3” Model 65 values

LVSteve · #1 12-28-2023, 05:48 PM

Was in a store yesterday and I noted that their prices on S&W revolvers were pretty robust. Counter guy told me that they recently sold a Model 65 with a 3” barrel for about $900. Is that the going rate these days, or would it have been a rare combo of barrel length and dash number.

My 3” M65 came used from CDNN about 15 years ago for $300.

Muley Gil · #2 12-28-2023, 05:54 PM

I'm afraid prices are heading up for 3" K frames. I bought a 3" M65 about 7 years ago for $475 at a gunshow and was happy with the price.

CH4 · #3 12-28-2023, 06:20 PM

FWIW, I recently paid $1k for a cherry 3” 65-5 at the November Big Reno Show. Was marked $1200, paid $1k. Factory magnas, but no box. That said, I think deals in the $800 - $900 range are out there. Two years earlier I found another 3” 65-5 at the Westgate collectors show for $725. I pick up every reasonably priced 3 inch 13/65 i come across.

Here’re a few…

JohnRippert · #4 12-28-2023, 06:40 PM

I still have the one I bought Dad back in the '90s and got back 10 years ago when he passed. I wouldn't sell it for $1000 but that is more for sentimental reasons.

Yes, I think that is about the going rate for a 3-inch Model 65 these days.

John Patrick · #5 12-28-2023, 10:42 PM

Fwiw, there is a 3” M65 listed on Guns International by Guns.com for $756.99.

The add reads excellent condition and gun only.

A couple of M65 LadySmiths are listed at $999. And one at $1,350 or so.

LVSteve · #6 12-28-2023, 10:50 PM

Dang! Reckon I need more insurance.

Rakkasan13F · #7 12-29-2023, 12:43 AM

That's about what I paid for my 3" 65 earlier this year. I paid just a hair less for my 3" 13 around the same time.

Igiveup · #8 01-01-2024, 12:15 AM

I paid $800 for my 65-3 about a year and half ago from a member from Tenn. and have daily carried it ever since receiving it. Most I ever paid for a revolver, no regrets.

ColumbusJBR · #9 01-01-2024, 10:45 AM

I bought a cherry 3” 65-5 on GB about a few months ago. Cost every bit of $1,000. No regrets, it’s mine now.

TheHammer77 · #10 01-01-2024, 11:31 AM

Thought I was getting a bargain on a rare bird when I bought this last week for $550.

-img_1185-jpg

- TheHammer

MajorD · #11 01-01-2024, 12:24 PM

The hammer did get a smoking deal. 3” K” seem to be something of a holy grail, and are popular with both collectors and carriers/ users.
I never see them for sale locally, and most I see on line are at or near 1k most of the time.

TheHammer77 · #12 01-01-2024, 04:14 PM

Naw, mine is a Model 64 that appears to have been cylinder and barrel swapped.

-TheHammer

PHS327 · #13 01-01-2024, 04:32 PM

I "stole" a M65-5 Lady Smith in very good to excellent condition, gun only for $600 in November 2019. Just happened to see it on GB as a "Buy Now" right after it was listed. Very lucky. At the time, you could get them for about $750. Prices been going up ever since.

BC38 · #14 01-01-2024, 05:24 PM

Threads like this make me feel really good about the M65-5 I bought 7 years ago for less than $500.

Mazzman · #15 01-01-2024, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH4

FWIW, I recently paid $1k for a cherry 3” 65-5 at the November Big Reno Show. Was marked $1200, paid $1k. Factory magnas, but no box. That said, I think deals in the $800 - $900 range are out there. Two years earlier I found another 3” 65-5 at the Westgate collectors show for $725. I pick up every reasonably priced 3 inch 13/65 i come across.

Here’re a few…

Beautiful grips on #5 (blued). Looks like maple? Very nice!

LVSteve · #16 01-01-2024, 11:28 PM

I wonder how much those fancy grips some of you are showing add to the value? Mine wears what I think are Pachmayr Compacts.

-m65l_02-jpg

Toyman · #17 01-02-2024, 12:52 AM

I meet the head of hand gun production for S&W at S&W meeting in June last year. I told him about the raising prices for S&W K frame 3 inch round butt revolvers and all but begged him to make a run of model 65s in this configuration. I did not get much of a response.

BC38 · #18 01-02-2024, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVSteve

I wonder how much those fancy grips some of you are showing add to the value? Mine wears what I think are Pachmayr Compacts.

