got to live the surplus K frame dream one last time

[silicosys4]

You know, the dream where you walk into your LGS and they tell you they just received a shipment of different surplus K frames, just about to hit the shelves, and why of course you are welcome to be the first one to pick through boxes of revolvers for dirt cheap prices.

Yup, LGS owner sweet talked someone at Loomis for one of their last caches of K frame revolvers.
So I got to pick through a few boxes piled with M64's, M10's, and a few M67's...and there was actually a bit of a diamond in the rough.
Of the boxes, one was the gunsmith special box, and here this one was, only missing its stocks...beat to splinters long ago, i'm sure. I've got a pair of magnas already sitting at home.
Good times, and a bit of nostalgia for when this was the norm

 

[minconrevo]

That's an usually nice armed guard revolver. You lucked out. A while back, I got to wade through a bunch of trade in revolvers from a state police academy. Most of them beat pretty good, but I found a good one there. Never say "it's not worth my time" to pick through a pile of trade in service guns.

Many moons ago I ran into a Yugo M48 bolt rifle. Stock looked better than average, so I picked it up. Rats! The extractor tip was broken off, so it would need a replacement found and fitted. I was about to hand it back when I looked down the bore on a whim. Mirror smooth and no pits; bought it. Most issued M48's had nasty pitted bores. I surmise that an Ivan recruit tried to chamber a loaded round without loading it on the follower. We can only imagine the drudgery the sergeant heaped on the hapless Ivan.

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun, an early production silver stainless sight model 67. Enjoy!

 

[71vette]

I’ve got one just like it and it’s one of my favorites. No dash and the stainless sights. I’m betting you paid less than I did….

Nice score!

 

[MajorD]

I fondly recall those days. When I returned from Iraq in ‘05, I went to my usual dealer and asked if he had any model 10’s. He produced a large plastic tote bin full, said pick anyone you want, $165, if you buy 2 or more $150 each. I wish I would have grabbed 4 of them. A few years later, returning from Afghanistan I asked him about model 15’s, same deal big tote bin, pick any one you want $300. I sure miss those days. A while ago I posted a thread here is a model ten really a $400 gun now, and got a resounding yes. The days of that sadly are gone. I doubt there is any substantial stash of old surplus revolvers left anymore. Last I saw was a pile of stuff from Puerto Rico much of which was in rough rusted condition, with prices far too high for the condition

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I fondly recall those days.

The days of that sadly are gone.

You will not believe the old timers stories, pre-1968.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

... and why of course you are welcome to be the first one to pick through boxes of revolvers for dirt cheap prices.

How much?

Just my opinion but S&W did not get making stainless steel revolvers in 1980. But that could also be based on cops staying with the traditional blue revolvers. You never can go wrong with a Model 10.

 

[kbm6893]

There was a gun shop near 1 Police Plaza in lower Manhattan that used to buy the revolvers from guys who just retired and walked out of 1PP for the last time. Model 10's were $100. Model 36's $150, I believe. He had milk crates full of them. I never even bought ONE of them. I figured "who wants a 20 year old cop revolver?".

 

[Muley Gil]

You will not believe the old timers stories, pre-1968.

Yeah, prices were low, BUT, I was making $1 an hour working for my uncle.

 

[kraynky]

Yeah, prices were low, BUT, I was making $1 an hour working for my uncle.

You were making a $1 an hour back in 1968! Woo Hoo! You were doing alright I'd say! My first "by the hour job" was in 1975, and it was $1.35! Before taxes.......

Amazing how different things were back then........

 

[Baxter6551]

OP great find !
I bought my model 67 from the armored car company I worked for when they were calling back all the mismatched guns from around the country and issuing new model 65s. It was a police gun somewhere before its second career there. Now refurbished and sporting Hogue cocobola grips from when they had their auction site.

 

[Green Frog]

That’s a beautiful early Model 67. I like the way you brought back the finish and those Hogues with that reddish finish really make it pop! I did the same thing about 40 years ago when I picked the best Model 66 ND from a table full of LEO trade ins. I not only spiffed it up externally but also replaced and tuned anything inside that needed it. I then put a set of smooth factory combats on it and did my best to wear it out again.

In another iteration, I replaced the original 4” barrel with a 6” to use in PPC shoots, then it was resurrected one more time as Project 616. It will likely stay like this.

Froggie

 

[stanmerrell]

Nice find. I had a similar situation a few years ago a local dealer had several hundred unbarreled Model 10's. I got to look at about ten of them and chose the best one. There was a lot from the Philippines which was pretty rough, but later on a lot from Canada came in and I got to choose one of the nicest ones from that lot. They are all good shooters. It seems like these are the days to stilll get some good deals after all.

 

[Green Frog]

I fear the days of finding cheap S&W revolvers (or even incomplete ones) for our little dream projects are over and gone, but boy were they fun while they lasted!
Froggie