First Post, First S&W, Great Deal!

Justin T · Feb 7, 2019

Hello,

This is my first post in this forum. I'm quite familiar with different firearms and have owned a few semiauto pistols, but no revolvers (have one, but its a war trophy and not a shooter).

I've been looking for one for a little while, but most that I wanted had issues or were out of price range. I wanted a range and house gun that the missus could shoot.

Well, I found this 1993 DAO Model 64 in pieces on another site and bought it from a member there. It is apparently a LEO or security turn-in; the finish is pretty rough and it has a rack number or something EP'd on it.

Picked it up from the FFL and I put it together and inspected it the next day. First pic is how I found it (seller pic). Had to make a cylinder bolt plunger for it, as that was missing. Put on a set of pachmayrs because that's probably what would have come on it, and took it shooting. Second pic is how it sits currently. A little bit of a gamble, but it is all there and shoots great. I love it!

shouldazagged · Feb 7, 2019

Welcome, Justin. I look forward to seeing the pictures--don't yet.

Stick around, you'll like it here.

Justin T · Feb 7, 2019

Thanks, zag. Re: pics, i tried to post using an url hosted on a different site. Is there a way i can upload from my phone?

Targets Guy · Feb 7, 2019

Welcome to the forum. Can't wait for the pics.

two-bit cowboy · Feb 7, 2019

Welcome aboard from the hills of ol' Wyo.

You could upload from a computer (don't know about a phone). Scroll down to and click on "Manage Attachments" when you're typing a post, then follow the prompts.

Justin T · Feb 8, 2019

Ah. There should be some thumbnails to look at now. The pic with the green background is the seller pic.

Targets Guy · Feb 8, 2019

Justin T said:
Ah. There should be some thumbnails to look at now. The pic with the green background is the seller pic.

That is interesting. I just got a Model 10-10 (also an LE turn in) with similar circles on the grip frame. I can't make out a number like is on yours. It is the only gun I have seen with those on the frame until yours.

Nice Buck by the way. Is that a Pathfinder?

Justin T · Feb 8, 2019

Targets Guy said:
That is interesting. I just got a Model 10-10 (also an LE turn in) with similar circles on the grip frame. I can't make out a number like is on yours. It is the only gun I have seen with those on the frame until yours.

Nice Buck by the way. Is that a Pathfinder?

The little circle stickers? It's all new to me, so I have no clue what they are. Assuming QC stickers or something.

That's a Buck 102. Fish and bird knife. Scary sharp, and goes with me wherever there is steak, tri-tip, or brisket (I'm in Texas).

OLDSTER · Feb 8, 2019

Hello from North Dakota

S&WsRsweet · Feb 8, 2019

Welcome from Alabama .Great looking gun and package .

photoman · Feb 8, 2019

Welcome to the Forum!

I've owned four or five of the factory double action only Model 64's over the years and have found all of them to have excellent actions and were great shooters. You can polish that gun with mag wheel polish. I did that with a few of them and they look great that way.

Justin T · Feb 8, 2019

Thank yall for the welcome! With four younger kids and a wife in college I am not sure how fast my S&W collection will grow, but MAN I like this gun. It was also priced right—$190 shipped and transferred.

It will be a great addition to the safe. And I already have my eye on a j-frame bodyguard at the pawn shop. That little dude is a neat piece also.

It's got a +10-pound trigger though-closer to 12. Quite operable, but I think Mr. Kuhnhausen and I are going to walk through an action job today. Stock springs, just a fluff and buff.

When I say the exterior is rough, I do mean there are lots of nicks and scratches and overall heavy wear. I'm afraid the polish won't address the nicks and stuff. Instead of polish, I was thinking about a bead blast job. Anybody done that with one of these?

crazyphil · Feb 8, 2019

Welcome to the forum.
I had this 67 no dash bead blasted by a local smith
15 or so years ago. Love the finish.

Arquebus357 · Feb 8, 2019

Love the looks of the heavy barrel 64's. This one looked worse than yours. Wet/dry to 2,000 grit then Mothers. Also round butt conversion which I regret. After all the work involved, I realized that I didn't like the looks of round butt grips. DUH...

If it was mine, I would fit the regular hammer.

H Richard · Feb 8, 2019

Buy some RB to SB conversion grips. Easily available.

S&W Oldtimer · Feb 8, 2019

Welcome from Va.

Justin T · Feb 8, 2019

Arquebus357 said:
Love the looks of the heavy barrel 64's. This one looked worse than yours. Wet/dry to 2,000 grit then Mothers. Also round butt conversion which I regret. After all the work involved, I realized that I didn't like the looks of round butt grips. DUH...

If it was mine, I would fit the regular hammer.

That's a pretty cool piece. Looks great and I bet it's a lights-out shooter too.

I thought about putting a regular hammer back in this gun, but I think I'll just focus on making the DA the best it can be and making a defensive revolver out of it.

I did open it up and polish up the rebound slide and mating surface. It sure needed it. Lots of deep scratches on the slide.

That, and some general stoning inside the frame really smoothed out the pull. I also didn't go as tight on the strain screw. Just backing it off just a little bit made a surprising difference in the pull—now around 10 pounds where it really should be.

ABPOS · Feb 8, 2019

I'm impressed your first foray into revolvers and you have more experience at gunsmithing a revolver than some of us. Well me... LOL. I did pull apart my Colt Detective Special and put it back together. Every piece. But that's the depth of my knowledge other than cleaning and changing stocks / grips out. LOL. Nice 64. Looks good.

Justin T · Feb 8, 2019

Well thank ya!! Really, a few things went into this-I got lucky that there werent issues with the revolver-just needed deep cleaning and reassembly as it turns out. Also the 10/64 seems about as simple as it's gonna get, and there are tons of parts out there in case i screwed something up-so this one is a good one to learn on. A friend loaned me his Kuhnhausen book, so I have good reference material, and I like turning wrenches on my auto 5's, so I understand about tolerances, parts interaction, consequences for doing too much or going too fast, etc

Justin T · Feb 8, 2019

crazyphil said:
Welcome to the forum.
I had this 67 no dash bead blasted by a local smith
15 or so years ago. Love the finish.

Man that is sharp. Yeah. Bead blast job for me. I like utilitarian finishes on working guns like my 64.

First Post, First S&W, Great Deal!

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