History of the Model 67?

[Ameshawki]

My no dash has stainless front and rear sights. 1972, first year of production.

 

[jbtrucker]

Have Model 67-1 on the way non pinned barrel , don't know if black has worn off barrel rib and front sight or just grime.

 

[AveragEd]

I have posted these photos in other threads but this is a no-dash Model 67 I bought two or three years ago for $300 plus some shipping costs with no stocks. Now before anyone accuses me of grand theft revolver, I should mention that it had been polished to a blinding shine that would make a 1969 Cadillac's bumpers envious and was maybe a tad rough around the edges. The seller apparently was not S&W savvy and was over-the-moon happy to get that much for it.

My gunsmith charged me $115 to restore the original brushed stainless finish and while it was completely apart for that service, he cleaned and lubricated the entire gun. I bought a set of the correct flat-bottom Magna stocks for it but I think it looks better in stocks from my collection of checkered targets.

My only problem is that I hate to shoot it and ruin that unfired appearance.

Ed

 

[CH4]

It is offered again now with the lock & a red ramp.

Yeah, it's a 67 in name only. I think the latest iteration also has a two-piece barrel. Hard to beat the venerable 67.

 

[Moo Moo]

Here is my 67-1 with Combat Stocks.

 

[Peter_G]

Model 67-7 version?

Hi guys, I have the opportunity to purchase this revolver, marked Model 67-7 (?), but not mentioned in history by John (Paladin85020 post). Does anyone know anything about this version? I'm also wondering if it's possible to replace the Hogue rubber grips with wooden ones for the classic look, but there is no mounting screw visible from outside. Thanks for advice.

(used pictures are from advertisement)

 

[Ingramite]

Hi guys, I have the opportunity to purchase this revolver, marked Model 67-7 (?), but not mentioned in history by John (Paladin85020 post). Does anyone know anything about this version? I'm also wondering if it's possible to replace the Hogue rubber grips with wooden ones for the classic look, but there is no mounting screw visible from outside. Thanks for advice.

(used pictures are from advertisement)

Thanks for using the search function to bring up this old thread, made for informative reading on my favorite revolver.

This is a 67-1, not a 67-7.
It has a pinned barrel. The revolver you are buying may be a different one from the one shown in these pictures.

The rubber grips on this one are attached by a screw in the butt. There is a small metal saddle that straddles the bottom pins, This saddle can be removed and wooden grips, or stocks can be attached.

This is a very nice Model 67 that I wouldn't hesitate to buy if the price was in my wheelhouse.

 

[murphydog]

Hi guys, I have the opportunity to purchase this revolver, marked Model 67-7 (?), but not mentioned in history by John (Paladin85020 post). Does anyone know anything about this version? I'm also wondering if it's possible to replace the Hogue rubber grips with wooden ones for the classic look, but there is no mounting screw visible from outside. Thanks for advice.

(used pictures are from advertisement)

Welcome! Good information in the post just above. Just adding the 24K serial number prefix seen in the second image dates to late 1977, so is in the 67-1 time frame.

 

[Peter_G]

Thank you both very much.

 

[sw dan]

hi folks, yes a cherry would have been nice, to have the 67 in 2" or 2 1/2" stay safe.....dan

 

[Ingramite]

hi folks, yes a cherry would have been nice, to have the 67 in 2" or 2 1/2" stay safe.....dan

I've thought that too....then I pick up mine. It's perfectly balanced and naturally pointing. I don't think a snub would or could be an improvement on the 4" barrel.

There is the semi-rare Model 67-5 L Comp with the 3" barrel and the port ahead of the front sight....interesting but....perfection is something that I don't want to mess with and my No-Dash 1st year is just about perfect.

 

[71vette]

I very much love my 67. I found it at a local FFL early this year. A little grimy but otherwise fine. It's an early no dash with stainless sights. I put some early magnas on it and a Tyler T-grip.

Other than my model 17 8-3/8" it's the revolver I'm most accurate with. Here she is with my 15-5 2".

 

[Peter_G]

Here is my 67-1 with Combat Stocks.