-m65l_02-jpg

Compac Pro's actually.

The original Compacs are a little wider (they cover the backstrap) and have the pinkie notch at the front bottom corner.

murphydog · #19 01-02-2024, 08:54 AM

3" model 65s went up substantially in value during the Great Gun Shortage of 2020-'21 but prices have been trending stable to slightly lower over the past six months or so. That said, "bargains" for well-used examples in the $700 range or so are uncommon.

Geeorge · #20 01-04-2024, 01:37 AM

I watch them on Gun Broker and they seem to go in the 650-850 range depending on condition and if they have a box or not.

Here is my model 65 that started life as 3in, brownells had model 64 2in barrels for awhile and I had to have it put on, I think it shoots just as well if not better than it did before, but I did have a quality smith do the work

Beemerguy53 · #21 01-04-2024, 01:58 AM

I love 3" barrelled revolvers...they seem to fit the hand perfectly, and balance so well.

Last spring, I sent my 3" Model 65 to S&W to have some work done...I was very pleased with the results...

dsf · #22 01-04-2024, 02:06 AM

As I get older my shoulder likes the 6mm, 25 calibers and 7mm more than the 30s and 35s - OK, an exception for any lever action in 35 Remington but other than that ....

I'm happy with my 3" Model 64, especially having found it in a CA LGS for high $400s.

IMG_0888.jpg

Odd, it came in the box but no DA sear - was SA only.

Was. Hmmm.

Baxter6551 · #23 01-04-2024, 07:56 AM

I had mine done over at Smith like BeemerGuy - the Combat Revolver Package. I highly recommend it. I would say a very good price for what you get - just look at the cost of the trigger job and bead blast without the other work. I paid $250 for the job going on 15 plus years ago. The red ramp (not offered by factory any more) and polishing of hammer and trigger were done afterwards.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/custome...on-gunsmithing

John Patrick · #24 01-04-2024, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsf

As I get older my shoulder likes the 6mm, 25 calibers and 7mm more than the 30s and 35s - OK, an exception for any lever action in 35 Remington but other than that ....

I'm happy with my 3" Model 64, especially having found it in a CA LGS for high $400s.

Attachment 661612

Odd, it came in the box but no DA sear - was SA only.

Was. Hmmm.

Numrich? Or did you find the sear in the box?

BC38 · #25 01-04-2024, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeorge

I watch them on Gun Broker and they seem to go in the 650-850 range depending on condition and if they have a box or not.

Here is my model 65 that started life as 3in, brownells had model 64 2in barrels for awhile and I had to have it put on, I think it shoots just as well if not better than it did before, but I did have a quality smith do the work

I think this is the first time I have heard of someone converting a 3" barrel to a 2" barrel. Going the opposite direction seems to be a lot more common...

Geeorge · #26 01-04-2024, 09:54 PM

I had a model 64 2in barrel that I loved carrying while the 65 3in stayed at home. Found a genuine S&W 2in barrel at brownells and had it done. Love the gun been carrying it since 2012 and is by far my favorite carry gun. If I don't carry it I have a 686 3in CS 1 as a back up gun

BC38 · #27 01-04-2024, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeorge

I had a model 64 2in barrel that I loved carrying while the 65 3in stayed at home. Found a genuine S&W 2in barrel at brownells and had it done. Love the gun been carrying it since 2012 and is by far my favorite carry gun. If I don't carry it I have a 686 3in CS 1 as a back up gun

FWIW, that looks like at least a 2-1/2" barrel.

Just curious, but are you measuring the barrel length from the front of the cylinder or from the front of the frame?

The correct barrel length measurement is from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel - not from the front of the frame to the end of the barrel.

dsf · #28 01-05-2024, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Patrick

Numrich? Or did you find the sear in the box?

Sear in the box - gun store aims to please.

Geeorge · #29 01-05-2024, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

FWIW, that looks like at least a 2-1/2" barrel.

Just curious, but are you measuring the barrel length from the front of the cylinder or from the front of the frame?

The correct barrel length measurement is from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel - not from the front of the frame to the end of the barrel.

