition) indicates between $300 in 95% condition and $400 in 100% condition for this gun. I have 8 recorded prices for this model gun from $435 to $668 over a period of 1 Yrs 9 Mos ending July 15, 2013. The average price as of that date was $555. No refurbs, no refinishes, regular sights. All represented as 95% or better. No distinction for import location or engineering revision, if any, no special editions, no distinctions for box, papers, tools. Current or last MSRP is $563.

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Bob

The Blue Book was a valuable tool BEFORE computers. The one you buy RIGHT NOW will have data from 12-18 months ago. Check G-broker in both selling, and sold in last 6 months. Same for Armslist. That will tell you price TODAY, not ancient, well in gun prices anyway, history.

One sold recently, LNIB, for $1100. For $499 I would TRY to get it for $450 out the door but if pushed I would go $499. Quality S&W's ain't never going to get cheaper.

If the gun checks out I would pay the man and move on.The 3" 65's are great guns,You will not be dissapointed.

I wouldn't take less than $600 for this 65-3.



But that's just me!

BBGV has kept up. There's an online version which I use and it's more or less kept up-to-date because it isn't subject to having a paper edition schedule. It has also added Historical Prices and there is a utility to Add To Collection. It is a reasonable guide within some of the limits posted in this thread.

Here's my 65:

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Bob

I think the 3" 65's will be going nowhere but up. I jumped on this LS before the dang things get out of range!

You aren't likely to find a decent 3" 65 for less than $500 around here if you can find one at all. If the one you are eyeballing checks out on timing and lock up but shows some miles then I think it is a reasonably fair deal. JMHO.

Attached Images

65-5 LS 001.jpg (74.1 KB, 54 views)

I went back today. the finish is not as bad as I remember, a bit rough on the outside edge of the rear sight groove, trigger turned out great, timing is good to go. It's a 65-3 marked on the frame. The numbers on the crane were weird. F with 5 numbers, then the number I'm accustomed to being the crane part number. with the weird Pachmyers on, we couldn't find a hex key small enough to get them off to check the serial number.
It's the guy I generally work with there (a pawn shop that carries alot of firearms) and, mentioning i had looked at it a few times, asked where i wanted the price. I said what do you offer...$425 otd, which makes it around $393 with the tax rate around here. VERY pleased.I dropped two bills on it, and he gave me 4 months to pay it out if it's needed.
I got a S&W book today, as recommended, so I know it's only as early as 1982.

you guys sold me on going back, I am glad I asked. I hadn't bought a revolver since the days of the $300 police trade in type. thanks for the very valuable info

You did well! No more 65-3's ever being made and $400 for a 3" quality shooter is fine. Please give us a range report and pics after you pick it up.

IF the action is straight, $499 out the door is a fair price.

ANIB condition would be preferable of course, but they have been bringing $650 - $700 lately - if you can even find one.

With the selling price for 3" Mod 66's completely out of the ball park ($1200 - $1800) for the average shooter, demand for 3" / HB / RB / fixed sight K frames - in .38 / .357 has been increasing, & from what I can tell, prices appreciating 15% - 20% per year.

My $0.02, anyway...

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Regards - GCF

My take? You'd be giving it away, at that price... Nice piece, that will continue to increase in value.

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Regards - GCF

My 65-3. A recent acquisition, that I believe to be a 26 year old virgin - factory test fired only.






Another little recently acquired charmer - but in .38SPL: S&W Mod 64-3. Believe it to be also factory test fired only. Un-sullied by my grubby mitts - as of yet...

I think the 3" / HB / RB / pre-lock / pre-MIM 64's, are equal in value (well, nearly at least) to the 65's, & will continue to appreciate - at the same rate.

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Regards - GCF

At $425 OTD I think you did very well. I have a standard 3" M65 and a 3" LS Model. I've had them both for a few years. I didn't pay that much for either of them, but I'm with KEN L; you couldn't buy either of them from me for $600.

