Model 67 Opinions

[22lrfan]

I saw a 67 no dash in a local pawn shop today. SN is 18Kxxxx so it should be a 1977 model. Front sight has no red insert. Looking online I see that some no dash ones did and some didn't have the insert. It has the blued rear sight which should be correct. What bugs me is the hammer and trigger. All the ones I looked at online had stainless hammers and triggers. This one has a case hardened hammer and a stainless trigger. Is this possible from the factory or do you think the hammer has been replaced?

 

[chief38]

Most of the S&W stainless steel guns actually did come from the factory with carbon steel triggers and hammers. Some are case hardened and some are flash chromed. Very few actually had stainless as they were a problem for S&W to produce. The stainless were from the early production, then after many issues with them, they switched.

As for the red insert - you are better off using Testor's model paint applied in 3 thin coats with a wooden toothpick.

 

[22lrfan]

I haven't bought it yet. Just took some pictures. I think the price is a little high. I wanted to make sure the hammer is original. It seem to be in pretty good condition but it does have a Hogue monogrip on it. That's not a big issue since I have several sets of K Frame grips that would fit it. I would probably replace the rear sight blade also since it's beat up.

 

[colt_saa]

Stainless hammers and triggers disappeared very early on. Stainless against Stainless had the result of rapid galling.

This meant that the trigger's sear engagement turned to poo very rapidly.

Initially the stainless hammers and triggers were replaced with color case hardened just to keep production flowing. Eventually, to keep up the stainless appearance, hammers and triggers were flash chromed. I do not know how long it took Smith & Wesson to get to this cosmetic change

Stainless guns have gone back and forth between the two finishes of forged parts ever since

So YES, it is quite possibly the original trigger and hammer. It would be an accident and not a planned variation. Kind of like mismarked frames or a 4" Model 27 with a Patridge front sight

BTW, I LOVE the Combat Masterpiece no matter if it is Blue, Nickel, Stainless or Color Case Hardened.

 

[22lrfan]

I always thought the hammers and triggers were stainless. So on this one the hammer is case hardened and the trigger is flash chromed. I've never seen one with a combination like this. All I've seen have both case hardened or both chromed.

 

[Venom6]

I bought a 67 in 1975 in Ohio preparatory to moving to Oregon to join the Portland Police Bureau. IIRC the hammer and trigger were "silver," so probably flash chromed. The front sight most definitely had a red ramp. The reason I remember so clearly is that on a felony traffic stop I inadvertently knocked the red plastic out on the inside of the patrol car window frame. Called S&W. They patiently explained that the insert was an integral part of the blade, which was an integral part of the ramp, which was an integral part of the barrel. Ergo, they would need to rebarrel the gun. Yes, true or not that is what I was told. So I bought a yellow tooth brush and painstakingly whittled a replacement insert. And that color works so well, providing contrast in almost all light and environmental conditions, that in the subsequent 48 years almost all my pistol front sights bear bright yellow fingernail polish.

 

[Inland7-45]

Early stainless guns

Stainless hammers and triggers disappeared very early on. Stainless against Stainless had the result of rapid galling.

This meant that the trigger's sear engagement turned to poo very rapidly.

Initially the stainless hammers and triggers were replaced with color case hardened just to keep production flowing. Eventually, to keep up the stainless appearance, hammers and triggers were flash chromed. I do not know how long it took Smith & Wesson to get to this cosmetic change

Stainless guns have gone back and forth between the two finishes of forged parts ever since

So YES, it is quite possibly the original trigger and hammer

BTW, I LOVE the Combat Masterpiece no matter if it is Blue, Nickel, Stainless or Color Case Hardened.

I believe that the only stainless S&W that had the standard case hardened carbon steel hammers and triggers was the model 60.
A friend of mine bought a new model 60 when they first came out.
This gun had the case hardened hammer and trigger.

By the time the next stainless models where introduced in the early 70s the new models started out with flash chromed hammers and triggers.

I am also a fan of the Combat Masterpiece. I have a model 18-3 and my .38 is an early Model 67.

Here is a picture of my Stainless Combat Masterpiece along side of my model 64.

 

[CajunBass]

I had to check. My 67-1 has flash chromed, and a red insert. My 15-2 has case hardened and no insert. I put a base coat of white nail polish followed by a coat of orange nail polish on that one. I've never needed more than one coat of that orange stuff. It is BRIGHT. I think I paid a $1.00 each for the two bottles of nail polish, and I'm pretty sure they'll last me the rest of my life.

I like the Combat Masterpiece myself.

 

[colt_saa]

I believe that the only stainless S&W that had the standard case hardened carbon steel hammers and triggers was the model 60.
A friend of mine bought a new model 60 when they first came out.
This gun had the case hardened hammer and trigger.

By the time the next stainless models where introduced in the early 70s the new models started out with flash chromed hammers and triggers.

If your comment is limited to a specific range of years it might be correct.

The Model 60 came out in 1965 and debuted with a stainless hammer and trigger.

Stainless Smith & Wesson revolvers have been built across more than Half a Century

Many different stainless models were shipped with case colored hammers and triggers

I personally own 610s, 617, 625s, 627s, 629s, 649s, 657s and probably others that I can not recall, but they all shipped from the Factory with case colored hammers and triggers

 

[stansdds]

Hogue stocks, flash chromed trigger, and color case hardened hammer, sounds like some parts swapping on this one. I seriously doubt it left the factory with mismatched finishes on the hammer and trigger.

 

[chief38]

While there have been three different types of hammer and trigger finishes over the years, I too have never seen a gun leave the Factory with hammer of one type and the trigger of a different type. Whatever they are, they are normally matched. Not to say the factory is incapable of making a mistake and mismatching a set - but that has to be super rare I'd think.

 

[Pantherclass2004]

Whether the parts are factory original or not, if its a good price, buy it….. great gun

 

[glenwolde]

I'm going to say somebody wanted a wider semi-target spur on their hammer and swapped it out. Should not be difficult or expensive to find a correct replacement. My 66 has the original narrow hammer but a case-hardened .500 target trigger. Because that's what I wanted. I should have put the .500 target hammer on it too but I didn't. I might still, just for looks.

I thought about really confusing the future gun-world and having them both flash-chromed if I go ahead with the target hammer. Future "rare" gun. Ever see a 66 with "stainless" .500 target hammer and trigger and a DX front sight (which I also installed)? BWAHAHAHAHA *snicker*.

Seriously, people swap hammer and triggers all the time for a wide variety of reasons.

 

[chief38]

Whether the parts are factory original or not, if its a good price, buy it….. great gun

My thinking is pretty much the opposite. Once the parts are changed and someone monkeyed with it - to me it's a pass. Don't want to have to post regrets here. There are PLENTY of fish in the sea!

Too often, there are posts right here on this forum by people who thought they were getting a "bargain". That so called bargain shortly turns into a nightmare and winds up costing more than a better gun in good condition and still original.

My feeling is that most who monkey with Revolvers know little about them (just enough to be dangerous) and do more harm than good. Anyway, to each his own.

 

[stansdds]

If the price was right and it is 100% mechanically sound and correct, I would not let a parts swap kill the deal.

 

[22lrfan]

I'll think I'll let it sit there a while. They've got it priced at $499. I've dealt with this shop many times. When they put one out they won't budge on the price for the first 5 days. After that they will drop it for the amount of the sales tax (7%). After 30 days you can make an offer. It's a chain and the owner sets the prices. The employees have no ability to adjust the price in the computer.