65-5 show and tell

[Rakkasan13F]

My 3-inch K-frame fixed sight guns. Clockwise from upper left: 64-3, 65-2, 13-3, 10-5.

 

[31FordA]

It's hard to beat a 3" K frame. I've got two 3" 65-5 Ladysmiths, a 3" 65-3 that I carry for work, a 3" 13-3 and a 3" 64-3. At sone point I'll add a 3" 66 to my menagerie. In my opinion the 3" K round butt is the ideal plain clothes revolver.

 

[a5werkes]

This was an as-new M65-3 .357 heavy bull barrel acquired a few years ago. Less than one box of ammo thru it. Kept the original hammer, bobbed a NOS replacement, converted to DAO and added a proper grip.

 

[stonebuster]

I had to increase the grip size due to my large hands. I'll see how these work out.

View attachment 790139

I'm currently trying an Uncle Mike's grip for the same reason. I scavenged them from a NY DOC Model 10.

 

[Cal. Det. 1989]

It is hard to find anything wrong with a 3" M65. Finally found mine about a year ago. It is pinned and recessed, with numbered stocks to the gun. Well, I could say the prices are a bit high now; but, as Hemmingway said "..pheasant shooting is worth whatever one has to pay", this may somewhat translate to owning a M65 3". Congratulations on a great find!

 

[BarryinIN]

It is hard to find anything wrong with a 3" M65.

I agree. Nothing wrong at all with them. They are everything I want in a revolver.

Buuuut…
If I could make one improvement it would be to give them sights like on the j-frame UC or Ruger 3" Wiley Clapp guns. Better and faster sight picture, able to drift the rear for horizontal correction and replace the front for vertical correction, all while being just as snag-free and durable as the original 65 sights.

I am not a huge fan of current S&Ws, but would run to place an order for a 65UC and 12UC.

And I do not run.

 

[mic214]

Back in the early 80's I was working for the local Sheriff's Office and we were issued the S&W Model 15's. The department sent me to the S&W Revolver Armorer's school. In class we assembled three Model 65-3's. These were 4" models with the square butt frame. The barrels were already installed, but the students hand fitted all of the internal parts.

At the end of the class our revolvers were sent back to S&W to see if they passed muster (All three of mine did!). Once the factory inspection was done we were allowed to purchase one of the three guns we had assembled.

Some years later, I took my Model 65 to a buddy of mine who was a gunsmith. He shortened the barrel to 3" and dovetailed in a combat style front sight. He also converted the square butt grip to a round butt for me

 

[roninflag]

some great pic of some great revolvers. i shoot .357 jhp either, 110 or 125 grain out of my 3" 65 , 3" 13.