NIB 2" Model 63.....w/ photos! *Added photos from 1st Range trip, 555 rounds later*

NIB 2" Model 63.....w/ photos! *Added photos from 1st Range trip, 555 rounds later*

Hey, everyone. Just wanted to drop in and show a couple photos of my newest acquisition; an early 90's vintage NIB 2" S&W Model 63. As soon as I found out they made this model with a 2" barrel, the hunt was on...I couldn't rest until I found one, and find one I did! I posted a WTB ad here on the forum and another member contacted me saying he had one he'd sell me. Apparently it was purchased, new in box, in '92 and left unfired. I'm pretty excited about this little guy and I know this is one that will be with me for as long as I'm still around I just cleaned and oiled it, bought some 555 ammo, and will be taking it to the range sometime in the next couple days. I'm excited for some lower cost snubbie training and to be able to spend more time on the range for less $. I had stopped by a local fun shop on the way back from my FFL to stop in and pick up some ammo, and while there; I noticed they had a couple prop-rods just left w/o guns in the S&W case...I asked the guy at the counter if I could buy one, and he just handed it to me and said "no charge"...very good guys at Surplus Ammo & Arms! All in all, it turned out to be a great morning for a S&W addict like myself Anyone have any hints, tips, or tricks for me and my first rimfire revolver? Thanks for looking, everyone -Rob

63

NOW THAT'S SWEET!!!!!!

Very, very nice. NIB I would have a hard time shooting it.

Terrific, I have been looking for one to go with my 4".

sweet...i just got its twin...a 651

They are fun little guns, and suprisingly, the adjustable sights work ok on such a short barrel.

Great purchase....have a blast with that one, and thanks for the cool pics.

Cap

And at $369.99 that looks like a great deal too!

Should be fun to shoot.

Thanks for all the comments, guys I'm hoping to get down to the range today and break this 20 year old revolver in! I do feel a little bad firing a NIB gun that seems somewhat sought after, but this is one I'll be holding on to...so I don't mind enjoying it for what it is, a fun plinker and a quality cheap-to-feed snub trainer. I bought it from 'BUFF' here on the forum and he was a great guy to deal with...very professional and, of course, sold me an amazing little gun for (in today's world) an awesome price. I wouldn't hesitate doing business with him again. Anyone out there have any recommendations on what ammo will give me the least amount of trouble out of this little guy? I know .22LR is inherently dirty :/ Also, I thought all these snub M63's were supposed to be dash-3's...but this one's a no-dash. Any thoughts on that? Thanks again for all the kind words, everyone

Flint Ridge said:

And at $369.99 that looks like a great deal too!

Should be fun to shoot.

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Ha! Go ahead and multiply that price tag by two...I still got, in my eyes at least, a great deal on this little NIB J-frame

I want one now!

Brother Gun!

Mine is a dash 3. What is the difference?

The closest I can come is this model 650 with factory 22 LR cylinder, it has fixed sights like all my other J frames.

Robinett_11B,
The reason your Little Stainless 22/32 Kit Gun is stamped Mod-63 is that is is built on a Round Butt Frame rather than a Square Butt Frame as all the previous 63's were. They first introduced these when Lew Horton had a Special Run of 500 produced specifically for him in 1989. They must have caught on because in 1991 S&W built another Run of 1000 of these stamped "Special" on the Shipping Label and I believe yours to be one of the 1000 made in that second run judging by the Serial Number. I believe if you carefully remove the price tag affixed by the gun shop which is put over the Features Section of the ID Label you will find that it is stamped "Special" underneath. You surely bought this at a Super Price and if it were me I'd leave it "Un-Fired" as I'm sure it is going to greatly appreciate in value in a very short time. Actually the Standard Production Round Butt 2-Incher's I've seen have been bringing a much higher price than you picked this up for!! Just something you may want to think about!!

I know they are not as highly collectible, but the recent 5" and current 3", like mine below, are great shooters. My local pusher keeps the new 3" 63 on the shelf at $650. Both have added S&W '60 Pro' grips ($43 + s/h from S&W Accessories) while the 5" has an added, albeit too long, HiViz sight. The 3" came with a HiViz sight - and a better trigger than my resprung 5" 63 - go figure!



I didn't bring up the 3" 63 to steal thunder from the OP's collectible 2"-er, but to suggest an alternative, perhaps, to shoot - if he wanted to preserve the 2"-er's NIB status.

Of course, a great attribute of the current and just previous 63 - they are 8-shooters! A DS-10 speedloader and 4 x 8 loading plate, a brick of .22's, and I prefer el-cheapo's - 550 pk 36gr HP Federals from WallyWorld, and you are headed for fun. My range trip Thursday included a 2 5/8" PC627 UDR, my new 60 Pro, and my almost new (11/10) 3" 63. I headed home when I was out of .22's - I still had .38's! Fun shooter - and available.

