Hi Guys,

I bought this gun off the internet a while back. I took it to the range today to see how it handles. It's a good accurate shooter and quite pleasant to shoot.









I'm thinking of sending it off to Mr. Mojo and turning it into a "Bug Out Gun" with a 3" barrel.

Mojo Custom Guns - Timeline | Facebook

What do you guys think of that? It's plenty cool as is but it could be even more enjoyable... A fiber optic front sight would really help.

The rear notch is a little shallow for my taste. Is it possible to make it a tad deeper?



This edge is sharp and catches my finger. A little rounding would be an improvement.




The sharp cylinder release could be rounded to prevent digging into my thumb.



I don't really have any use for a bug out gun. But, it could be a fun. Ahhh, just throwing some ideas out there. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Dave

A 3" barrel generally goes best with a round butt. However, these gunsmithing changes might cost you more than the value of the gun. I would leave the gun as is except for some judicial action work and de-horning if needed.

I've fired plenty of revolvers and I've never had an issue with the point of the trigger that you highlight. It could be that you may first need to insure that you are using a proper grip on the gun as your trigger finger should not be getting up that far.

One of my LGS has several for sale from the Dept of Juvenile Justice (oxymoron) for sale in the $351.00 range. They look in excellent condition, probably never fired except for qualification. Good trigger pull and the cylinder timing is spot on. What do you think about the price?

Sounds like you'd better grab them all before they come to their senses.

Dave;

This is a timely post. I picked up 2 of the Model 64's from the Virginia Dept. of Corrections trade ins about a month ago.

The purpose of getting 2 was to leave one as is and have the other made into a custom gun that is mine and based off the things I wanted. I always thought it would be cool to have something that is unique, in that there is only one like it, and it is what you want it to be.

I have been looking at some of the custom manufacturers and wasn't familiar with the gentleman you mentioned but his work looks nice. As I set here this morning I had a sticky note laid out with what I wanted and was getting ready to send an email off to Karl Sokol of Chestnut Mountain Sports, to get the ball rolling.

While it is correct you will have far more into the gun than it is worth what price can you place on getting something that is uniquely you?

Consider getting the square butt converted to a round butt, that appears to be the cheaper end of the conversion process. I purchased one of the last sets of Ahrend Cocobola grips that popped up on grip seller a while back for this gun specifically.

I started this dreaming from looking at some of the custom work posted here on the forum.

Good luck on your endeavors and thanks for pushing me toward getting this done and stop procrastinating.

And yes most places can deepen/widen the rear sight channel.

To me that's a piece of history I would leave alone. It's a time gone that will never come back. If you want to modify the gun, by all means...it is yours. However I'd allow it to stay how it is for future people to enjoy it in its close to original state.

Super Dave,
From your excellent photos it appears that you have found an especially nice LEO trade-in. And to have the original magnas in what appears to be excellent condition, well, you did good! I'm not into heavy modification and you asked for our opinions. IMO, I'd leave it as is.

__________________
I'm gonna grow fins.

I've got a 2" California Department of Corrections 64-2 that I really enjoy. It's a little more professionally marked than the OP's . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Please don't ruin. Probably cheaper to buy a 3 inch round butt

I used to carry one of these. They are nice revolvers, easy to shoot and accurate.

I use mine just as it came from the Baton Rouge Police Dept , except for a set of Ahrends Retro Combats in Cocobolo.....she likes her new shoes and they make her look real hot . Shoots just fine and to point of aim with my favorite 158 grain cast bullet loads.
Kept the service stocks so we could go back to her police looking days.
As is , this one sees the most range time, I'm fixing to load up a bunch of ammo today, we're going dancing !

Gary

Nothing wrong with modding the revolver if you get enjoyment out of it. If that is what you want to do with this model 64- go for it and enjoy it. However, it will certainly not be the most economical option, so do it for the joy of it, not because it's logical.

