dbracin
Member
I have found a local store that has a 65 3" Ladysmith for sale. $575 is as low as I can talk them down. It has the purple bag and nothing else with it, also no original grips. I think it's a little over priced. Your thoughts?
Ladysmith 65 3"
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I wouldn't......
sell mine for that.
Ned
sell mine for that.
Ned
diamonback68
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BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The 3 inch 65s are great, and with the shroud, even better, even if it says Ladysmith.
Buy it, and then send it to S&W for a refinish to matte and have them polish off the Ladysmith while you are at it!
For my tastes and usages, the 65 Lady Smith is the perfect revolver; best barrel length for balance and happy medium between shootability and carryabilty; a shrouded ejector for protection in carry and use, and added weight up front for shot control; best sights for real world use (fixed); a round butt that can be square with the right grip choice; .357 or .38 of any stripe; a finish that lasts with minimum care.
The one I shoot also has the best factory action I have ever encountered on any S&W revolver, but that might be idiosyncratic.
The price is toward the high end but not absurd or unheard of for this particular piece. The absence of the factory stocks is negligible unless you're buying as a collector; functionally speaking they're useless and likely would be replaced anyway.
Can't say whether or not you should buy this one without knowing more about condition, but all things being equal the 65 LS is the revolver I'd pick over all others is I could only have one.
The one I shoot also has the best factory action I have ever encountered on any S&W revolver, but that might be idiosyncratic.
The price is toward the high end but not absurd or unheard of for this particular piece. The absence of the factory stocks is negligible unless you're buying as a collector; functionally speaking they're useless and likely would be replaced anyway.
Can't say whether or not you should buy this one without knowing more about condition, but all things being equal the 65 LS is the revolver I'd pick over all others is I could only have one.
C Islander
Member
+1 on this!
DanHalen357
Member
Buy that LS dont do what I did and let one slip out of your hands. I regret letting the one i could have gotten get away. They are an amazing little work of art.
chaim
Member
I have had a 65LS for about 10 years now.
At $575 for a 3" 65LS I have to say, skip it. Don't even think about it. And please, please give me the contact info for that gunstore
At $575 for a 3" 65LS I have to say, skip it. Don't even think about it. And please, please give me the contact info for that gunstore
chaim
Member
In all seriousness, I doubt you will do much better on price. Most people with a 3" K-frame seem to hold on to them, they are great shooters, and collectors seem to like them too.
The 3" K-frame is about the perfect carry .357mag. Nothing points or handles as well, they are big enough with enough sight radius to be very accurate at the range, and heavy enough to handle any .357mag ammo with some degree of comfort, yet small and light enough for very reasonable carry. The matte stainless is a terrific looking finish that doesn't attract too much attention (no shiny mirror finish under your coat to glint and catch people's eye). I absolutely love mine (one of a handful of guns that I would never get rid of: I'd sell a kidney before I'd sell the gun). I would love another 3" 65 (especially the 65LS) or a 3" 13 (especially the 13PC).
Buy it before you lose it, and seriously, if you decide you don't want it, give me the gunshop's contact info.
The 3" K-frame is about the perfect carry .357mag. Nothing points or handles as well, they are big enough with enough sight radius to be very accurate at the range, and heavy enough to handle any .357mag ammo with some degree of comfort, yet small and light enough for very reasonable carry. The matte stainless is a terrific looking finish that doesn't attract too much attention (no shiny mirror finish under your coat to glint and catch people's eye). I absolutely love mine (one of a handful of guns that I would never get rid of: I'd sell a kidney before I'd sell the gun). I would love another 3" 65 (especially the 65LS) or a 3" 13 (especially the 13PC).
Buy it before you lose it, and seriously, if you decide you don't want it, give me the gunshop's contact info.
Bought one of them there 65 Ladysmiths for wife's birthday about 15 years ago. Price was right around $600. Tuned it and it's still her most favorite gun. I really like it, but havin' to be manly about it I went for a 3" M13.
Snapping Twig
Member
I paid more for mine.
65-5
One of the rarest S&W's.
You best high tail it back there before it gets away.
65-5
One of the rarest S&W's.
You best high tail it back there before it gets away.
$575 is a more than fair price for one of these in nice condition.
Paid $475 for mine. It had the purse and box, along with a fair amount of rust/pitting.
Took a lot of polishing to make it right.
Now its one of my favorites:
Paid $475 for mine. It had the purse and box, along with a fair amount of rust/pitting.
Took a lot of polishing to make it right.
Now its one of my favorites:
Beach-Hunter
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Lobster Picnic
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Towards the high end, but these don't come around too often. You could keep looking for one and maybe get a better price...but you might be looking a long time.
dbracin: If you're still thinking about the 65 LS (and from the unanimously enthusiastic replies, I'm guessing you might be), familiarize yourself with these pre-purchase revolver checks, if you're not already -- they'll help you make a final determination...