A very nice combo, the knife at least doubles the value of the gun...

 

[Inland7-45]

Model 67 history

Here is my early no dash model 67. I was looking for a model 15 at the time when this one came in at the local gun store.

The 67 really is one of the best. As much as I like blued carbon steel I have to admit that stainless has its advantages. The front sight insert was done before I bought the gun.

If I could only have one handgun this would be it.

 

[Inland7-45]

Model 67

Great, short, article! I'm partial to stainless, and find the 67 with the tapered barrel to be one of, if not The classiest, stainless, revolver, ever produced. I even prefer the looks of it over the more functional, or beneficial, models with an ejector rod shroud.

Thank you for posting the article!

As far as style goes the model 67 and 4" model 15 are among the best looking S&Ws. Here is mine next to my model 64. I have had the 64 since 1993 and the 67 since 2006. Both came from the same LGS at a decent price. When I bought the 64 it seemed like you could not give away anything that looked like a traded in police gun. When I bought the 67 things had changed at least in this market and what you could buy for $150 in the early 90s was now more like $300.

After I bought the model 67 I sent it back to S&W for an action job and a CT trigger. The gun now has the slickest DA pull that I have ever found. After I got the gun back I showed it to a retired LEO who asked me why I did' nt go for a model 66.

My answer is the same now as it was then. The model 66 is a great gun, but the 67 is all that I really need.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm glad this got bumped up again too. I hadn't seen it and have enjoyed reading every post.

I got a 67-1 a few months ago. Like most of it's kind, I'm sure, it really likes 148 grain wadcutters over the standard charge of Bullseye.

It doesn't have a pinned barrel, and the S/N is a triple letter, AHYXXX, which as best I can figure is from about 1985. That -1 had a good, long run.

Still looks pretty good. I've added a BK to it, but that's about it.

It has an older sibling, a 15-2 that I like quite a bit too. Which one I like best, depends on which one I'm holding at the time.

 

[wcat94]

Are you sure the front sight insert was added?

I recently picked up model 67 # 5K97535 with stainless sights.
The front sight looks exactly like yours and appears factory.

Lots of good info in this thread, all of the dash changes mirror the model 66.

 

[Inland7-45]

Good point regarding the front sight insert. The gun came with the original box and still has the store price tag with $175 hand written. The S&W label is still attached to the end of the box and readable.

When I get a chance I will check the label since front and rear sight options are listed.

 

[Xfuzz]

S.S. has never been a favorite but I could
not pass this NIB 1975 vintage model 67 this past spring.

 

[Inland7-45]

Early model 67

Are you sure the front sight insert was added?

I recently picked up model 67 # 5K97535 with stainless sights.
The front sight looks exactly like yours and appears factory.

Lots of good info in this thread, all of the dash changes mirror the model 66.

Another piece of information about this gun is that it was purchased new by an auxiliary police officer who sold it back to same store in 2006. The policy may have been different from city to city but I know that some of the local jurisdictions required the auxiliaries to purchase their own weapons and there seemed to be
some leeway on what they could carry as long as it was a .38 Special. After appointment as a city police officers they were required to carry department issue weapons only while on duty.
At least that is how it was in the town where I lived at the time.

I grew up about a 20 minute drive from the S&W plant. It was an entirely different situation back then. I had several neighbors who worked there and I also worked there for about a year in the early 70s.

I also belonged to an indoor pistol league and our club as well as the other participating clubs had at least a few S&W employees.

If you knew someone who worked in the service department or in management it made things easier to have gun worked on and to be sure that their best guy worked on it.

If you lived close enough it was never a problem to bring your guns in and pick them up in person when done. They were also very helpful to law enforcement customers so the original owner of my model 67 may have had the sight done with a quick turn around.

Up until 1977 the factory was able to work on most of the very old guns. That was the year that there was a fire in the service department. At the time the service was located across from the main gate. From what I understand most of the older replacement parts were heat and water damaged and had to be scrapped. This included many parts for long action revolvers and even breaktops. I am not certain as to how accurate this information is. If the are any forum members who know the
whole story please correct me if my recollections are off.