3” Model 65 values

[Beemerguy53]

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]

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.



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

Was. Hmmm.

 

[Baxter6551]

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/customer-service/performance-center-precision-gunsmithing

 

[John Patrick]

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.

View 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]

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]

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]

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]

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

Sear in the box - gun store aims to please.

 

[Geeorge]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

Thanks. They are made from Amboyna Burl.

 

[stonebuster]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.