Model 65-5 w/shrouded ejector rod

[SouthNarc]

Good morning gents. I’m trying to gather some information on a revolver in my collection. I bought it a couple of years ago on GB for a good price. It’s a bright stainless 65-5 that has a shrouded ejector rod but is not marked “Ladysmith”. I haven’t seen another one in all of my googling and I’m wondering if indeed this was a factory option or if someone polished off the LS designation. All of the stamping seems sharp so I don’t think that’s the case but my eyes aren’t as sharp as they used to be so I could be wrong. Was this a factory offering and if so is this gun fairly uncommon?

Thanks so much for any help.

 

[sprscientist]

I'd bet it is a Ladysmith 65-5 that has been polished so as to remove the Ladysmith logo. Nice Spegels on it btw.

 

[murphydog]

Agree, either a bright polished 65LS, or a bright polished 65-5 with an added LS barrel. A letter of authenticity would tell you for certain but it may not be worth it to find out.

 

[SouthNarc]

Nice Spegels on it btw.

Thank you sir!

 

[wood714]

I had 2 of them. I traded the top one to a forum member, and polished the other. Not a professional polish like yours, just a rag and some mothers polish...had to use sand paper to get the Lady Smith off.

I picked the bottom one to polish due to it already having a odd light stamp on the side. Figured if I was going to ruin the value of it, I'd use that one.

Light stamp.

 

[CH4]

Beautiful lady ya got there! It came from the factory with a matte finish and "Lady Smith" laser etched on the right side below the cylinder window. Someone polished her and removed the "Lady Smith" moniker.

Nice Spegel’s!

I am fortunate to have a 65-5 LS

 

[old bear]

These photos are what a factory M65-5 should look like. I've owned two (2) OF them. In my HOP they are Very over rated, and I got rid of them quickly. I found them to feel bulky and heavy. As they weigh with in 1/2 OZ. OF MY beloved 2 1/2" M-19/66's I assume this has to do with balance issues.
To try and answer your question, I would assume some one did a good job of putting a high polish on yours.

 

[SouthNarc]

If this is indeed not factory work, whoever did the polishing did an exceptional job. The stamping are super crisp and there’s no observable trace of the “Ladysmith” logo.

 

[SouthNarc]

Anything “tell-tale” that a more experienced eye may be seeing?

 

[Pizza Bob]

I have a 65-5 Ladysmith and in my research, at the time of acquisition, I recall reading somewhere that there were two 65-5 models that came with an ejector rod shroud - the Ladysmith and I can't remember the name of the second one but something "hunter" comes to mind.

Given the degree of polishing on yours, I'd have to side with those that feel it is a LS with the logo polished off. Somebody on here must know what the other shrouded 65 was - it was probably here that I got that bit of information.

Mine is also missing the LS logo. It was customized by Mike LaRocca out of Worcester, MA, formerly of Pachmayr Gun Works.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[CA Escapee]

Anything “tell-tale” that a more experienced eye may be seeing?

Polished screw head?

 

[sprscientist]

I don't mind the Ladysmith logo or the bead blasted finish at all. And it is one of the very best versions of the 3" K frame.

 

[SAFireman]

You can call the S&W customer service line with the serial number, they can give you the product code. That will tell you what it was produced as originally.

There was also a more rare version IIRC The 'Hunter'.

 

[mmck]

You can go to the thread in the link below. It contains the letter for my 65-5 Hunter Smith. There were 422 made with serial number starting with "BRA".

65-5 Hunter Smith 3" **Letter added 9/1/17**

 

[Bald1]

OPs gun has different finish on trigger and hammer compared to Hunter model