Model 64-3 revolver w/ 3" barrel

[LC56]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but not to S&W revolvers. I have a Model 64-3 with a 3" barrel that I bought in 1995 as a police trade in via a supplier in SHOTGUN NEWS. I paid extra money for hand select and when it showed up it looked like it had spent its entire life in storage, neither shot or carried. It's probably about is as pristine condition as you could possibly expect a police trade in gun to be.

What I assume to be the s/n is stamped on the bottom of the grip and reads ADP1XXX.

I never see any 3" versions of this model advertised anywhere, which seems odd since I think it's a nice convenient length.

Can anybody give me a hand identifying the vintage of this firearm and a rough idea of what it might be worth?

Thanks,
LC56

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Looks like your M64 was made in 1983. As for value I think
in the condition you describe $350 to $375. Don

 

[ENGINE18]

A sought-after barrel length! In fact. I think S&W now has new ones in their lineup, w/IL, of course!

 

[danski]

From the way you describe it, you have a virtually new gun.

And in 3-inch no less! Think of the value/price closer to $450 or more.

The prices of Smiths from the last century---boy, that sounds funny to write or say---are going up, up and up.

Heck, why would a someone want to pay a lot, lot more for some newly manufactured piece with the lock on it such as one of those Night Guards or whatever they're called?

 

[LC56]

Thanks!

Thanks for the quick replies, you guys are very helpful.

I wish my retirement assets had appreciated as much as my SW revolver seems to have in the past 15 years! I'm sure we can all way that. I swear I'm considering buying some firearms as 'safe' place to keep money parked.

I don't understand the reference to "...w/IL..." that was made earlier..

Can somebody explain this?

 

[ENGINE18]

with internal lock. the pre-2002 models do not have it (I think). Yours would be from 1977!

 

[stiab]

I think Hawkeye is a little closer to the value in my neighborhood. I paid less than $400 for this one...

 

[LC56]

Thanks for the pics. It's probably safe to say mine's worth $400 plus or minus a few dollars. I've seen a fair number of used 64's with four inch barrels on various web sites, I assume the rarer 3" barrel would be worth maybe $25-50 (?) more than an otherwise identical 4" variant.

I've spent a lot of time the past month researching what my firearms are worth vs. what I paid for them 15-20 years ago. Far and away the one that appreciated the most %age-wise is this old police trade in revolver that I paid no more than $150 for. Even in the good old days they seemed underpriced, but the market was flooded with them and they didn't have the appeal of the high cap 9mm's, assault rifles, etc.

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
I have a Model 13 with a 3" barrel and that is a nice tool to carry about.
Years ago I started buying police turn ins and ended up with a fine batch of them. All stored away in grease and waxpaper. Maybe next time up in the U.S. I will have to start selling them off.