Need info Model 65-5, 3" barrel, RB, factory bobbed, DAO

[NCBeagle]

I picked up this Model 65-5 with a 3" barrel and apparently factory bobbed hammer. Internals are DAO as well.It has a round butt. Serial number is BNCXXXX (suggests 1993 or so ship). I have no box or papers. It is in EXCELLENT condition. It may be unfired since factory but not sure. Regardless, I am going to fire it and carry it a lot.

Can anyone tell me more about this? Cannot find anything matching in the Catalog. There is reference to a run of 10 DAO in 1998, but I believe that those are square butt. Also, serial number on mine suggests 1993 or so. **EDIT - This revolver had been in a private collection for quite a few years before coming to me. I am going to try to back track to that guy to learn more.

 

[Stopsign32v]

HELL of a find! I love it! Congrats man. If you ever decide to pass it on remember me.

Beautiful gun to carry. Boy...

 

[BUFF]

Most of the S&W K frame revolvers that are DAO were law enforcement guns, some ordered that way and some converted by department armorers or contracted gunsmiths. A nice feature of stainless steel guns is that they clean up so nicely.

Your finish, from the photos, doesn't look like the brush finish I usually see on stock revolvers, maybe someone talented cleaned it up, maybe vapor honed or soda blasted. Either way, that's a handsome revolver you have and all of the -65's are popular because they are so useful.

 

[jrs70]

In my experience a lot of old cop SS gun finish's are cleaned up so they can sell them for more money.

 

[NCBeagle]

Your finish, from the photos, doesn't look like the brush finish I usually see on stock revolvers, maybe someone talented cleaned it up, maybe vapor honed or soda blasted.

Perhaps it is the picture quality, but the stainless finish on this revolver looks no different to me than any of my other stainless S&W revolvers of similar vintage (late 80s- mid-90s). I just took it up to the safe for comparison. Does not appear to have been "cleaned up" by my observation. That said, I could be wrong and appreciate your thoughts.

I do know that this gun had been in a private collection for a long time before coming to me. The most recent prior owner is unlikely to have used it.

 

[NCBeagle]

In my experience a lot of old cop SS gun finish's are cleaned up so they can sell them for more money.

Well, didn't work in this case. I paid so little for this gun that I feel guilty (sort of guilty). As mentioned above, I don't think that this one has been cleaned up.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I like DAO revolvers, and that is very nice.

What makes you think it is a factory bob job?

If anything, I would tend to think the original hammer was replaced with the type used on the NY-1 revolvers.

I agree with some of the others. The telltale sign is the cylinder face, and I do not see the faint rings around the three charge holes you usually see in revolvers of that vintage if they have not been fired since leaving the factory. That does not necessarily mean it was shot and then cleaned to eliminate the evidence. It simply means that I do not see the telltale rings. I suppose the owner may have cleaned those off, never shooting the revolver otherwise. Who knows.

Whatever the story, it looks in good shape.

 

[NCBeagle]

I like DAO revolvers, and that is very nice.

What makes you think it is a factory bob job?

If anything, I would tend to think the original hammer was replaced with the type used on the NY-1 revolvers.

You are right...regarding the hammer, I was not under the impression that it was a standard hammer subsequently bobbed at the factory. Rather, it appears to have a hammer that never had a spur...like the NY-1. I guess it would not be "bobbed" it it never had a spur cut off. Poor phrasing on my part. Thanks.

You are also correct...close inspection reveals no burn rings around any of the holes.

I am actually less concerned with whether it has ever been fired. I am going to shoot it and carry it occasionally. Just want to know more about it's origin. Seems that most think it was a 3" subsequently modified (hammer) and then cleaned up. I'm not seeing that...other than no burn rings around every other cylinder hole. Additionally, I bought it for less than a a ragged 4" 65.

I do appreciate everyone's thoughts.

 

[BUFF]

A nice gun is still a nice gun. It sounds like you got full value for your money. Usually, there are plenty of signs of high usage with Magnum revolvers that are shot a lot with Magnum ammo. Most law enforcement department-issued guns may be carried a lot but the officers to whom they are issued tend not to shoot them much outside of required training and qualification. If the officers are required to shoot a lot, with real ammo, the guns usually show enough wear that a good cleanup can't hide the mileage. From your photos, that gun doesn't look like it was shot a lot, cleaned up finish or not.