4" Smith & Wesson Model 65-4

[CKPOMEH]

Folks -

I saw a 4" Model 65 at an LGS last Saturday, and I am thinking of going back to pick it up. It had magna stocks, and a Tyler grip adapter in SS (color wise, it was an ok match at best to the SS reveolver)

It was in a 'good' condition - a couple of scuffs here and there, but nothing major - it has been carried for sure. No police markings on it (wish it had - I personally like those).

Was selling $399. I am assuming this is as good of a deal I will get on something like that, right? First time I see one, I initially thought it was a 64-5, not a 65-4 but I did confirm this was a 357 magnum barrel...

Sorry, did not take any pictures (I purchased another pistol, look at a couple of more revolvers, it was a lot going on).

Thanks!

 

[Muley Gil]

That's a pretty good deal these days. I would buy it myself, iffn' I was you.

 

[Jim PHL]

I agree. I find it hard to resist any decent J- or K-frame selling for under $400 these days.

 

[Beju]

FWIW, 8 months back I paid $275 for a Model 64-7 on Gun Broker. Shipping and tax made it about $380. It was carried (probably a security/armored car company trade-in), but in very good shape.

Model 65s and no-lock guns generally go for a premium over my Model 64, so $400 sounds pretty good to me.

 

[BC38]

I bought my 3" 65-5 around 4 or 5 years ago for $450 + taxes & fees, so $399 sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

 

[kaaskop49]

Did you examine the 65 beyond "looked good"? Timing, headspace, barrel/cylinder gap, bulged barrel... I've seen stainless 66s (K-frames like the 65) at shows that looked good, but rattled like maracas, they had been shot so extensively. There's a reason somewhere for this gun being relatively inexpensive.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[38 Specialist]

That's a great gun to own. If it fit in my collection and is in good working order, I'd snap it up at that price.

 

[Baxter6551]

Very good deal - just check forcing cone for any cracks.

 

[jimmyj]

RUN BACK AND BUY IT !

 

[Ameshawki]

The Tyler is close a $100 all by itself.

 

[stansdds]

If it is mechanically sound, then $400 is a good deal these days!

 

[CKPOMEH]

Did you examine the 65 beyond "looked good"? Timing, headspace, barrel/cylinder gap, bulged barrel... I've seen stainless 66s (K-frames like the 65) at shows that looked good, but rattled like maracas, they had been shot so extensively. There's a reason somewhere for this gun being relatively inexpensive.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I did examine some - the lock / timing, bore was was good, but will look more closely at the barrel / forcing cone.

Interestingly you mentioned bulged barrel and forcing cone - I almost bought a Gen1 Python two weeks ago that turn out to have both a bulged barrel and a cracked forcing cone...needless to say, I passed.

Have not had any S&Ws with those issues, but I know the K-frame 357s are thinner (weak spot / more fragile?) in the bottom of the forcing cone - will look more closely for sure. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[CKPOMEH]

The Tyler is close a $100 all by itself.

yes, this is what I was surprised to see - I thought those were $30-40 but on Ebay they are pushing $100...

 

[CKPOMEH]

RUN BACK AND BUY IT !

Yep, that the plan for this Saturday - will drive there after I call and confirm they still have it!

 

[Doug M.]

The price may reflect a bulk purchase, and very few LE or security entities shoot much, or near much as they should.

 

[Beju]

The price may reflect a bulk purchase, and very few LE or security entities shoot much, or near much as they should.

That was the case with my $275+shipping Model 64. The seller had well over a dozen to choose from. That, plus numbers paint markered on my bottoms of the grip make me think that a security company either finally upgraded to semi-autos, or decided to dump the revolvers that they had sitting around.

 

[Mehutch]

My Model 65-1 .357 mag with 4" barrel bought for $200 bucks in 1977 was my backpacking gun for years. It was my second gun after my Model 19. 357 mag.

 

[pantannojack]

Stuff like that are why I never leave home without it. My credit card.

 

[BC38]

...Have not had any S&Ws with those issues, but I know the K-frame 357s are fragile in the bottom of the forcing cone - will look more closely for sure. Thanks for the suggestions!

FWIW, I think that calling the K-frame magnum forcing cones "fragile" is a bit of an overstatement.

While there have been a few reliably-documented cases of K-frame revolvers with cracked forcing cones, that "issue" seems to be limited to examples that have been heavily used to fire a LOT of light bullet (<125gr) full-power magnum rounds.

K-frame 357 magnums that haven't been used/abused in this manner don't seem to commonly suffer from this kind of damage. FWIW, many of us own several examples of well-used 357 magnum K-frames that don't show any signs of forcing cone damage.

So, IMO, this is basically an issue that has to be evaluated on a gun-by-gun basis - as opposed to being considered an inherent "flaw" in the design of the K-frame S&W 357 magnums in general.

JMO, and YMMV. As always, do a very thorough inspection of every revolver you consider purchasing.

 

[BC38]

My Model 65-1 .357 mag with 4" barrel bought for $200 bucks in 1977 was my backpacking gun for years. It was my second gun after my Model 19. 357 mag.

That's a nice one.
Just FWIW, the $200 you paid in 1977, would be equal to $1,041 in 2024 dollars - according to online inflation calculators.
FWTW...