Smith and Wesson 64-1

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Alright guys I finally got into the Revolver world. Picked up my first Smith and Wesson. A 1973 Model 64-1 with a 2.5 inch barrel. Shoots like a champ. Put about 50 rounds of .38 special through it and 50 rounds of .357 downrange. No issues and still is decently polished. Already have some period correct walnut target grips on order.
 

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Is it a Model 64 or 65? The M64 was .38 Special only. From your pictures I can see the chambers are recessed so if it came from the factory that way it's a magnum.
 
Is it a Model 64 or 65? The M64 was .38 Special only.
Not so. The Model 64-1 was chambered for the .357 Magnum. It was introduced in 1972 for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The problem is that it had a 4" barrel. This one does look like the barrel is no more than 3" long in the pictures.
 
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Looks weird to me. It has a short ejector rod like a 2". A 3" should have the full-length one. My other issue is the flat area at the front end of the barrel. Shouldn't be there. The square butt is another anomaly. Don't know what OP has but it's not "right."
 
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Picked up my first Smith and Wesson. A 1973 Model 64-1 with a 2.5 inch barrel. Shoots like a champ. Put about 50 rounds of .38 special through it and 50 rounds of .357 downrange.
Welcome aboard!
It certainly looks like a 2-1/2" barrel and it's obviously chambered for and marked .357 Magnum.

Post a photo of the muzzle, the full gripframe and the marking in the yoke cut.

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Video Tutorials on Posting Pictures
 

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Snub nose 64s had 2” barrel and round butt. My 64 (no dash) from 1976. Bought new. Paid $145 in 1976. A great concealed carry revolver in a pancake style holster.
 

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Strange indeed! Could be a one of a kind rare variation worth thousands or a pieced together good shooter. Will be interesting to see how this ends up.
 
The only semi-direct way to put that style of barrel on that gun would have been to remove the extractor rod shroud and front sight base from a model 66 and installing a lower front sight blade. With that, a longer .357 cylinder may have been installed.
 
Definitely looks like an odd duck. The barrel is clearly longer than the standard 2” 64, but shorter than the 3”
 
What are the chances...

What are the chances that it is a genuine 64-1 4" barreled .357 a la Oklahoma early models (I have one in my safe) which has had the barrel taken down from both ends and a short extractor rod installed (or the issued one shortened? Forum member steelslaver has spoken about such mods before). The front sight doesn't look quite right, as if it's been replaced with a blued sight, but I'm guessing that a good smith or machinist could make such changes to the barrel and rod, resulting in a one-off.


That would account for what we are seeing



Just a thought :confused:
 
What are the chances that it is a genuine 64-1 4" barreled .357 a la Oklahoma early models (I have one in my safe) which has had the barrel taken down from both ends and a short extractor rod installed (or the issued one shortened? Forum member steelslaver has spoken about such mods before). The front sight doesn't look quite right, as if it's been replaced with a blued sight, but I'm guessing that a good smith or machinist could make such changes to the barrel and rod, resulting in a one-off.

That would account for what we are seeing

Just a thought :confused:

Could have been done, but less direct.
 

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