Finally got a 65

[RKmesa]

Great posts of some beautiful Model 65s. Thank you for sharing. Adding to the above, here is one of mine wearing some Ahrends:

 

[Kansasgunner]

I have two Model 10-5 with 3" barrels, but only one Model 65-5 lightly modified by Heirloom Precision.

 

[RKmesa]

I have two Model 10-5 with 3" barrels, but only one Model 65-5 lightly modified by Heirloom Precision.

Tim:

That "lightly modified" one is way Way WAY too cool for only one photo. I had to search your threads to find a few more photos - thought I'd post a link for others who are like minded...

Model 65-5 from Heirloom Precision

 

[Dump1567]

Great little gun that S&W should look into producing again. It's amazing how many desirable guns S&W doesn't produce.

I've had a few 3 inchers come and go, but decided on a 4 incher 65-2 for my needs. This one has an excellent action.

 

[Jcon72]

I lucked into this 4-inch round butt 65-3 a couple years ago for a song. Got it home, cleaned it up and dumped the beat up Pach's. A friend sold me these Badgers and it's a sweet little piece now.

 

[Bigdog357]

Congrats, that is a beautiful 65, I really like the grips.

Here is my 65-5 Lady Smith 3" with Ahrends grips

 

[1911-10MM]

Congrats, Nice score, the 3" K frames are great
My 65 along with his model 64 little brother.

 

[wood714]

65-5 3" LS RB-GB. S&W introduced this version in 1992 (mine was made in 1994). GB stood for Glass-Bead finish, also called frosted. The grips are smooth laminated Rosewood (not my favorite feature). List price in 1992 was $434, about $50 more than the standard version. Adjusted for inflation, about $850 today.

I bought one off this site a few years ago, then found one local for I think $700.

I traded one off to a member here for a 696, the one I kept I removed the LS from the side plate and polished it and added a set of Grashorn grips.

I like it better than my 3" 66...well their close.

 

[PeteC]

I bought one off this site a few years ago, then found one local for I think $700.

I traded one off to a member here for a 696, the one I kept I removed the LS from the side plate and polished it and added a set of Grashorn grips.

I like it better than my 3" 66...well their close.

I think the price has gone up since then, at least judging by Gunbroker, to the point I am reluctant to polish mine - even though the "frosted" original finish really shows EVERY little scuff (!)

Someone has told me you can mostly restore the finish by carefully bead blasting the surface with the correct media, but I have no experience with that.

I really like the grips in the pic that @1911-10MM posted. If I ever come across a set like that, I think I know where they are going now!

 

[wood714]

I think the price has gone up since then, at least judging by Gunbroker, to the point I am reluctant to polish mine - even though the "frosted" original finish really shows EVERY little scuff (!)

I thought about it a while, then remembered I bought it for me. My daughter can worry about the damage I may have done when I'm dead and bloted.

Before

After

 

[wundudnee]

Here is my bargain 65-2. It had been roughed up pretty good, so I gave it the dreaded polish and a set of Hogues. I got it about four years ago from a small gun show with a box of .357s for $300.00.

 

[klind45]

Wood714 I agree with your decision, I have several SS revolvers and one 1911 that were scuffed up,there going to stay with me till I die and I prefer shiny to scuffed and scratched, and not worried about resale. Your 65 lady smith looks great.

Sent from my SM-N986W using Tapatalk

 

[PeteC]

I thought about it a while, then remembered I bought it for me. My daughter can worry about the damage I may have done when I'm dead and bloted.

Even your before pic looks better than a "now" pic of my gun, LOL. Seeing the "After" pic I am even more tempted,

 

[jtcarm]

Carried this one tucked up under my leather vest for years serving warrants, plain clothes.

Vest matched my holster as did my belt and Tony Lama's

A lot of miles on this one.

enjoy,

bdGreen

Tap on image to enlarge.

I love Tony Lamas.

 

[bananaman]

Come on C Islander show your 3" 65 with pink front sight.

 

[Snapping Twig]

65-5 Ladysmith.

I bought it for $750 and suffered ridicule at the time. Came with holster, speed loaders, action job by Mag-Na-Port plus removal of the Ladysmith by them and blend with original finish, boxes of rounds.

Now, that $750 is looking pretty good.

 

[giants1]

I'm a newbie to revolvers and newer to owning S&W. Those are all drop-dead gorgeous revolvers!

What do you do to keep the finish shiny and rust-free?

Any other tips for maintenance?

And what's the recoil and muzzle climb like on the 65 3" vs 4" .357s shooting .357 Magnum cartridges?

 

[klind45]

I'm a newbie to revolvers and newer to owning S&W. Those are all drop-dead gorgeous revolvers!



What do you do to keep the finish shiny and rust-free?



Any other tips for maintenance?



And what's the recoil and muzzle climb like on the 65 3" vs 4" .357s shooting .357 Magnum cartridges?

Hi giants1,all I do with my stainless steel revolvers that have there original finish let's say less than nice,is take out the mother's mag and hub get an old tee shirt (white preferably) take the the cylinder and yolk off and wipe a little bit on and rub it off until it's to the shine I want. Then oil and wax it to keep it shiny and to repel finger prints.

