65-3 MFG Date

[TW65]

Ok I am new to this forum and pistols in general. I am a rifleman at heart. but it is hard to put a bull barreled rifle on the night stand. First I just purchased a S&W model 65-3 for $499.00 from what I can read here that was a little high right?
I just loved the way it felt in my hand and after running about 36 38 spl rounds and 18 .357 rounds through it I would have paid $800 The local gunshop suggested 158 grain bullets in both .357 and .38 spl. They both shot well at ten and twenty yards. Did I say I love this gun. I like the recoil of the .38 spl rounds the best and was a little more accurate with them. Now for my questions What does the 3 behind the 65 mean. I noticed there are 65-1, 65-2, what does that second number mean. The serial number on the bottom of the grip is ABT0073 can anyone tell me when it was MFG. Did I mention that after shooting it I love this gun. Thanks for any help you can be. If all S&W revolvers are like this one I need more.

 

[Quakertown]

-3 means that is the third revision of that model. FWIW, I had that exact model and it was also a -3 that I sold not long ago for $450, so you're purchase price was not bad.

 

[murphydog]

I think ABT would have been shipped in 1982, but someone with the SCSW table can confirm this.

 

[C Islander]

65's are great revolvers. I have two of them a 3"-3 and a 4"-2. I believe the shipping year for the ABT is 1983.

 

[TW65]

thanks

Thank you guys for the info. Nice to go to a forum and be treated like a person. So many of them let you know how stupid you are right away. Thanks again

 

[5Wire]

Looks like 1983:

Jan. 1983 ABL 4000
Oct. 1983 ADE 6700

Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2006-12-20). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 387). F+W Media, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

I like the Model 65 a lot. Here's my 65-6

 

[Dward600]

65-3 special edition???

Looking to buy a 65-3 that someone has for sale.
Serial # ABXxxxx
It is a stainless model with a 4" barrel.
It also has 24k plating on the back of the handle, grooves of the cylinder, some on the frame in front of the cylinder, and the cylinder release button.
The guy selling it says it is a military officers special edition gun.
I looked in the gun blue book values and can't find anything on it.
I'm wondering if this is true or if the gold plating was done aftermarket.

Can anyone confirm? What would the value be?
Thanks....

 

[murphydog]

Looking to buy a 65-3 that someone has for sale.
Serial # ABXxxxx
It is a stainless model with a 4" barrel.
It also has 24k plating on the back of the handle, grooves of the cylinder, some on the frame in front of the cylinder, and the cylinder release button.
The guy selling it says it is a military officers special edition gun.
I looked in the gun blue book values and can't find anything on it.
I'm wondering if this is true or if the gold plating was done aftermarket.

Can anyone confirm? What would the value be?
Thanks....

Same ship year as prefix ABT, I would think.

It is possible someone customized it for a presentation gun or something similar, but it is highly unlikely that this was done at the factory. If it was done as a special order as a new gun, a factory letter would document this:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

Personally I wouldn't spend the $50 to try to confirm this. It would not be worth more than a standard model 65 to me, $400 or so.

 

[Dward600]

Ok thank you.
The guy has no box or paperwork but says it is for sure military officers special edition.
I was trying to post a pic for you to look at but can't figure out how to do it on this forum.
He is asking $800. Which seems very high.


Also I own a model 29-2 with a 8 3/8 barrel and (nickel?) finish
It's in the wooden presentation box and never fired.
Serial # N42xxxx

Any idea of the year or value?

 

[824tsv]

Hello,
Your Model 29-2 dates to about 1977. It seems as though the longer barrels aren't as popular as the shorter ones. I have an 8 3/8" as well as a 4". The 4" barrels seem to be the most sought after. Geographical location has a part to play in value, but I would think a new in box 29-2 nickel 8 3/8" would be about a $1200 package.