Model 65-4 Rehab

[John Patrick]

I just brought home a project Model 65-4 in need of some TLC. It's not in as bad shape as the seller photos led me to believe, on the other hand, my before photos don't show well the relatively minor but extensive staining or under butt corrosion.

I think this M65 will end a 3" and maybe a round butt, but for now a good deep clean will have to do.

Below are before photos, which, as mentioned, don't show the extent of the minor issues.

 

[John Patrick]

Below are photos after about a half hour of Pennzoil and bronze wool, copper and nylon brushes. No stripping yet, just barrel, charge hole plus exterior.

The after photos don't do Justice to the general presentation. Before = that revolver needs TLC! After = a nice used revolver - except the grip frame corrosion left overs.

I might try some SS wool on the remaining stain on the butt, or some Flitz. Suggestions appreciated!

 

[heeter3]

That 65 looks like it's in good hands now John Patrick.Im sure it and you will throughly enjoy its eventual transformation.Thanks for sharing your vision.

 

[PatriotX]

You may wish to try a copper brush, or some of the lead-away cloth on the butt staining.

The cloth is mildly abrasive, so will eventually leave a shiny spot if used too much.

I have had decent luck using short cut lengths of stranded copper wire as a small 'brush' on pitting, using oil and a circular motion.

Good luck! Look forward to final results.

 

[John Patrick]

That 65 looks like it's in good hands now John Patrick.Im sure it and you will throughly enjoy its eventual transformation.Thanks for sharing your vision.

Thanks, but under my "A man's got to know his limitations" policy, this will be the first revolver on which I try to do more than a basic cleaning! But my reasonable priced, reasonable turn around revolver smith moved away with his .mil wife. That's why I bought a SS "beater" to learn on. Fortunately or unfortunately, the revolver isn't the beater I thought it might be.

I hope to do some minor polishing to smooth things up, but I'll leave the barrel and butt work to someone who knows what they're doing.

I forgot to take initial interior photos and did a wipe down, but the interior doesn't look too bad. Yoke and cylinder needed powder residue cleaned out, but no corrosion. Photos below.

 

[John Patrick]

A little varnished lube on the frame and various parts, but there was still liquid but dirty lube in there too.

Definitely not a beater, just well used and decently maintained.

I am somewhat dismayed by the circular machining marks internally, some of which show use polishing. I'm sure some hand polishing will smooth up the action.

Photo is post cleaning.

 

[PatriotX]

Check out the circular machining marks on this 681:



It cleaned up nicely, and is a shooter.

 

[John Patrick]

Check out the circular machining marks on this 681:



It cleaned up nicely, and is a shooter.

Ouch!

Mine's not that bad.

***, S&W?

 

[John Patrick]

After 10 minutes with a metal specific polishing cloth found at the local hardware store.

Cloth:

 

[GerSan69]

There is nothing wrong with the interior of that gun. There is simply no need for it to be any more 'refined' than that. Not all of it is a surface that interacts with another part.

 

[John Patrick]

There is nothing wrong with the interior of that gun. There is simply no need for it to be any more 'refined' than that. Not all of it is a surface that interacts with another part.

A photo taken at a different angle would reveal machining marks with the high spots polished by metal on metal contact. I'll take a photo showing that when the sun is up.

ETA: PatriotX's 681, shown in his photo above, also reveals machining marks polished by metal on metal contact.

 

[John Patrick]

There is nothing wrong with the interior of that gun. There is simply no need for it to be any more 'refined' than that. Not all of it is a surface that interacts with another part.

Well, it's cloudy out, but I still got a photo of the machining marks polished by metal on metal contact.

If I do a little polishing on the matching marks where there is evidence of metal on metal wear, it should smooth up the action, right?

This is the first revolver I've fully stripped, so advice and suggestions appreciated.

Edit: Eh, the photo doesn't show the wear well, but you can see some in the photo. There are four primary areas where there is obvious metal on metal wear with the two most significant involving the hammer and trigger and two where the tops of the machining marks are worn. Those two are about half way between the trigger and hammer wear and a little for and aft of each other.

 

[wproct]

You have done a good job with your photos. However, I would do nothing further with your revolver as I don't see anything that would be worth trying to improve. If it were mine I would leave it as is.

 

[John Patrick]

You have done a good job with your photos. However, I would do nothing further with your revolver as I don't see anything that would be worth trying to improve. If it were mine I would leave it as is.

Thanks for your advice.

There have been times when I should have left well enough alone.