You are looking at the picture of the 3in 686 cs 1, the 2in model 65 is in the post before it. This is the 2in model 65, you can't tell the difference in a K frame and L frame with the full under lug barrel

stonebuster · #30 01-05-2024, 06:43 AM

Thanks to "Baxter6551" forwarding me info on where I could find a Model 65-2 3"with a $759 price tag I'm now the owner of a very nice "transitional" model. Recessed but not pinned. Turned out to be at a dealer I've bought/traded with for years. I traded a used Ruger GP100 357 + $200. Range trip today. It looks good with the Model 64-5 3" I bought through this forum. Thanks to this thread and Baxter, my 2024 is off to a great start!

wbraswell · #31 01-05-2024, 08:47 AM

The demand of the 3" K frame has been high ever since they started them as standard production around 1980. IMO the 3" K handles like no other double action revolver. I saw a M13-2, 3" almost LNIB for 1300 in the Ft. Worth show last weekend.

wbraswell · #32 01-05-2024, 08:54 AM

stonebuster, my 65-2 is like that. Mine also has a grooved trigger, which I thought was unusual for these. Yours looks like a smooth trigger, is it?

stonebuster · #33 01-05-2024, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbraswell

stonebuster, my 65-2 is like that. Mine also has a grooved trigger, which I thought was unusual for these. Yours looks like a smooth trigger, is it?

Mine is a smooth trigger. I see yours isn't pinned either.

Baxter6551 · #34 01-05-2024, 11:13 PM

Stonebuster. Glad you got that one. It’s really nice. My 65 is a -3. Smooth trigger. When I had the factory do the combat revolver package which included the bead blast I asked for the bungered screws to be replaced and the screw heads left shiny. I had the sides of the hammer and trigger polished kind of like they did with the MagnaPort package. I’ve had other revolvers done over by my gunsmith afterwards to mimic the package including my old issued model 65 4 inch. I really like the look but some don’t.

Wbraswell - whose grips are on the gun left of photo ?

CH4 · #35 01-06-2024, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mazzman

Beautiful grips on #5 (blued). Looks like maple? Very nice!

Thanks. They are made from Amboyna Burl.

stonebuster · #36 01-06-2024, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

Threads like this make me feel really good about the M65-5 I bought 7 years ago for less than $500.

That's a beauty and for <$500 a steal. I put those same Uncle Mikes grips on my 65-2 before I hit the range yesterday. My gorilla hands make the magnas a no-go but those UMikes fit me well. With the magnas the trigger pull felt very heavy but with uncle mikes it feels much lighter. Amazing what a difference a change of grips can make.

mag318 · #37 01-09-2024, 10:51 PM

The unique thing about the 3" Ladysmith is that the barrel looks more like a fixed sighted Model 66 with the shrouded ejector.

V-Eight · #38 01-10-2024, 11:18 AM

I just (the early morning hours of 12/31/23) purchased a 3" Ladysmith 65-5 on GB with buy it now of $699.99. It's sitting at my FFL waiting for me to pick up...hopefully get there by tomorrow. I feel that it's on the low end of prices I've been seeing and couldn't pass it up at that price...hopefully its in as nice condition as the pictures show.

Ameshawki · #39 01-10-2024, 11:43 AM

A 64-3 with box and papers just sold for $1225 on GB. 64 not 65. 35 bids, probably ten bidders. Oddly enough I found a 64-3 at the local Sportsmans Warehouse for $519 a week ago. No box but excellent condition. Even though I already have a 64-3 I bought it, because.

The three inch K frame market is just weird.

CH4 · #40 01-10-2024, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-Eight

I just (the early morning hours of 12/31/23) purchased a 3" Ladysmith 65-5 on GB with buy it now of $699.99. It's sitting at my FFL waiting for me to pick up...hopefully get there by tomorrow. I feel that it's on the low end of prices I've been seeing and couldn't pass it up at that price...hopefully its in as nice condition as the pictures show.

Outstanding price for an outstanding piece. I wouldn't sell mine for less than $2K. I think it's one of the best looking Smiths made.

YouveHadYour6 · #41 01-11-2024, 03:31 AM

I came into one of the uncommon GA Parole Board 65-2 3" examples a couple years back. Beautiful gun aside from the stocks, which were correct but somehow absolutely roached when the rest of the revolver was minty. Traded it straight across for an immaculately restored (by a certain company) 1928 (iirc) Winchester Model 55...which of course I now dearly wish I'd kept as much as the 65 itself!

Can't say I did badly on that one though...

Can't find any pics of the 55, shame, it was a beautifully re-built rifle from the screws up.

The 65:

Dwaine · #42 02-01-2024, 10:43 PM

My 3" Model 65-5.... I wouldn't part with it for $1K...