4 years ago hit the LGS and spotted a police trade-in 3" 65-3; wearing pachmayers & maybe 90%. $325, was not the ultra buy back then, but not having a 3" at home, I had to take a look at it. Man, that police armourer knew what he was doing: impecable timing, and the slickest/smoothest action I ever felt on a stainless K-frame. I couldn't stop playing with it. After noticing my many dry-firings the shop owner give me a stare, uh-oh..."throw in the tax?" was about all I could manage on a counter offer...sold.

Sweet, you won't regret it. Now you have to buy a nice camera to take pics for us and a range report. Larry

Haggling for a few bucks on a 3" K-frame is a sure recipe for losing a 3" K-frame. The 3" models have been in very high demand over the last year, with selling prices logically moving upward. The fact that a 3" 65 is a near perfect carry revolver makes anything in the $400-600 range for a nice shooter a bargain. Some day sooner than later, the prices will be $600+, and anyone who snoozed will have loozed by then.

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I'm with the banned ...

I bought this used S&W 65-3 in late 2012 with factory combat stocks and two speed loaders for $375.00 from a man who is no stranger to firearms. The combats made it difficult to conceal, it mow wears the Hogue Bantam stocks that were on my 65-5.

I'm not even sure I'd go that far . . . if you didn't know anything about the market, the BB wasn't a bad place to start way back then. I managed a gun store from '88 to '90, though, and the BB was just sort of a sad joke at the time. People would try to "school me" on what things were worth by citing to it - despite the fact that I was finger-on-the-pulse of pricing and actually selling things.

Getting back on point after that digression, though, I've been amazed at the way S&W prices have gone up over the last 15 years. Lots has to do with communities like this one, where people not only compare prices but they also post photos and inflame others' interests. The Model 58 used to be a gun that no one cared about, as was the Model 28. And the 3" 65 was considered utterly plain-jane ten years ago. (I got mine for $350 around that time - tricked it out and gave it to my little brother.) $499 for one these days doesn't surprise me a bit.

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Now go make God proud...

Gave $475 for mine last year. It was speckled with rust, however.
Did come with box, "purse", and everything else including the laminated stocks.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I don't have a 3" RB 65, 64, 13 or 10 because everyone I see on the auction sites is priced too high or the bids go beyond what I want to pay. Doesn't make my price the correct one, just keeps me from having one. All the one's I've seen sell lately (mostly on the auction web sites) have gone for quite a bit more than $499.

Just sayin',
Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Sad part is they ain't going to get any cheaper.

Start haunting the pawnshops. I found a 3" 65-5 for $450 and and a 3" 65-2 for $375. Both in CO pawnshops, both within a year. Traded for a 3" 13 here on the forum and purchased one of the Bud's 3" Model 10's during the same time.

Story behind the 65's is here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-rev...dated-pix.html

Kbak,

If you really want it Id offer $450 + tax. If they don't budge, just buy it.

I also found a 625 Model of 1988 that I really wanted recently for $850. Gun is worth it but it was kind of steep for me.

They would not budge on price as it was a consignment gun. I just bought it - and am glad I did. The 65-5 is my carry gun but that 625 shoots amazing groups at the range.

How about a very nice little Model 10-8? Action on this one, is nothing less then superb.

The roof on my office is leaking like a sieve...

$575.00 Shipped / Additional details upon request

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Regards - GCF

will post pics on Friday..payday and hope to pay it off then...just awaiting!

Three inchers are getting harder and harder to find, the prices are fluctuating quickly. Jump on it. If I found that deal here I sure would.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

If you fart around you will lose it. I'd have it home by now, resting somewhere between my 3" 36-1, 3" 66, 3" 624.

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

no farts at all!

dropped $100 on it for layway last week. We already started Christmas shopping and was taped out last week.

they gave me four months to pay since I have bought several pistols from them and a couple of shotguns..but I want it pretty quick!

I'm thinking Elk stag grips and a Tyler T-grip