Model 64 Decisions

[Eddietruett]

I have been looking around for one of these to carry, and found 2 I'm interested in.

I am confused, do you want the original grips? Why? How much are they charging for shipping that would make one pricey? You stated that one was "inspected" by a gunsmith- Talk to the gunsmith, The other was inspected? what does that mean? I bought a 629 for $200.00 because it was "inspected" and was told it had a bent yoke and ejector rod. I examined it, the yoke nor the rod were bent. So talk to the people who " inspected" them, about trigger pull, smoothness, etc and make your decision. Some one has already offered you factory grips if not I am sure that I probably have some laying around. A word of advice: Just because someone calls themselves a "gunsmith" does not mean they are a gunsmith. Be Safe,

Great advice. I bought a Mod 686 at a gunshow for $50. Wouldn't operate. You could open the cylinder but it wouldn't move when it was closed. Seller's "gunsmith" told him the frame was bent. He robbed the grips and sights and sold it to me. All that was wrong was a bent ejector rod and center pin. Had those in my spare parts bin. Bought a rear sight assembly off eBay, added a set of grips and I wound up with a nice shooter for less than $100 bucks.

 

[GeoJelly]

Get bof' of them, sir - polish one up and use it as a BBQ revolver. Use the other one for carry and practice ...

 

[Sistema1927]

I am still confused as to what barrel length we are talking about. I see that the OP asked what folks feed their "snubbies", and then there was speculation about both being 2", as well as the assumption that both were round butt.

What does the OP consider a "snubby"? 2"? 3"? 4"?

 

[shell627]

Around 1978-79 while visiting a friend in Dayton Ohio.We went to the Air Force museum.Extra guards on duty because of protesters.A couple of guards had stag or stag looking grips on their revolvers.Did not see anything shiny though.

 

[kennethg]

I am using Federal Premium 110 grain Hydra-Shock JHP Low Recoil ammo in my 2" model 442.

 

[sigp220.45]

I seriously doubt any Model 64 was in Air Force service.

The SAC elite guard carried Model 10s and 15s with fake stag grips.

 

[Walkingwolf]

If memory serves, and at this date that is always the question, one of the Security Police at the guard gate at my duty station in West Berlin in 1970 carried what looked like a 4" Model 64 rather than a Model 15.

That was a nickel plated victory model which some of the elite SP's were issued. I believe the AF stopped issuing them sometime in the late 60's, or early 70's.

 

[CapnB]

I have a 2" Model 64 and, like all S&W K frame 38's, it's a pleasure to shoot. I carried a Model 15 (blue) in the Air Force and have carried and shot them ever since. I know the "SAC Elite Guard" at Offutt AFB carried nickel plated revolvers of some sort but those were 4" models (served with a fellow who had been stationed there). I haven't ever heard of a Model 64 in Air Force use, or any stainless revolver for that matter. That doesn't mean it didn't happen, but I'm skeptical. All of that to say, just don't let the guy hold you up on the price because of the alleged USAF connection without some pretty serious provenance. Personally, I find my 64 a bit heavy for routine concealed carry these days, but it's my permanent bedside gun.
Good shootin',
Doug

 

[JayFramer]

Keep in mind the USAF issued the Model 15 up until 1994 for all gate guards.

Pretty cool.

 

[sigp220.45]

Keep in mind the USAF issued the Model 15 up until 1994 for all gate guards.

Pretty cool.

I got out in 1991 as the Ops Officer of a Security Police squadron and all my cops (including the guys on the gates) had M9s. The only Model 15s we still had were used by dog handlers for blank fire training.

I got my M9 in 1987, and not long after that nobody carried the .38s anymore.

 

[kbm6893]

The 64 was introduced in 1970 for NYPD and gained traction from there. None of my AF buddies can confirm the AF security police using anything other then the model 15. Buy the gun and not the story...

The NYPD didn't authorize Model 64's until about 1988. Before then, it was the Model 10 and Ruger Service Six. Colts were offered many years before then. Not sure when they phased out but I'm guessing no more than 1975. The 64 was DAO, because the job switched to DAO revolvers at that time. Mostly because a cop thumbed the hammer on his Model 10 while the barrel was in some unarmed kid's ear and blew his head off. The Service Six remained for a few years but in stainless DAO rather than blued spurred hammer.