I think I stole a mod 64

[Belgian686]

I just paid about 60$ (50 euro) for a mod 64, 4" from a sales action from a gun shop today. I seem to remember it's a -5, and has a square but. It's coming from a police dept changing over to glocks, and I guess it's hard to sell these typical medium frame fixed sights guns in Belgium, which makes my lucky day. I have to wait for about a year now to get the paperwork done and collect it, but what's another year when a S&W classic is at the very end.

The serial number is BSB59xx, so could some one date it for me ? It seems a pre-mim to me, old style thumb release, heavy barrel. Action is smooth as expected from a S&W, and there is no excessive play. Barrel cylinder gap seems very thight and there are only very minor scratches on it.

It's dirty, but I would like to make my 'school' gun out of it, polishing it to bright SS, taking side plates off for complete cleaning (which I am not tempted to do with my 686-5, bought new), changing the pachmayrs to wood, ... or any other fun project advice you might want to give me here.

Thanks for the great spirit and advices of all of you.

B686

 

[Camster]

I'm guesstimating around 1994.
Great buy!

 

[WNC Seabee]

I have to wait for about a year now to get the paperwork done and collect it,

God bless the USA. That wait would about kill me!

Yes, you DID steal that M64.

 

[1 old 0311]

You did REAL good with that deal!

 

[Lee Jones]

Hello Belgium

My Standerd Catalog of S&W does not show BSB prefix serial #s. Maybe a different series for export?
To quote the text "64-5 (1988): New yoke retention system on heavy barrel 3" and 4"/hammer nose bushing/floating hand.
Great buy, it would bring several times your cost in the US.

Pray and Shoot Daily.
Lee Jones(Celtgun)

"Only hunting and mountain climbing are sports. The rest are just games." - R.Ruark

 

[rz625-8]

Nice gun and what city are you from in Belguim? I have first Cousins in Eisden which is now called Mass-Meclhem or something to that name. rz625-8

 

[Rolan_Kraps]

That is an exceptionally good price. Over here $200 USD would be a good price for that gun.

 

[indiuckian]

Yes Sir, you stole it but it appears due to draconian laws you had to use a mighty slow getaway vehicle. Congrats on a nice revolver and a a true steal.

 

[SAFireman]

stole it?

With that long wait and paperwork? stole it? no, but you did get a VERY good price . If I were to run across a box of them at that price point, you can bet I would buy them all.

Are you guys allowed to go and practice freely at a range?, or do they make you wait around for an organized event? Any limitations on ammo? can you keep it loaded at home?

...just curious...here is quite different....well, Texas is it's own little world...

 

[Belgian686]

All,
Thanks for your replies and info

Rz625-8,

I live more south than Maas-Mechelen, around a town called Wavre. I would say that's about 60 miles, which is the other side of the country. Belgium is about 200 miles long, and 100 miles large, which is huge compared to the US, no

SAFireman,

Laws are quite bad in Europe for firearms. In the UK, handguns are no longer allowed for civilians at ALL. That's why we do not complain in Belgium. Over here, best is to apply for a 'Sports Shooter License', (abbreviated SSL) for which you have to :
- have no criminal record (normal, I would say)
- succeed a theoretical test about law and self-defense
- succeed a practical test on how to handle guns
- have your doctor testify you are mentally and physically ok to handle guns
- be member of a club and practice at least once a month (not hard to do)
Once you have your SSL, you can buy almost any long gun (except full auto, which is strictly forbidden for civilians, as well as sound suppressors or laser pointing devices), and .22 auto pistols. All of them have to be registered.
However, if you want a revolver or center fire auto, you need to ask for a specific license for EACH of them, and wait for the official paperwork to complete (which took 16 months worst case for me). This costs about 120$ per request, so you best group a few guns before you apply.
Once you have the gun, even if you are SSL, you can not CARRY the gun ever, you're only allowed to transport it locked away and unloaded, between home/shooting range/gun shop. Self defense is strictly limited by law to protecting PERSONS, so you can not shoot a robber who 'only' steals your property, or tries to kill your dog in your garden, ... else YOU end in jail. But for the rest, Belgium is a very good place to live, with VERY low crime outside the 2 or 3 major cities.

