Hi folks,

I was lucky enough to come across a 3” Model 65-3 at my LGS a few weeks ago. It was a little worn but I thought it could still be salvaged and did not pass on it for $549.

Upon handling and shooting the gun I fell in love with its balance and how it feels in the hand, especially with round smooth target grips, which I added after as it originally came with Pachmayr grips. Like others in this forum, I’m afraid I have caught the 3” bug. I now know why people rave about these.

After being outbid on Gunbroker on a pristine 3” 65-5 with box and papers, I ended up winning a different auction for a 65-5 that did not come with box but was in great shape, with a tight lockup and a good price.

The first 65-3 had been carried and showed wear, especially in the cylinder and ratchets. It was also out of time on all chambers. But I used the great insights from this forum and the Kuhnhausen book to change the hands, cylinder stop and the cylinder assembly.

By changing the cylinder assembly I was lucky to get the barrel gap from 0.010” to 0.007”. With the newer ratchets, I was also able to use the smaller S&W oversized hands (as opposed to the larger Power Custom ones) which worked great without requiring me to file the ratchets at all.

Lock up on 65-3 is now great but I will still fit the oversized Power Custom cylinder stop to make it slightly tighter (leaving some play not to stress the forcing cone).

The 65-5 from Gunbroker came to me with a great finish and tight lockup. So no work needed there. Let me know that you guys think... can you post photos of your 3” model 65 or 13?

I’m now on the hunt for the elusive model 13 in 3”.

Cheers,
686PC

Great guns! A pair to draw to, as they say in poker. I have a 3" 65 I really like, too.

I think you are referring to ratchets, not hatchets, though.

__________________
protocalldesign.com

Love the smooth RB targets!

Very nice pair sir!

__________________
On the Oak Savannah

“I think you are referring to ratchets, not hatchets, though.”

Thanks Protocall_Design! I made that edit on my post... indeed I meant ratchets, not hatchets.

Cheers,
686PC

Great guns. Congratulations on finding them. Enjoy! Here’s a 65-3 and a 13-3 I enjoy having.

Attached Images

0FC1B6ED-2FA6-417A-A350-9F67713D94B0.jpg (110.5 KB, 98 views)

__________________
SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

Very nice guns and grips you have.
Here’s old repost pic of -5LS and -3.

That’s a nice pair of revolvers. I have a similar pair of 3” guns, a 65-3 and a 65-5LS. I carry the 65-3 for work. You can’t have too many 3” K frames.

__________________
Wheel guns are real guns.

Need a box ?? somebody needs this box . for shipping , thanks , kenny

Attached Images

box.jpg (69.5 KB, 96 views)

__________________
Too good

My 3” 65-5, 10-5, and Charter arms undercover I have carried all three


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

__________________
Wheel guns are real guns too.

I have a 65-3 & 65-5 too. I prefer these to the 2.75” 66-2 I used to own.

Attached Images

	1486D654-9D1D-41A8-8B99-FDF9AF28288F.jpg (99.4 KB, 50 views)
	A5625A45-33AC-41F3-9963-CD34E1D57DF9.jpg (81.9 KB, 52 views)

2 65-3’s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

__________________
Dave

20200208_165531.jpg

Here's my 65-3

I have but one 3" Model 65 and it is my favorite revolver. Boy, did S&W ever get it right with this model.

If those grips came on each gun you did great. Nice pair of guns, 3” & 5” are habitat forming. Larry

Knew a federal agent who carried
a 65 3-incher.

He was nearing his retirement when
his agency announced and issued to
him an autoloader. He qualified with
the auto.

And then continued to carry his Model 65.

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

The 3" heavy barrel, round butt, fixed sight K frames are some of the best guns S&W ever made, either in .38 or .357. They handle magnificently and are all business.

Attached Images

Salt & Pepper.jpg (88.5 KB, 41 views)

My grail gun is the 3” 65 Lady Smith.

But I would settle for a blue 3” 357 fixed site model

What other models of S&W were 3” 357 mags offered in?

The posts above show model 10 and 13. Are there any others?

Which are preferred and why, which are less desirable and why? All the dash variants boggle my mind.

From time to time, the Model 66 showed up in 3". The older no lock models are rare and pricey. The Model 60 was made in 357 and 3", looks like a "honey, who shrunk the 686". Great gun but not a lot of fun to plink with using 357 ammo. I have one I bought from one of my students who really wanted to shoot and carry a 357, fired 6 hot rounds of SD ammo and decided it was all the fun they wanted.

__________________
SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

I forgot to mention that the 13 in 3" is more common in NC. Before autos, it was issued to NC State Bureau of Investigation agents. Several local LE agencies detective bureaus copied the SBI. I have shot these guns and they are great shooters.

__________________
SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

Here’s my duo of 3” 65’s

Attached Images

28886DA0-1FD4-45B6-B498-A8A03311CD14.jpg (54.8 KB, 34 views)

I had a 4". Bought the first week they came out. 135.00 OTD. I count getting rid of that gun as one damm fool mistake!!!!

__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son