Model 64 & 67 to be discontinued.

[cowboy4evr]

A dedicated 38 special ? I wanted one for several yrs but just didn't see what I really wanted . Recently I walked into my LGS , the owner and goes in the back room and pulls out a gorgeous Colt Police Positive Special . It went home with me and I'm no long looking . It was increditably accurate , light weight and fits the hand like a glove . Built in the day when each piece was hand fitted . Regards Paul

 

[TTSH]

That depresses me immensely.

Yep. All logic and "it's just business" points aside, it's still a bummer that these fine models are being retired. Thankfully, I picked up a very nice Model 67-1 back in May. Actually, I found two really nice ones back-to-back and now it turns out that I should have bought that second one as well. Dang. Watch prices shoot up if this news is, in fact, correct.

For an antique old fart like me with hearing loss, .38 Special is perfectly fine... and dear old Dad left me enough of his .38 wadcutter reloads to last me at least two lifetimes. I was also fortunate enough to snag a 500 round RNL buy just before things went totally crazy.

 

[wproct]

Makes me glad that I have my 64-2.

 

[91B40]

64 and 67 Discontinued

Not unexpected.
I considered getting a new 67 to go with all our old ones, but I suppose it's too late now.

 

[kaaskop49]

Not unexpected.
I considered getting a new 67 to go with all our old ones, but I suppose it's too late now.

Don't know until you try. Ask the LGS to contact their supplier(s): it's worked more than once for me. Since the 64 and 67 are not popular, there could well be a sample or 2 lying around. Worth a shot.

I've never liked my 67-no dash purchased in 1973, even though it's the revolver I've shot the most. It's essentially retired now, though I use it to shoot perfect scores for my CCW renewals. I may try to pick up a modern 67 if they're still available. Then I'll have another 67 that I'll never like...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Let's look at the news of late:

Smith & Wesson was a unit of American Outdoor Brands Corporation from 2016–2020, until the company was spun out in 2020.

In 2006 Smith & Wesson refocused its marketing on big box retailers, according to Smith & Wesson CEO Mike Golden in a 2008 conference call with investors.

On November 7, 2016, Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation changed its name to American Outdoor Brands Corporation.

In 2017 Smith & Wesson saw a severe contraction in its sales as units shipped to distributors and retailers declined 38.3%. The company was forced to lay off one-fourth of its manufacturing workforce.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

S&W is a business. It has normal business problems like any business plus the additional business problems of selling politically incorrect products. Plus, in today's booming gun sales market, the buyers are mostly looking at plastic and S&W is in that market so that's where we should expect the company to focus.

Revolvers that are not easily concealable are dinosaurs. You like them, I like them, but the millenials don't, the newly frightened populace (by the corona virus, street riots, and crime) isn't into large revolvers, either.

Business is business. So it makes total sense to me, even if it's sad.

 

[Dieseltech56]

They were probably being sold over seas to foreign agencies that wouldn't be outgunned by a 6 shot 38 special.

Perhaps contracts ran out and weren't renewed, who knows but I'm sure the demand over here isn't enough to keep them in production.

 

[chief38]

Truth be told...... I carried a M60-7 up until 2 years ago. I could never justify a plastic 9mm around the same size (or larger & heavier) that only held a round or two more. THEN came the Sig P365 which was smaller, lighter, flatter and holds 10+1. Something that easily fit's in the pocket of my LL Bean Jeans with a DeSantis Nemesis pocket Holster and is lighter and less conspicuous than my J Frame was.

Along with the fact that the ballistics on modern 9mm ammo is fantastic, they worked out all the kinks on the P365 (bought mine post problematic era) and the fact that I can now practice with 100 - 150 rounds per session with no pain, is a huge plus. I dreaded practicing with my M60 and Buffalo Bore 158 grain +P's and I am not recoil sensitive what so ever!

All that said - of I were EVER to go back to a wheel gun, it would be a model made between 1960 and 1994

 

[D Brown]

I bought this Model 67-5 about 3 and a half years ago. I had a local dealer order it for me, and specified that I only wanted one if he could find one with the one-piece barrel. He found it, and I bought it. I haven't fired it yet, but it appears to be a very well made gun.

Model 67-5

 

[jscott]

The market dictates what is sold and manufactured. Todays market, given medical and political uncertainties, is relatively new to this gun stuff. So, based on what ever source they listen to, the new and untrained consumer will go for the lightest, most round count, and the best priced. They have no understanding of what makes a SW revolver a gun fighter's gun, having NEVER been in a gun fight. Todays consumer buys a product that they hope never to use. The rest of us buy a product preparing to use it some day.

 

[Darkenfast]

Jscott, the idea that an S&W revolver is a gunfighter's gun while the modern autos aren't is simply not born out by decades of history. The claim that a revolver user buys a revolver because they are preparing to use it while the "consumer" buys a modern gun in ignorance and the hope that they will never have to use it is simply wishful thinking.

The revolver had a wonderful run in American firearms history and lots of us will continue to enjoy them for a very long time, but the claims you make have no more basis in fact than saying in the 1950s: "Civil War-era cap-and-ball revolvers are better than those new .38 Special Colts and Smiths that people buy now because they don't really expect to have to use them."