 

[serger]

About the only thing I would do is polish the bottom and left side
of the rebound slide along with the tube for it's spring. Then get
a set of rebound springs from Wolff Part Number 16660 and see
which weight you like best. In my case I like the 14 pounders.

https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH & WESSON/K, L, & N FRAME/cID3/mID58/dID264

 

[John Patrick]

I did the minor polishing serger suggested and some minor polishing of the two most obvious wear spots on the frame and reassembled the M65.

I discovered a missing extractor rod spring retention collar, which I think was missing from the start. I believe the gunk in the yoke was keeping the spring in place and working as it should.

The collar is on its way from Numrich.

Other than the collar and rebound spring, which was a royal pita, everything went back together smoothly.

One issue which may be retention collar related, though I don't see how, is that with the ejector rod firmly tightened the cylinder won't open. I have to back it out a couple of turns. Help appreciated!

The action is definitely lighter and smoother, primarily the result of the deep cleaning I'm sure.

I think it looks pretty good with a set of magnas on it. Need to get the collar and extractor rod issues ironed out.

 

[serger]

One of the tricks I learned from Jerry Miculek was to use a
Ball point pen to compress the rebound spring when you
replace it in the revolver. Works great. And is cheaper than
the tool folks peddle.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

Your Model 65 was well worth the rejuvenation. They are a very good duty or carry gun. Looks like yours will now serve for many years to come.

By the way, I carried a Model 65 for several years on the PD until I moved up to a Model 58. I type this thanks to that Model 65.

 

[John Patrick]

One of the tricks I learned from Jerry Miculek was to use a
Ball point pen to compress the rebound spring when you
replace it in the revolver. Works great. And is cheaper than
the tool folks peddle.

After bumbling around for a bit, I watched his video. Thankfully, I followed his guidance and didn't use a screw driver, or the bleeding would have been worse when the pen slipped.

 

[wproct]

Yes, those magna's really makes it pop!

 

[PatriotX]

After bumbling around for a bit, I watched his video. Thankfully, I followed his guidance and didn't use a screw driver, or the bleeding would have been worse when the pen slipped.

To be fair, the first time I tried the pen trick it broke and I gouged the knuckles of the pen hand on sharp edges of frame.

Yes, those magna's really makes it pop!

They do, and it looks great. Nicely done.

 

[John Patrick]

FWIW, I ordered and received a new extractor spring retention cup from Numrich. Installing it fixed all issues. The revolver works great now.

 

[Bald1]

Gun looks great. Do u think it was a police trade in? I had a very similar "clean up, tune up" project on a 64-5 DOA. I'm considering a 65-4 police trade in purchase now, which I'm sure will involve same process again. Nice thing about a stainless revolver is u can always polish them up pretty good at the kitchen table. Now go shoot that thing and give accuracy report.

 

[Targets Guy]

Great job. I have a Model 65-8 that shipped 6/2005.



got rid of the rubber immediately



shoots pretty good

 

[John Patrick]

Gun looks great. Do u think it was a police trade in? I had a very similar "clean up, tune up" project on a 64-5 DOA. I'm considering a 65-4 police trade in purchase now, which I'm sure will involve same process again. Nice thing about a stainless revolver is u can always polish them up pretty good at the kitchen table. Now go shoot that thing and give accuracy report.

As I recall, it was advertised as a police trade in.

Just bought another 65 advertised as a police trade in and got a look at it while doing paperwork. Seven day wait in MD, so I can pick it up Wednesday.

The second one is in better cosmetic shape but is dirtier. Timing is off just a bit but consistently on all cylinders. My post in our own S&W Gunsmith told me the fix is an oversized cylinder stop and I have one in hand now thanks to Numrich.

One of my two is going to end up a 3" RB.

Did you know Guns.com has police trade in M65s on sale now for $439? M64s for $395.

 

[John Patrick]

Btw, guns.com has police trade in M65s for sale at $439. M64s for $395.

Oops. Well, it's a good deal so mentioning it twice ain't all bad.

 

[Old Corp]

Picked up a M65 4" some years back when they were still being dumped onto the market and sold pretty cheap due to the switch to autos.
It shows just a very little 'work gun' use and obviously not shot much.

But - it is unique in one outstanding aspect. I've got far more .38/.357 revolvers than anyone would ever need - but this particular M65 shoots like it's a tuned match gun. It will easily hang with a M14 6" with any .38 ammo chosen, and usually beat it from shooting off a sandbag rest.
Very strange - but neat.

 

[ladder13]

Great job rehabbing that 65. I love FS revolvers.

 

[Justin T]

Nice job on your Model 65. Here is a DAO Model 64 I found a couple years ago. The Kuhnhausen book on K-frame smiths is very, very helpful.

First Post, First S&W, Great Deal!