I have long admired the original Model 64 with the tapered barrel. To me they have the ultimate vintage cop-gun look (along with the Model 10). I’ve been watching and waiting for a nice Model 64 for well over a year. I saw plenty of heavy barreled 64s, but most of them were bobbed, law enforcement surplus or dept. of corrections surplus. Not what I wanted. Then last week it finally showed up at a LGS. A pristine, early Model 64 no dash with the tapered barrel and OEM Magna stocks at a good price. As soon as I checked to verify that the stocks were numbered to the gun I knew I was taking it home. This particular gun dates to 1973, which puts it near the end of the tapered barrel run for Md 64s from 1970 to 1973.

I learned a little about this gun from the store sales clerk who had dealt with the original owner. It was bought new in 1973 by a Korean War Vet who kept it as his home defense gun for all these years. He had shot it only a few times. Now well into his 80s he decided to trade it for a new Ruger .357. I wish he had kept the box, papers and tools, but that’s OK because getting a 43 year old, well cared for, one-owner gun is just fine by me. And I wish I could personally thank this man for both his war service and his good care of this Model 64, a gun that I will be proud to own for a long time. I hope to get it to the range sometime very soon.

Edit: I took this gun to the range today and shot 50 rounds. I could not be happier with the accuracy. I was shooting only at 10 yards but I think this gun will rival my other most accurate center-fire S&W, my md 681. I'm partial to fixed sights!

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I'm gonna grow fins.

That is a beautiful example of the Model 64. They truly are the perfect example of a Police .38 Spl. I have one also but I don't think it is as pretty as yours. Congrats !!

Very nice! I have a pencil barrel 64 no dash that's one of my favorite Smiths. Great score, great story.

That gun looks wonderful. Congrats. Thanks for sharing

Now you and I both own a wonderful gun.

POLITE HEADS-UP: You may want to pay attention to the lug holding the cylinder latch in place. On more than one of my early Smith stainless guns, that lug is not properly secured. Not something you want to have fall off at a range or outdoors!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Thanks kaaskop, I well remember your post from last week in another Md 64 thread regarding this issue. Mine seemed pretty tight upon removal but after a thorough cleaning and reassembly of the latch, I gave the lug a tiny bit more tightening than I usually do. Sure don't want to lose it.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

Loeman, I was happy with my M64-3, or at least I thought I was. I was looking in the 4sale section on this forum, and one of our members put one of these up for sale. After thinking about it, I went ahead and jumped on it. Mine{now}, like yours is almost perfect. Trouble is, I can't bring myself to shoot it.

I also have a 64 no dash that I bought at an estate auction some
years ago. It came with the box and papers including the original sales
receipt. It's in mint condition but I have fired it some and don't worry
about doing so, it's a basic model meant to be a working gun. But
even though I shoot all my S&Ws I still tend to baby them, no silly
dry firing thousands of times at the bad guys on TV or other abuse.
Others will differ of course but none of the older S&Ws will ever be
made again in their original configuration.

Beautiful guns aren't they?

I had one. Unfired, in the box, with the papers a few years ago. Alas, I had to sell it during a time of "personal economic downturn."

Enjoy it.

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John 3:16 .

Thanks everyone for your comments and likes. It's true the Model 64 will never be the prom queen but there's just something about their utilitarian, no frills, attractiveness that really sets them apart and makes them special.

And I have way too many guns to shoot to ever worry about putting any serious wear and tear on any of them in my lifetime. Therefore an occasional trip to the range or a hike in the forest is just the right thing to do.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I could not agree more! You sound just like me!

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I'm gonna grow fins.

You think it looks good now-try adding a silver T grip and a pair of Patricks bone service grips with medallions to it like I did with mine-serious old school. I'll try to get a picture up.

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Forum consigliere

It's hard to imagine a better revolver than the 64 for useage as a
holster gun when spending time in the outdoors. I still think S&W
made a mistake when they discontinued the tapered barrel version of
the 64. Think back to the Victory model of WW2, a 4" K frame S&W in
38 spl. The 64 is a modern rendition of the utilitarian revolver.
Here's two of mankind's greatest inventions, my 64 and my
trusty microwave oven.

Attached Images

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Nice gun! I'm currently in the process of selling my lock model 64, but if it were like the op's gun, no way would I sell it!

Pristine, thanks for sharing. If it was mine my only problem would be to keep it as is or shoot it. Sooner or later it would go to the range.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

That's a mighty pretty gun!

I have a four-inch 10-5, but would love to have a standard-barrel 64. Wonderful workmanlike gun.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Really, really nice! Thanks so much for showing us. It does have the "look" of a classic police Model 10-5. Thanks again.

David

Here is mine:

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

As I mentioned in another thread, I recently traded into a Model 64 (No Dash) with the thin profile barrel. For some reason, I have always been enamoured with this model and I have been looking for one for several years.

I got lucky finding this one. The owner was looking for a shotgun to go turkey hunting, so I traded him my Mossberg 835 for it. The pistol is in pristine shape, but it did not come with a box or papers.

I plan on using this baby as "Snake protection" when I am out mowing the south 40' (Actually it's just the six+ acres we have around the hacienda....