Sent from my SM-N986W using Tapatalk

 

[Baxter6551]

I've posted my gun on other 65 threads but over 10 years ago I took my used three inch 65 to S&W and had the combat revolver package done. At the time it was $250. It is still offered at $265. Just the glass bead finish separately is $170 but then for the extra $95 you get trigger job, trigger stop and chamfered cylinder holes. So I would say a bargain. If you like glass bead finish I would highly recommend. Excellent trigger job. I asked them to replace bungered up side plate screws which they did no charge. I had my gunsmith polish sides of hammer and trigger. Couple of years later I had my gunsmith duplicate the work on my 4 inch former duty gun. I later added red ramp front sight to both (S&W no longer does red ramp on fixed sight anymore I was told). Their website is a little difficult to negotiate you have to search for "S&W performance center gunsmithing services" and click on revolvers for the price list.
Great photos from the other posters!! I wish all 65s had the shrouded ejector rod - I should have picked up one of those and had the Lady Smith logo removed like other have done.

 

[giants1]

Brands?

Hi giants1,all I do with my stainless steel revolvers that have there original finish let's say less than nice,is take out the mother's mag and hub get an old tee shirt (white preferably) take the the cylinder and yolk off and wipe a little bit on and rub it off until it's to the shine I want. Then oil and wax it to keep it shiny and to repel finger prints.

Sent from my SM-N986W using Tapatalk

Thanks.

What brands of oil and of wax would you recommend?

 

[klind45]

Thanks.



What brands of oil and of wax would you recommend?

I'm in Canada so I found a conservator wax from Lee Valley, but in the US. I've read ren wax works great to. And for oil any good oil from your gun store will work.

Sent from my SM-N986W using Tapatalk

 

[sipowicz]

When my non gun friends finally came around to having something by their bedside this is the gun I recommended. Just about perfect for that role especially if they are not auto proficient.

 

[PeteC]

What do you do to keep the finish shiny and rust-free?
Any other tips for maintenance?

It's important to remember that even stainless steel will corrode, and may form ugly black and pitted spots, especially under the stocks. I've had a couple guns that had been carried and came to me in that condition. Also, the best care of a carry gun, vs. a shooter used in periodic trips to the range, vs a collectible that should be kept in original condition may vary a lot. (Most of my revolvers are in the second category)

Salt from sweaty hands, and moisture in a humid climate are detrimental to keeping a nice finish. I wipe mine down with a silicone impregnated cloth after each use at the range, regardless of stainless or blued, and try to get any easy to get gunshot residue, dirt, and fingerprints off. This applies to any gun, not just revolvers.

Clean with any kind of commercial gun cleaner and cotton/flanel rags within a day of use. For longer term storage, I do a more thorough cleaning with grips removed.

And what's the recoil and muzzle climb like on the 65 3" vs 4" .357s shooting .357 Magnum cartridges?

It's controllable, and there is not a huge difference between 3" and 4", the overall weight (N v. K v. J-frame) makes more difference, as does where you grip the gun. If you plan to shoot .357 regularly (even at todays prices), a K-frame is probably not the way to go. A steady diet of .357 led to the development of the slightly larger and stronger L-frame, most popular example being the post-1980 Model 686.

 

[PeteC]

...I wish all 65s had the shrouded ejector rod - I should have picked up one of those and had the Lady Smith logo removed like other have done.

I wonder what happens with that logo if you send one of those in to have the finish redone??

 

[giants1]

Brands

I'm in Canada so I found a conservator wax from Lee Valley, but in the US. I've read ren wax works great to. And for oil any good oil from your gun store will work.

Sent from my SM-N986W using Tapatalk

I don't see those brands in my area. Would ordinary car wax, eg Turtle Wax, be an okay substitute, or would that scratch the stainless steel?

 

[klind45]

I don't see those brands in my area. Would ordinary car wax, eg Turtle Wax, be an okay substitute, or would that scratch the stainless steel?

Search the fourm I believe there was a thread about that. If memory serves yes some used furniture wax.

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[PeteC]

I don't see those brands in my area. Would ordinary car wax, eg Turtle Wax, be an okay substitute, or would that scratch the stainless steel?

you can find some on Amazon, search for "Renaissance Wax Polish" You only need a little bit.

 

[Jcon72]

I've posted my gun on other 65 threads but over 10 years ago I took my used three inch 65 to S&W and had the combat revolver package done. At the time it was $250. It is still offered at $265. Just the glass bead finish separately is $170 but then for the extra $95 you get trigger job, trigger stop and chamfered cylinder holes. So I would say a bargain. If you like glass bead finish I would highly recommend. Excellent trigger job. I asked them to replace bungered up side plate screws which they did no charge. I had my gunsmith polish sides of hammer and trigger. Couple of years later I had my gunsmith duplicate the work on my 4 inch former duty gun. I later added red ramp front sight to both (S&W no longer does red ramp on fixed sight anymore I was told). Their website is a little difficult to negotiate you have to search for "S&W performance center gunsmithing services" and click on revolvers for the price list.
Great photos from the other posters!! I wish all 65s had the shrouded ejector rod - I should have picked up one of those and had the Lady Smith logo removed like other have done.

Very nice, but I have no shame and would personally keep the Lady Smith logo on the gun, myself. Beautiful gun either way, though.