MODEL 63, Five-inch bbl.

[RAMS]

A popular on-line seller had a Model 63, 5-inch, for well over $1,000 because it had a pinned bbl.

Is that what they command today? What is the approximate price range for a nice non-pinned 5-incher?

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

I believe the gun you are asking about was made before 1980, so you may get a more knowledgeable and numerous response from another forum that focus on earlier guns.

I have not heard of a 5-inch pinned barrel M63. There was a 5-inch M63-4 made in the early 2000's that was not pinned and it had the lock. It was a 8-shot, product code 162450 (a searchable term). Those trade hands in the $550 to $900 range

 

[flagman1776]

The S&W Model 63 is the stainless version of the Kit Gun. In carbon steel, it was the Model 34. Older models were made 2" & 4". The current version of the Model 63 is a 3" 8 shooter.

I'd be really surprised to find a 5" barrel Model 63. Over 4" barrel versions of various models typically got their own Model number... before the institution of model numbers they were called 22/32 Heavy Frame Target (22 on the 32 frame size) and were built in carbon steel with longer barrels.

The Model 34 and Model 63 are fine guns. Never the less, I think the seller is quite optomistic as to it's price. On the other hand, I have no intention of ever parting with my 34-1 I bought in 1978.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

....I'd be really surprised to find a 5" barrel Model 63. ...

.
Surprise!!!!!

They made thousands of them just a few years ago. As stated in my previous post, it was the M63-4. It didn't get a new model number, but it does have a unique dash number shared by no other M63 variation.

 

[Cal44]

The latest version of the Catalog has a cryptic comment:

<5" versions know to exist. Worth a premium. (not 63-4)>

 

[k22fan]

Relying on my memory of the SCSW 3rd ed., a few 5" and one 6" early Model 63s were made. At only $1,000 each I'll take all the early 5 inchers you've got!

The 5 inchers reintroduced in 2000 are fairly common shooters, not collectors' items. I doubt they command a premium over the 3 inchers that superseded them. A local gun store has a new 3 incher for somewhere around $700, maybe a little more.

 

[Usmc5811]

I've heard about the pinned barrels 5" 63, but never seen one. As far as the 5" 63-4's, they are great little guns. I have 2 of them and my father has one also. My shooter is carried during hunting season non stop, in a Simply Rugged holster. Mine has killed all kind of critters, including a few grouse also. It gets shot more then any other 22 revolvers that I have. With my Outdoorsman running a close second. Including my dads the most expensive one that we bought was my like new one. It was $600 my shooter was $300. All came with box and paperwork also.

 

[RAMS]

Wow; you guys are still the best.

Off to church now, but I'll post more later.

 

[22hipower]

I don't know that the price of a 63 with an original factory five inch pinned barrel over $1k would be unreasonable. I've certainly never seen one. Pinned four inch guns are going on GB for $700+. Guess I'd like to have a S&W letter confirming originality but if so $1000+ might be ok for the unicorn this seems to be. Sure would like to see one although the 63-4 five inch I have seems to shoot just fine.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[RAMS]

Relying on my memory of the SCSW 3rd ed., a few 5" and one 6" early Model 63s were made. At only $1,000 each I'll take all the early 5 inchers you've got!

The 5 inchers reintroduced in 2000 are fairly common shooters, not collectors' items. I doubt they command a premium over the 3 inchers that superseded them. A local gun store has a new 3 incher for somewhere around $700, maybe a little more.

Thanks, k22. My source books (Gun Digest, the Blue Book, etc.) are missing some years, so I can't find a source for introduction of the Model 63-4 5". I do have the 2001 edition of the Gun Trader's Guide, but no 5'' bbl. is mentioned. May I ask your source for the 2000 introduction date?

To make the 5" 63-4's introduction date even more mysterious (at least to me), I have a June 14, 2008 e-mail from S&W's Historian, Roy Jenks, informing me that my 5" 63-4 (S.N. DAU87XX) was "hand picked" by S&W to be introduced to and used by gun writers as a test gun in April 2007. He said that in April 2008, S&W sold it as "used".

I had asked Mr. Jenks if he could explain why my 63-4, just an off-the-shelf J-Frame, was so smooth and accurate-- better than any 17 or 18 I ever had. He knew I was a fellow S&W .22 nut, so he was nice enough to research the matter and send me the aforesaid June 2008 e-mail. I had bought it as "used" in June 2008 from a dealer in TN, who I guess was the dealer/distributor? to whom S&W had sold it.

 

[k22fan]

Oops.

The year was not important to me when I wrote that. I only partially remembered what Kernel Crittenden wrote in reply #2 and miss quoted him. He usually writes based on his accumulated lists of dates from historical letters or other good sources.

[...] There was a 5-inch M63-4 made in the early 2000's that was not pinned and it had the lock. It was a 8-shot, product code 162450 (a searchable term). [...]

