early Model 67

[gkitch]

I recently obtained a nice Model 67 that dates from 1972, the first year of prduction. It is a clean gun with original grips numbered to it and the original box. It seems to have been fired little and carried none.

The entire rear sight assembly is made of stainless steel, as is the front sight. I seem to remember the 67 as being the very first Stainless revolver with adjustable sights. I also seem to recall that the stainless sights did not last long as S&W soon afterward began making these guns with black sights that were more clearly visible. Are my recollections correct?

 

[JayCeeNC]

Yes, they are.
Also the same with the Model 66 Stainless Combat Magnum. Stainless steel sights are seen only in the earlier productions periods.

 

[gkitch]

So are the stainless sighted variants considered scarce? I prefer blued and nickled guns so am wondering if this will command a premium in a trade?

 

[murphydog]

Yes, the earlier silver sight guns tend to go for more than the later ones. There is/was one on one of the popular auction sites that is NOS, last bid I saw was $800!

 

[Engine49guy]

The first SS S&W was the Model 60 SS Chiefs Special in the mid 60's,
The Model 66 and 64 came next in 1970 and you might guess were in high demand ,
The Model 67 was introduced in 1972 and many purchased them due to the scarcity of the 66.
SS rear sites seem to disappear around 1975 and many were reportedly "Exchanged" afterwards by dept armorers.

Any short run S&W with a unique feature will add a premium and in the case of the early 60,64,66,67 it holds true.
Also when you look at which models were first offered up in SS it makes sense as they were the higher sales LEO Models.

The early Model 60 had diamond Magnas,
Too bad the others werent introduced before 68 with diamond grips making them even more unique.

 

[gkitch]

I remember the gunrags would always do an obligatory torture test on any gun that came out in a stainless version. Skeeter Skelton ran a stainless Ruger Old Army though his dishwasher, for instance.

I heard rumors that they were harder for gunsmiths to work on and that the stainless guns were "louder" than their carbon steel counterparts. None were true.

 

[Engine49guy]

The biggest myth is that a magnet wont stick to a SS gun,

The early 64 is unique too because of its tapered barrel which eventually changed to the heavy barrel like the Model 65.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

"louder"

To funny. I'd love to hear the twisted logic behind that theory.

 

[DR505]

I got this first year 67 about last summer for $350.00 in great shape. No box/docs but original serialized stocks in perfect shape. Thing was hardly used. When my son gets a bit bigger, it'll be his!

 

[Jim NNN]

Wish I had a model 67. My 64 is a late lock model, and I love it. I'd love to get one of those early tapered barrel 64's. Nice guns, everyone.

 

[white cloud]

You guys know how easy it is to hit what you are shooting at with one of these or a model 15. I have often wondered just how much more effective one of the "wonder nines" actually is when the chips are down. I am old and crazy so ignore this reply.

 

[Green Frog]

Wanna cry? I bought a 67-1 for Project 616, but because it came with the light barrel and narrower rib, it wouldn't work. The sad thing is, I got it for well under $400 delivered because it had slight cosmetic issues. The unnumbered target grips were battered and the rear sight blade was broken. A replacement grips and rear sight, and I'm still in it for right at $400, and with a little cleaning and polishing it looked like new. You've gotta love those police trade-ins! Oh yeah, it had the sweetest factory(?) trigger I've ever felt on a Smith and came up perfectly on all six.

Of course I didn't need it so I let it go to a friend at a small profit and concentrated on building Project 616 on a no dash Model 66... which was yet another police trade-in. Point is, the early stainless guns are out there. There were a huge number of them made for LEOs and they still come out more often than one would think.

Froggie

 

[bananaman]

I don't shoot my 67 often. I guess that I have too many other choices. It is a 67 no dash, 1973 with the stainless rear sights. My wife shoots it more than me. Nevertheless, it is a keeper! Sorry for the low-tech pics! Bob

 

[kaaskop49]

attn gkitch

If you plan to shoot your 67, keep an eye out for the screw holding the rear sight to the top strap coming loose. Also the nut (always thought it was a screw) holding the ejector latch in place. Nail polish will not hold them sufficiently. Have had this problem on other early stainless guns I own.