DAO Model 64/65 info requested

[ckvoss]

I bought a round butt, 3", Model 65-5 (or 64-5?) and I'm curious to learn a bit about it (including the approx shipping date). It has a bobbed hammer and it is double action only, any way to know if this was done at the factory?

The serial number is BUB9747 and curiously the model number appears to have been modified. It looks like it originally read "64-5", but then later a "5" was etched or stamped over the "4" to make it appear to read "65-5". The barrel does say 357 Magnum.

Could it be that some random person started with a Model 64, put on a 357 mag barrel, bobbed the hammer, converted it to DOA, then modified the model number? Or is it more likely that this is the configuration from the factory and S&W just used frame from a 64 then wrote over the model number?

Lastly, there appears to be a crudely welded or soldered trigger stop. I'm assuming this is not a factory feature?

 

[WR Moore]

The trigger stop definitely isn't factory. When you say DAO, have you tried to cock the hammer? Just because the spur is missing doesn't mean it might not still have the single action notch.

S&W did supply DAO guns to various police departments on special order. They generally still had hammer spurs.

 

[pharmer]

This 64-4 is a NY-1 D/A only factory gun. It has no "full cock" or S/A notch. With an empty gun, stage the trigger and see if you can cock the hammer. If it stays back it's probably not factory DAO. Joe

 

[ckvoss]

It is DOA, the hammer does not lock back.

 

[Tex1001]

I have a pair of 4" heavy barreled 64s that were factory DAOs.
They are easy to convert to DA/SA.

 

[murphydog]

It is likely a factory model 65 originally stamped 64.

The hammer has the appearance of a factory part, but the vast majority of original DAO K frames of this era I have seen were model 64s with the "flash chromed" action parts, like the NY-1. The trigger also does not appear factory. Of course they could have started out as chromed parts and had the plating removed; the trigger in particular appears to have had this done.

A letter of authenticity would be the only way to be certain it left the factory this way, but for the above reasons I strongly suspect not.

 

[ckvoss]

Thanks for the insights. I'll consider sending off to get a letter of authenticity, but I'm not sure if knowing the answer to the question is worth $100 to me.

Speaking of worth.... I wonder how I did on this one given the unknowns about the gun. I paid $550 and am located in TX. The bore appears to be in good shape and the trigger is smooth.

Lastly, can anyone look up the approximate date for me in the Standard Catalog?

Thanks!

 

[murphydog]

You did well at $550 for a fully functioning 3" K frame .357.

Prefix BUB appears to be from 1995.

 

[racer19j]

The case colored hammers and triggers started showing up on stainless revolvers around mid 1994. There was not a dash number change when this happened. I have two 64-5's (one from late 1996 and one from early 1997), both have case colored triggers and hammers. One has a DA hammer just like yours. I believe the hammer and trigger are original to your gun but the trigger had a gob of weld added at some point.

 

[ckvoss]

Very helpful feedback. Glad to hear the trigger and hammer are likely original. I'm going to try and remove the trigger stop weld in a non-destructive way.

I'm still a bit uneasy about the nature of the model marking. Are there other documented instance of a 64 stamped frame being used for a Model 65 and then the markings overwritten?