Stainz

masterpiece said:

Robinett_11B,
The reason your Little Stainless 22/32 Kit Gun is stamped Mod-63 is that is is built on a Round Butt Frame rather than a Square Butt Frame as all the previous 63's were. They first introduced these when Lew Horton had a Special Run of 500 produced specifically for him in 1989. They must have caught on because in 1991 S&W built another Run of 1000 of these stamped "Special" on the Shipping Label and I believe yours to be one of the 1000 made in that second run judging by the Serial Number. I believe if you carefully remove the price tag affixed by the gun shop which is put over the Features Section of the ID Label you will find that it is stamped "Special" underneath. You surely bought this at a Super Price and if it were me I'd leave it "Un-Fired" as I'm sure it is going to greatly appreciate in value in a very short time. Actually the Standard Production Round Butt 2-Incher's I've seen have been bringing a much higher price than you picked this up for!! Just something you may want to think about!!

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Thanks for the in-depth response, masterpiece! If my M63 was part of the 2nd run, the non-LH run, then why would it be 'special? FWIW, it isn't marked as such on the box. I've been told that my no-dash M63 can't be a no-dash, because of the non-pinned barrel...that S&W could of just made a (not too uncommon) mistake with the stamping. Any validity to that? Some of you guys might be super upset with me, but I did take it out and put a brick of .22's through it last night It shot amazing, no binding issues, was super accurate without even adjusting the sights and only needed the chambers swabbed out with a Q-tip three times over 550 rounds to help with extraction. I was tempted to leave it NIB, but (even though I have "collected" several S&W's in the last few months) I don't fancy myself an actual collector. I buy guns that I know I'd be able to carry, train with, or just have fun with. I understand collecting and not firing, but it seems like it'd be such a waste to not enjoy these handguns for what they are and what they were built for. I know this is a valuable one, and it will be taken special care of...but I'm still going to bring it along every time I go to the range. I don't see myself selling any of my current collection of S&W's, unless it was for another S&W! And this M63 is at the top of my list for 'prized guns'. I love taking guns out and giving them a good workout, then coming home a spending a couple hours cleaning 'em back up It'll never be as clean as it was before last night, but I got it pretty close! Thanks for all the comments and for sharing your insight, everyone. I'll be posting a few photos of it after it's maiden voyage here shortly

suckersrus said:

Brother Gun!

Mine is a dash 3. What is the difference?

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Nice Your M63-3, the photos of it I've seen while searching anyways, was just another prompt for me to get out there and find my own! Looks like you've polished it up...I was thinking about putting the Mother's Mag to it, but was a little hesitant due to the scarcity of the gun. I own 6 stainless S&W's now, and have used Mothers on most of them. I don't plan on ever selling this one, so maybe it'll get the treatment

Robinett_11B,
The 1000 that they produced right after the Horton Guns were considered to be Special Production. That is why I believe the were considered Special. Also because they were Round Butt as compared to all the previous models being Sguare Butt Guns. This may also be why the were stamped with just Mod-63. Right after these first became available I remember looking at approx. 20-25 of these that were made in the First 1000 Run that were all stamped like this. If it was a Factory Mis-Stamp they didn't find it for quite some time after production started because the Ser.No.'s of these were nowhere close to each other. If,in fact,these were Mis-Stamped I would think this adds to their value even more!! I did some price searching since last I was here & you "Stole" your Revolver as compared to the going prices!! Most were in the $600 & Up Range!! Even though you have fired some rounds through it already I don't think you hurt the value too much!! Now you can say it's LNIB instead of NIB. I like that term "Like New In Box" gives you alot of leway when you say how much you have used it!! Ha!Ha!

Have Fun With It!!

masterpiece said:

Robinett_11B,
The 1000 that they produced right after the Horton Guns were considered to be Special Production. That is why I believe the were considered Special. Also because they were Round Butt as compared to all the previous models being Sguare Butt Guns. This may also be why the were stamped with just Mod-63. Right after these first became available I remember looking at approx. 20-25 of these that were made in the First 1000 Run that were all stamped like this. If it was a Factory Mis-Stamp they didn't find it for quite some time after production started because the Ser.No.'s of these were nowhere close to each other. If,in fact,these were Mis-Stamped I would think this adds to their value even more!! I did some price searching since last I was here & you "Stole" your Revolver as compared to the going prices!! Most were in the $600 & Up Range!! Even though you have fired some rounds through it already I don't think you hurt the value too much!! Now you can say it's LNIB instead of NIB. I like that term "Like New In Box" gives you alot of leway when you say how much you have used it!! Ha!Ha!

Have Fun With It!!

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Oh, alright...I heard these were made in limited runs. I do feel 'special' just owning one...even if the box doesn't say special I think I did okay on it as well. I said I was willing to pay $800+, but it was offered to me (graciously) for twice what's pictured on the price tag, with shipping. I have a pretty good idea of what I have and I'm not taking this little gem for granted. Lol, you have a good point on the 'LNIB'...and it's still pretty damn valuable as a shooter too I've never really considered getting one of my guns lettered before, but I'm thinking I might go ahead and get one for this M63...it should add a little to the value and clear up the mystery if nothing else. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience, masterpiece.

555 rounds later

The following photos may be offensive to some...you've been warned



All taken as soon as my little M63 and I got home from the range...this is after 555 rounds, not as dirty as I thought it was going to be:











Then I cleaned it up a little bit...I'm thinking about polishing this little guy up :