Hello all, my lgs has a 65-3 3”. Mechanically it checks out excellent. It’s wearing some old Pachs. Metal condition is pretty nice, no dents or dings. It’s does look like a lot of holster wear on it tho. I think I can bring that back with a little table time. No box or docs. I checked the normal sites and mostly see the 4” for pricing. Thoughts? They are asking $725. Thanks
65-3 3”
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Bumpus13
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Ask to check under the grips. Sometimes moisture gets trapped under and rust can start, then … Pounce.
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Had 2 once they both shot perfectly. Let 1 go and kept the early one and in the winter I carry it when not carrying a LW Colt Commander.
wheelyfun66
US Veteran
Any S&W K frame that is in solid shape should START at 750 and go up from there, in my opinion.
Of course, I normally overpay for everything, ha!
Looking forward to seeing if you snag this 3" beauty
Of course, I normally overpay for everything, ha!
Looking forward to seeing if you snag this 3" beauty
I’d offer $650
31FordA
Member
In SE PA $725 wouldn’t be an unreasonable price for a 3” 65, but it never hurts to see if they’ll take less. I’ve got a few 3” 65’s, but I’d add one more for that price.
Faulkner
Member
Probably looks something like this one I bought new about 25 years ago.
I understand most 3" round butt M-65s were "made to order" not very common. I think they should get 10-20% premium over a 4". I don't think a 4" round butt is that common either.
Lt.Donn
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Highly sought after as a project for a great edc platform...I'd send it to cylinder and slide; bob the hammer, slick the action, cut the forcing cone, chamfer the cylinder holes, recess crown the muzzle, mill the top for one of their great revolver fixed sights...likewise mill the front for a nice Hi-Viz FO...find a nice leather IWB holster and put that bad boy to Work!
Revelation
Member
Oh my gosh! Takes me right back to the comfort of my back-up partner, kept in tight in it's sap pocket, and ready at my right hand..... Years later, the PR-24 sent them into early retirement. Today, they rest in the safe, but are not forgotten.
Well I went back to the lgs today and removed the pach presentation grips to take a peak. All clean, no rust. We agreed on a price of $725 otd with a box of ammo thrown in. It was like the old days when that was almost the norm. Should have it in a few weeks when I get out of gun jail. It’s sitting beside a 60-15 and a 15-1 for now. As I said before, CT only allows 3 handgun purchases within 30 days. I maxed that out on May 15 so come on June 16th!
CTSWnut
Member
When Did CT start limiting gun purchases?? I knew the state was getting worse... glad i finally got out back in 2018..
Exchipy
Member
You made the right move. A month from now, you won’t miss the money, and you’ll have that nice revolver. And, they’re Biden Dollars, anyway; not like it’s real money.
I’ve had a couple different 3” 65s, which have come and gone over the years, and just recently traded into another:
The very first thing I did was to install a Model 66 hammer in place of the far too sharp cornered original. The next thing will be to cut the front sight into a correctly dimensioned stud to accept an XS Big Dot Tritium night sight. There’s no need for a supposed “trigger job.” That’s just a myth, anyway, perpetuated to generate income for pistolsmiths. All that is really needed is the substitution of a Wolff 11 pound trigger rebound spring and about a zillion dry fire cycles to smooth out the action only where and to the extent it is actually required. The results are most impressive, and there’s the additional benefit of the dry fire trigger control practice. (My impressive trigger finger callous took me seven decades to develop.) But, never ever mess with the hammer spring or its tension screw, ‘cause that always increases the risk of light strike misfires, should hard primer ammo ever be encountered.
If you elect to go the 11 pound Wolff trigger rebound spring route to a better S&W trigger, don’t be put off if the trigger sticks or returns very sluggishly, at first. Just stay with it and dry fire the living snot out of it until it smooths out and quickens nicely. It takes some time, maybe two or three nights in front of the TV - click, click, click, click, click, and on and on. Your spouse may want to choke you out. But, you’ll find you don’t need no stinkin’ pistolsmith.
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Mannlicher
Member
finding a well maintained 65 is always reason to celebrate.
Lt.Donn
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Not to hijack this thread, but you might find this interesting; back in the day when "thermoplastic" was just beginning to hit the LE scene, the Hillsborough County SO kitted all of patrol in the newest Rogers plastic holsters, plastic/leather hybrid duty belts etc And they bought a boatload of 64's, all 3", with bobbed hammers...it may have been a special run by Smith as they had ~500 deputies back then...OK tab fwd to the 90's, revolvers are passee and wundernines are "it"...unless HCSO traded all those revolvers in, there is a possibility of a treasure trove of them languishing in their armory....if any of you folks worked there in the 80's and still have any connections... inquiring minds would love to know what happened to all those "barely" used 64's
DeafSmith
Member
Good Lord... I still have my S&W 66-1 2 1/2 (with Eagle Secret Service stocks) I bought well before I met my wife... and I've been married over 32 years!!! I think I paid $300 for it back then!
walkin' trails
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I don’t think the three inch 65s were all that uncommon, just under rated during the time they were manufactured. I remember most of the shops I frequented back when they were still being made would usually have at least one. FBI and DEA issued them and INS investigators could carry them though I think the issue revolver for investigations was a Ruger two and three quarter inch. I think the three inch magnum Ks became desirable after Jodie Foster used one in Silence of the Lambs. I couldn’t say what a good price would be now days, but anything under $800 for a shooter is probably not outrageous. I recall when prices started jumping to the $400 range I told myself they were too expensive. I’ve always been better at letting someone else do my investing.
I have a 4” 65-1 and two
3” 64-3’s. One 64 has a 66 hammer and the other one is a factory DAO. I own many guns, but these are my absolute favorites.
3” 64-3’s. One 64 has a 66 hammer and the other one is a factory DAO. I own many guns, but these are my absolute favorites.
Rakkasan13F
Member
It's my opinion that 3" K-frames make excellent carry guns. I have 3" Models 10, 13, 64, and 65 from which to choose.
Thanks all for the inputs. Yes, I’m digging the 3inchers. Think I need it’s blued brother next. I also need to slow down a bit. Think I’m up to 21 handguns the past year and a half. A few 1911’s and a browning hi power mixed in also, but mostly Smiths.
Rakkasan13F
Member
LOL
I've bought 65 S&W revolvers since February 2023.
I've bought 65 S&W revolvers since February 2023.
Ha! Wow! Guess I’m trailing behind a bit.
Igiveup
Member
A couple years I bot a 3 inch M65 from one of the members here. The most before and since I have ever paid for a Smith. I ordered a Rodek Leathers holster and that revolver has been my EDC ever since. Did a spring job and added a .375 hammer, custom grips and have not looked for anything else. It has even replaced my 4 inch M65 is carry while hunting.
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