Model 64 Decisions

UncleDuke

UncleDuke

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I have been looking around for one of these to carry, and found 2 I'm interested in. The first one has a pinned barrel, so its older, but does not have the original stocks, and the asking price is around $500.
The second one is an early 1980s ex Air Force example with original grips, and is $60 cheaper.

I like both, but can only get one. I'm kind of leaning toward the pinned one, but after shipping and replacing the stocks, its going to get pricey.
Mechanically, the pinned one has been disassembled and checked by a qualified Smith, and the second one also has been inspected.
Given this choice, which one would be the better choice for me?
 
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I could get a nice holster for the money I would be saving. While we're on this subject, what do some of you guys feed your snubbies?
 
Have you handled and inspected both guns in person? One or the other might be noticeably better in action smoothness, finish, etc. If that is the less expensive one that would make the decision pretty easy.

I am not aware that the USAF ever issued the model 64, but if that can be documented it would easily increase its value over a standard version.

Many advocate the Speer 135 gr Short Barrel + P for 2-3" barreled .38s, a well-proven load when used by the NYPD. Good luck in your decisions.
 
Unfortunately there is no way to handle to either of them, so in that light I will likely make a play for the cheaper one unless there is a convincing argument otherwise.
 
UncleDuke said:
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,
Click to expand...
 
I have no way to contact the gunsmith who inspected these, but the stats on the one I'm looking at are:
Bore and chamber are excellent
DA is smooth and consistent at 11lbs
Hammer travels 15 degrees on all positions after cylinder times into place
SA the hammer travels 35 degrees on all six after cylinder times
SA pull is 5lbs
Cylinder face to forcing cone gap is .005
When trigger is relaxed there is a bit of play, and when depressed in full lockup there is no lateral play.

Also, I have a three day inspection period on this one, the other one does not have this.
 
murphydog said:
I am not aware that the USAF ever issued the model 64, but if that can be documented it would easily increase its value over a standard version.
Click to expand...

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.
 
smithman 10 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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...
 
ken158 said:
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...
Click to expand...

Well, whatever it was, I remember it was shiny! I was there from 70-72. Could have been private purchase maybe?
 
Didn't SAC issue nickel Model 15s to some guards?

I could be wrong on that. But Model 64s in use by the Air Force? Sorry, never heard that one before.
 
Got a buddy who was Air Police (a few years before they started calling it Security Police). He has an old photo of himself with his blued 15. I'll ask him if he ever saw a nickel model while he was in.

I just have this memory in my head of going through the gate, showing my badge and seeing that shiny revolver, and I am thinking of this one SP in particular who we all liked. Could swear he didn't have a blued gun.

Course it doesn't matter. Strange what memories pop up decades down the road.
 
Somewhere here is a photo of a USAF unit (perhaps a ceremonial guard?) with nickel plated Victory Models and faux stag stocks. Perhaps it was one of those pressed into regular service.
 
UncleDuke said:
I could get a nice holster for the money I would be saving. While we're on this subject, what do some of you guys feed your snubbies?
Click to expand...



Speer 135 grain 38 Spl +P's are my go to unless the POA/POI of the revolver favors 158 grain then its BB's LSWCHP or Federal/Winchester +P LSWCHP. For my Model 15 with the adjustable sights, I really like the Barnes 110 grain loads, either BB or Cor-Bon. I wish Federal still made the Nyclad loads though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I questioned the use of the model 64s myself, and the only people who would have been using these IMHO would have been OSI. Personally, I don't care if its ex AF or not because the price is decent, and its what I'm looking for.
 
vipermd said:
UncleDuke said:
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,
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...
 
Get bof' of them, sir - polish one up and use it as a BBQ revolver. Use the other one for carry and practice ... :)
 
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"?
 
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.
 
I seriously doubt any Model 64 was in Air Force service.

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

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smithman 10 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Pretty cool.
 
JayFramer said:
Keep in mind the USAF issued the Model 15 up until 1994 for all gate guards.

Pretty cool.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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