SCSW 3rd ed. writes 2005 was the two piece 5 inch barreled Model 60-18's introduction date. My fuzzy memory is that the .357 came first which makes 2007 somewhere in the neighborhood of correct for the similar looking .22.

"Gun Digest, Blue Book etc." try to cover all guns which the authors can not possibly do in as much detail as collectors who specialize in a segment of one brand want. It appears you've moved beyond researching S&W revolvers in them.

 

[RAMS]

Thanks, again, k22. You've jogged my memory, and I think you've nailed it.

BTW, for any fledgling .22 revolver nuts who may be reading this thread, you quickly will learn that with regard to accuracy and "best" ammo, each gun is an individual; a law unto itself-- I didn't mean to imply that all 5" 63-4s are smoother and more accurate than S&W 17s and 18s; they are not.

Nor are 5" 63s as good looking and graceful as either the old 4" 63s and currently styled 3" 63s. But I've owned and informally accuracy-tested many of the 3 and 4-inchers, and am convinced that as a rule the 5-inchers (with their favorite ammo) are the most accurate of all 63s.

Aside from looks, therefore, to me the 5-inchers also make the best 63 kit gun in the field: a little better accuracy and velocity, and of course SS rust resistance.

 

[k22fan]

Do modern 5" Model 63s have two piece barrels like the similar looking Model 60-18s? S&W's two piece barrels are some times said to be their most accurate because the actual barrel is under tension like Dan Wessons. That could contribute to your 5 incher's better accuracy.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Well let's not forget the Model 35
My understanding is that they "reintroduced" the 63 on the J magnum frame with the lock in both 3 & 5" barrel lengths. Having the original 4" 63, I saw need for either length. I did come into possession later on of a 3" Model 317 3" pre lock which is an interesting gun.

 

[RAMS]

Do modern 5" Model 63s have two piece barrels like the similar looking Model 60-18s? S&W's two piece barrels are some times said to be their most accurate because the actual barrel is under tension like Dan Wessons. That could contribute to your 5 incher's better accuracy.

Yes, my 5-incher is the standard S&W tensioned two piece barrel, so you may have a good point.

 

[RAMS]

Well let's not forget the Model 35

I'd sooner forget them, old friend, because over the years I sold the two I owned for only a hundred or so profit, each. I also sold some 4" Diamondback .22s (including a nickel-plated one), a very early S&W 41, an early rare High Standard, and two S&W 48 combos for about 10% of what they would bring today. That's what happens when you have the da*!@# search for-the-Holy-Grail-of-accuracy fever, but not a lot of spare cash to support both an ever-growing family of safe queens and new models to buy and test.

Anyway, CAJUN, as beautiful as those 35s are, they are merely long-legged 63s. So, mine were not particularly accurate (nor were those good-looking Diamondbacks because Colt used worn-out cutters left over from the Colt SA .22s).

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Yes, my 5-incher is the standard S&W tensioned two piece barrel, so you may have a good point.

I was not aware the -4 had a 2-peice barrel. That's very interesting. Does it have a ball-detent lock on the yoke?

BTW, you were wonder when the -4 was introduced to the general public. The earliest I've seen had a DBP s/n prefix and shipped November 7th, 2007.

In my experience, S&W will often introduce new variations in the November to February time frame. End of year, beginning of year.

The last -4 I've seen shipped June 21, 2010, and had a CNY prefix.

 

[RAMS]

I was not aware the -4 had a 2-peice barrel. That's very interesting. Does it have a ball-detent lock on the yoke?

BTW, you were wonder when the -4 was introduced to the general public. The earliest I've seen had a DBP s/n prefix and shipped November 7th, 2007.

In my experience, S&W will often introduce new variations in the November to February time frame. End of year, beginning of year.

The last -4 I've seen shipped June 21, 2010, and had a CNY prefix.

Judging by the rings on both the chamber and crown ends of the barrel, my -4, made in 2007, does appear to have the usual "two-piece" barrel, i.e., I can see the thin liner which contains the lands and groves, as well as, of course, the outer shroud.

I remember reading years ago that S&W uses the tensioned two or three-part barrel system as opposed to a merely sleeved inner barrel system.

And, yes, mine does have a ball-detent lock in the shroud which contacts the knurled end of the cylinder pin.

According to the Blue Book, the 5-inchers were discontinued in 2009, so it would make sense that the last one was shipped in 2010. That means the 5-inchers were made for only three years.

 

[RAMS]

Kernel Crittenden, you asked me if my 63-4, has a ball-detent lock on the yoke.

I just realized that you said "yoke". In my reply #18 I said, yes, it does have the ball-detent in the shroud (it's actually in the half lug portion of the shroud).

But, no, there is no such lock on the yoke. Sorry.

 

[Green Frog]

Has there ever been a Model 63 with a full under lug? There's a precedent for such a barrel on a J-frame, some of the Model 60s, so it could have been done...

Froggie