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Sad news.

My first S&W is a Mod 67-1 that was a local gunsmiths personal carry gun. Best trigger in my collection.

 

[Miami_JBT]

The market dictates what is sold and manufactured. Todays market, given medical and political uncertainties, is relatively new to this gun stuff. So, based on what ever source they listen to, the new and untrained consumer will go for the lightest, most round count, and the best priced. They have no understanding of what makes a SW revolver a gun fighter's gun, having NEVER been in a gun fight. Todays consumer buys a product that they hope never to use. The rest of us buy a product preparing to use it some day.

I'm a fan of wheel guns and carry them regularly, but the idea that a semi-auto isn't a gun fighters gun is laughable. My GLOCKs are my go to guns for anything serious.

 

[jscott]

Wow Mr Darkenfast and Miami JBT, thanks for your positive and non critical responses. Nothing was said denouncing the semi auto as a fighting hand gun. The point was that many current first time buyers have no idea about what they want. Spend some time in a gun shop observing new buyers and you will see what I mean. Other than that, all that I can say is that a certain Smith revolver worked for me.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

This old dinosaur will hang on to the old dinosaur era revolvers that live here. They are like me, old and probably no good to anybody. :-(

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[MetalGunGuy]

I have 4 inch 67-5, and I love it. It was my first gun purchase. There' something about the look and "feel" of it that is just perfect. Would a 66 or 686 be more practical? Sure. But that's a worse look, and more weight, respectively.

Personally, I find the 67 too be about perfect as an introductory firearm for new shooters (friends and family who want to go shoot for the first time). Not too heavy, not too light. No magazines, six shots, easy to load and unload. Load up some 130 grain FMJ and let them start out single action, then eventually work their way up to double action. Oh and I might want a turn or two as well ;-)

 

[MG-70]

It's a testament to the design and caliber that they lasted this long. To me, it's a miracle that they did, given the auto's dominance since the 1980's. I'm lucky to have a couple, including a "sculpted barrel" Model 67 and a round butt 3" Model 64, but I'd be glad to acquire some more if the opportunities present themselves.

I don't deny that I, too, am a bit of a dinosaur, at only 50 years old, but I have absolutely no desire or plans to change that. I'll take a large displacement V8 over a four cylinder turbo, any day, and I preferred James Bond when he smoked, drank, slept around, and slapped women on the ***.

Surely, you didn't expect a bunch of pot-smoking beliebers to buy revolvers!?!

 

[Model1567]

I learned today that model 64 and 67 will be discontinued from next year. It's a real shame that they will be doing it since I really like the 67, this also means that the only K frame .38 Special revolver S&W now offers is the model 10.

Yes it is really sad.
The 67 is the stainless version of the Model 15 and that gun is considered one of best double actions ever made.
However, I think this points to a bigger issue.
In our "power crazed Magnum world", we've lost appreciation for lower powered but highly accurate arms.
No offense to anyone here, but its almost like the gun buying public has turned into an entire group of 12 year-olds who only know "more power is better".
Thus guns like the 64 and 67 see lower sales, until the business that makes them deems them more of a liability to build and pulls them from production.
...so...
If you wanna save these guns, its time we all started buying them....hopefully, we're not already too late.

 

[cmj8591]

I'm not sure what prompted Smith to stop production of these guns. I do know that they were produced more for export than for domestic sales. The vast majority were sent out of the country, mostly to South America. Many police agencies in those countries still issue revolvers due to restrictions on military type handguns being issued to non-military police agencies. I wonder if it's more about some other company, one that starts with "R" maybe, making inroads in the foreign market. The market for revolvers is still strong outside of the US so I wouldn't be surprised if this is temporary and they end up making them again.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I never found the Model 64 all that appealing - just pretty much a heavy barrel Model 67 with no adjustable sights. I have a primo 67, but never saw any joy in a 64.

Until I saw this one, with a factory high polish. It just sparkled, and as far as I know, maybe unique. I lettered it, and you can see what Roy said about it in this picture.

John

 

[CH4]

I don't care one way or the other. If someone wants to buy one, it's their $$$. However, there will be no tears shed at CH4's house if they quit making them.

Anyone besides me think the two-piece barrel is aesthetically challenged?

 

[stansdds]

I don't care one way or the other. If someone wants to buy one, it's their $$$. However, there will be no tears shed at CH4's house if they quit making them.

Anyone besides me think the two-piece barrel is aesthetically challenged?

Aesthetically challenged? Yes.
A better system in terms of assembly, accuracy, and durblity? Yes.
Does it do my heart good to see manufacturers following in the footsteps of Daniel B. Wesson II? Yes.

 

[Sgt911]

I don't care one way or the other. If someone wants to buy one, it's their $$$. However, there will be no tears shed at CH4's house if they quit making them.

Anyone besides me think the two-piece barrel is aesthetically challenged?

The new 67 I bought did not have a two piece barrel. If new 67s had two piece barrels when did it start?

 

[Sistema1927]

I have two Model 64-8 revolvers, one in 3", the other a 4". Both were Security/LEO sell offs that I paid reasonable prices for. Both have the two piece barrel, internal lock, and MIM.

Both shoot lights out.