I thought long and hard about doing the same with a police trade in m10 heavy bbl 4" gun....i love how it shoots as is so much that I decided to leave it as is and just shoot the thing. I will keep my fingers crossed for a 3" k frame down the road.

To wash their own...either way, enjoy that sucker!

Great looking revolver! If it was mine, I'd leave it as is.

Modify it all you want, who cares if you have more in it than it's worth? Plenty of hobbies are a cash sinkhole. And it's not like that particular revolver is rare and unusual, even if it is a nice one.

Even if it were rare ... the electro-pencil across the back of it sort of spoils any reason to preserve it.

Great points guys. Thanks. I'm in no rush so I think I'll let her be for now.

$351 sounds like a real fair price especially if you are able to inspect them. I think mine was a little over $400 after shipping and FFL transfer fee. The trigger on mine is quite nice. I heard the prices on these have moved up quite a bit in the last year.

The trigger bite issue is minor but it is strange. It's the first time I've had it happen. It's not getting the finger tip that pulls the trigger...it's getting me back closer to the knuckle...towards the end of the pull. Oh well...pretty minor.

In regards to Joe. TheBrushCreekLTD.Com
Everything I've read about his work is top shelf. It seems like a good chunk of his customers compete with revolvers. I have two guns with him now and looking forward to seeing how the action work turns out.

Have a good one,
Dave

S&W Models 10 and 64s' were what we had in OHIO DR&C. They didn't get shot much except for ones at the Academy which were used for training or the ones used for yearly qualifications at the local prisons.

Hello I got lucky a couple of weeks ago and a 64-1, 3" RB came along, I've been looking for a 3" 65 but it hasn't happened yet! I have a 4", 65-1 SB. The 3", RB is worth the wait! And at 4 bills OTD was sweet! Mine doesn't appear to be a trade in, the nice pc magnas a plus!

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CPO

Well, I "Bit the Bullet" and got one. Tight as a drum. It had the Dept ID# scratched on the side plate, (Fig 1),


but the price was nice ($350.00). Took it to the range yesterday and after shooting off a bunch of old ****, went and fired 50 rds (3 yds to 25 yds). (Good ammo) (You know the drill 1 to the head, 2 to the chest.) (fig 2)


After cleaning, I decided to try and buff out those scratched. Not done yet (need a harder buffing wheel) but it looks promising.


Here is the pistol

I had one and liked it a lot. I had to sell it and other things when my ex let me have my daughter and we needed to move fast, to a better school system.

I replaced it with a M-66-3 that is probably my favorite all-round handgun, bar none.


But if I found a nice heavy barrel M-64 and had the money, I'd be on it like a big coyote on a fawn. It'd be an ideal home defense gun, with a lot of outdoor use when a Magnum isn't needed.

I'd leave that nice gun alone. A lot of these custom projects wind up disappointing people and you usually can't sell the gun for what you have in it. I prefer buying guns in original condition, not trusting custom work by people who like to tinker with guns.

In the case of the two shown, I'd remove the poor quality property markings. If they were more professionally done, I'd leave them there.

I used Pachmayr grips and also like Uncle Mike's, when you find a nice set.

The M-64 is an excellent basic service revolver. If your hand is so big that you actually have the problems described, a very careful use of a soft Arkansas stone will probably soften the sharp edges. I think that'd be okay. But it may remove passivation and a follow-up treatment may be needed to avoid rust beginning. I've read that a wipe-down with Simichrome or similar metal polish will suffice.

^^^^What Texas Star said. I've had bbls professionally cut down on 2 handguns and regretted it every day thereafter, losing interest in both guns.

The 64 was produced to be an inexpensive, basic gun for holster LE work. It doubles as a good range gun. Try it from a rest with 158gr service ammo on a bulls-eye. You may be very pleased. 3" bbl? With apologies to my forum buddy Groo01, get a 2" Model 60 for carry. There are no official rules for "bug-out guns."

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103