Revolver Checkout Procedure
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6F...hLWE4YzMtOTdmN2YwNmY4NzM2/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1
Revolver Checkout Procedure
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6F...hLWE4YzMtOTdmN2YwNmY4NzM2/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1
OP
dbracin
Member
The Ladysmith is now in my possession. Took an early lunch and made the deal.
Pictures later when I get home from work.
Pictures later when I get home from work.
Engine49guy
Member
Congrats on the 65 !
I have been debating a 65-3 for $570,
I suppose they are like a 3" Model 66 without the rear site and better for CCW use.
While I prefer P&R not sure they exist in this model ? or if they do in any numbers,
The one I saw recently is flash chromed T/H and marked as a LadySmithbut was on the fence .
May have to reconsider it after seeing all these beauties.
BTW
For anyone interrested I just saw one FS in our forum,
http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/277508-wtt-s-65-5-3-a.html
I have been debating a 65-3 for $570,
I suppose they are like a 3" Model 66 without the rear site and better for CCW use.
While I prefer P&R not sure they exist in this model ? or if they do in any numbers,
The one I saw recently is flash chromed T/H and marked as a LadySmithbut was on the fence .
May have to reconsider it after seeing all these beauties.
BTW
For anyone interrested I just saw one FS in our forum,
http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/277508-wtt-s-65-5-3-a.html
Last edited:
Maximumbob54
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If it wasn't for post #18 I was going to say I bet it's gone when you go back for it.
Congratulations -- you now have a superb piece and are the envy of many fellow revolver enthusiasts.
Don't know what your experience with handguns is, but as a rule any recently acquired item (new or used) should be stripped, cleaned, inspected, lightly oiled and reassembled before shooting.
Your new 65 LS will shoot just about any .38 all day long forever (well, close anyway) without problems. There's a decades old debate still unresolved about lighter, faster (125 grain) .357 rounds in K-frames. Run a search, read up and decide for yourself.
As for grips (let me put on on flame suit here): they aren't the prettiest, but the rubber Hogue Monogrip round-to-square conversion is the most impressive grip I've ever used on a K-frame for serious shooting purposes -- perfect fit in my hand and makes full house .357 easily manageable in the LS. Worth considering.
Enjoy. Looking forward to pics...
chaim
Member
Congratulations! You just bought yourself what may be one of the best guns S&W ever made. I think a 3" K-frame is about the perfect all-around gun. Again, big and heavy enough for the range, enough sight radius to be quite accurate with most eyes, and a long enough barrel to get some pretty decent .38spl/.357mag performance. However, it is just small and light enough to be a reasonable carry gun.
The 3" S&W K-frames (and similar Ruger Speed/Security/Service Six, and even the 3" Taurus 65) are quite popular with shooters. The Rugers and S&Ws are quite popular with collectors as well. Again, it just may be the perfect all-around gun. I really don't understand why someone doesn't make a 3" revolver on a smaller medium frame (as opposed to the larger and heavier L-frame and Ruger GP100, both of which do come in a 3"). I know I'd buy another (if it was Taurus, at their prices, I'd probably buy two).
Again, congratulations. I think you'll be more than happy with this gun. First step, you need to get us some photos. Second, get out there and shoot it (you'll be hooked). Finally, if you are a CCW holder, get yourself some nice leather and carry that bad girl (it is a Ladysmith, so "bad boy" doesn't sound right
).C Islander
Member
You did the right thing. Congratulations!
OP
dbracin
Member
I got it home and removed the Uncle Mikes grips. I stuck these magnas on it just to snap a picture of it. I will be looking for different grips for it. Ended up talking him down to $550 otd. I'm pleased. Here she is with another nice shooter.
Don't you like it when you have choices.
Don't you like it when you have choices.
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FWIW, I spotted an original set of LS stocks on Ebay,
I paid less for my 3" 65 (not marked Ladysmith and no ejector shroud) but I wouldn't sell it for what you paid for yours. It has become my favorite shooter. I even use it in our club IDPA matches with fairly high power (but not +P) 38 loads, and while it's not as fast as a Glock with 10 round magazines I find I have more confidence in where the shots are going.
BTW, I shot the last match with the stock service grips and a BK grip adapter - about 100 rounds in 6 stages over about 2 hours. It was easy to control the gun and it was perfectly comfortable to shoot that many rounds under those circumstances. If you want to carry that gun concealed, the stock grips are going to be about as small as they get.
Congrats on the find. Enjoy it.
BTW, I shot the last match with the stock service grips and a BK grip adapter - about 100 rounds in 6 stages over about 2 hours. It was easy to control the gun and it was perfectly comfortable to shoot that many rounds under those circumstances. If you want to carry that gun concealed, the stock grips are going to be about as small as they get.
Congrats on the find. Enjoy it.
