65-3 round-butt 4"???

[Jcon72]

Recently picked up this 65-3 which had black Pachmayrs on it. The odd thing is that it's a 4" round butt when typically the 4" 65's had a square butt (until later years).
Can anyone shed any light on this? How about the CMS118018 that's engraved under the grip on the side of the backstrap? I figured it might be a previous owner's initials and some sort of an identifying number that was meaningful to them alone, but perhaps it was a duty gun that belonged to a government agency of some sort. No idea which one, though.
Based on the centered serial number on the butt it does not seem to have been converted from a square butt, although it certainly could have been re-barrelled. Is it very easy to tell if the barrel is not original?

 

[haywood]

Back years ago Toledo Ohio PD had 4” RB 65s before they went to Sigs. I’m sure other departments and civilians had them.

 

[Jcon72]

According to the SCSW, they went to a round-butt on both barrel lengths beginning in 1995-96 (model 65-5), but mine was made in 1984. I had heard about Toledo PD having 4" round-butt 65's but it would seem that 1995-96 is a bit late for new revolvers to be brought into a PD since so many were moving to semi-autos by then. Do you happen to know when they had them?

 

[haywood]

It’s got to be 20 years or more. The shop I worked for has been closed at least 15.

 

[Jcon72]

It’s got to be 20 years or more. The shop I worked for has been closed at least 15.

Interesting. You don't happen to know anyone from that era who would know more about those particular guns, would you?

 

[Old cop]

The issued Model 10 in my first agency was a RB four inch.

 

[The_Truth]

I love fixed sight guns so much. Beautiful Model 65, and I'm a big fan of those rosewood Pachys. I almost put a set on my Model 13.

 

[Jcon72]

I love fixed sight guns so much. Beautiful Model 65, and I'm a big fan of those rosewood Pachys. I almost put a set on my Model 13.

Thank you. I bought that grip about a year ago with the intention of using it on a 686 but changed my mind when I found some Altamonts on eBay, so I left it in the drawer. It seems much better suited to this 65 and is MUCH prettier than the old black Pachmayr.

 

[AZretired]

Maybe it started out as a 3" and had a 4" barrel put on it at some point?

 

[Model39]

Model 64 4" Pencil Barrel Round Butt

I always wanted a 4" pencil barrel Model 64 with a round butt. The factory never made one so I had the choice of finding a 2" round butt Model 64, and finding a 4" pencil barrel to put/switch on the frame which proved hard to find, so I bought a 4" square butt Model 64 and took it to the Walworth Custom Gun Shop (In New York) and had them convert the square butt to a round butt. They did a perfect job. Maybe the previous owner of your Model 65 did something similar to what I did, or as previous stated it might have been a used LEO revolver which was ordered that way. Either way the gun looks great with the round butt gives you some great grip options.

 

[Jcon72]

Maybe it started out as a 3" and had a 4" barrel put on it at some point?

That was my other thought, although what a shame it would be if someone indeed did that.

 

[Jcon72]

I always wanted a 4" pencil barrel Model 64 with a round butt. The factory never made one so I had the choice of finding a 2" round butt Model 64, and finding a 4" pencil barrel to put/switch on the frame which proved hard to find, so I bought a 4" square butt Model 64 and took it to the Walworth Custom Gun Shop (In New York) and had them convert the square butt to a round butt. They did a perfect job. Maybe the previous owner of your Model 65 did something similar to what I did, or as previous stated it might have been a used LEO revolver which was ordered that way. Either way the gun looks great with the round butt gives you some great grip options.

It occurred to me that perhaps someone had it converted it from square to round, but look at the pictures above. The serial number is centered perfectly on the butt which would suggest that it's original.
Of course the barrel could have been swapped, and yes, I'm leaning toward the theory it was special-ordered for some agency.
I'm tempted to send off for an official letter from S&W but am not sure I want to invest that much money for perhaps nothing.

 

[Dieseltech56]

There was another post on here not long ago where someone had an older 65 4 inch round butt. I think someone said California highway had some ordered?

 

[Jcon72]

There was another post on here not long ago where someone had an older 65 4 inch round butt. I think someone said California highway had some ordered?

Thanks, I'll do some checking. If you happen to run across that thread would you PM it to me, please?