I was very often in the US for my former employer, and it's indeed a great country to be and to shoot. I used to go to the shooting range with one of my ex-colleagues, and could try quite a lot. Great times.

Best to all - B686

 

[MikeD99]

Once you have your SSL, you can buy almost any long gun (except full auto, which is strictly forbidden for civilians, as well as sound suppressors or laser pointing devices), and .22 auto pistols. All of them have to be registered.

Best to all - B686

Not to be a wise guy, but I am assuming that the rationale behind the restrictions is the usual list given by anti-firearms people. I have to ask, though, what is the reason given for banning laser pointing devices? Does that include the regular laser pointers used in presentations and auditoriums as well as firearm aiming devices?

Thanks,
Mike D. in Leesburg, Va

 

[Belgian686]

Hi Mike,

In 2006 an 18 year old extremist bought a lever arm carbine, then still license free, and killed innocents in the streets. That shook up people (which should do of course), and as a response the officials blocked all new firearms sales for almost two years, and completely changed the law. Many improvements were good and most of these do protect honest gun owners, but as usual, some anti-gun lobbyists drove some things way too far. For example, with the SSL, you can buy a .22 semi-auto, but not a .22 single action revolver. Try to understand ? Recently, they banned the 'rifle stocks' which turns a semi auto pistol (like a Glock 9mm) into a small carbine. No one understands, but they claim the device 'changes the nature of the gun'. I would guess usually sporting shooters buy these, for the fun of it. As for the laser devices, it's indeed only devices mounted on guns, claimed to only improve ‘quick aiming’, and having 'no sense for sports shooting'.

Every one seems to forget criminals do not apply for a permit, but simply steal guns or buy them ‘underground’.

B686

 

[orionengnr]

B686--
Thank you for giving us some insight into the laws of another country.
1994 seems to be right according to my SCSW. Enjoy that M64. I have seen them for sale from $200 to $400 around here in the last year (Texas). $60 is definitely a steal. They are a fine shooting revolver.

 

[Fyrepower71]

$60 bucks wow what a steal.

 

[weyerbacher]

Just for my own curiosity, is 38 Special ammunition readily available in Europe? I've only ever been to Ireland, and all I did there was sightsee and drink, and not in that order.

 

[Belgian686]

Ammo availabilty in Belgium

This might be a better news for once, as we do not really have issues of scarce ammo (although I mostly reload). I estimate ammo's use & availabitily over here in decreasing use/availability :

-.22 cheapest around 50$ per 1000
- 9mm cheapest around 150$ per 1000
- .38 special cheapest around 180$ per 1000
- .45 & .357 magnum cheapest around I guess 250/220$ per 1000
- ...

Usually best prices, with excellent quality/price ratio, over here is S&B.

Primers are about 28$ per 1000, lead bullets .38 SWC about 40$ per 500 and SJSP .38/158 gr about 70$ per 500.

Most frequently used brands would be, in decreasing popularity for centerfire :
- S&B = Sellier & Bellot (czech)
- Fiocchi (Italian - very good quality brass, somewhat softer than S&B)
- Equally CCI / Winchester
- Finally Remington, Aguila, IMI, Magtech, ...

CCI seems to me the market leader in .22 to me (I use 90% of CCI SV). Then all other brands evenly : Remington, American Eagle, RWS, Eley, Schwartklip (I believe South Africa, don't take my word for it), ..

That's about the picture here, and concerns more a less what I see around, although some prices might be better in huger quantities, or bargain sales.

B686

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

Congratulations on your very good deal on a classic S&W. I would by 20 at that price.
Belgium is one of my favorite countries-and not just because FN is there. Peole are very friendly, and the food is quite good, I had a very good time there a few years ago. I had a part time job as a diamond courier so went to Antwerp a lot. I don't know how but the company got us permission to carry weapons in each country we went to, they issued us FN Hi Powers, and we had to qualify every two months. Was a great job with great pay, then they started shipping them UPS!!!