New to Forum and have a Model 64 question

sdolsay

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Hello I am new to the forum and have owned multiple handguns during my life and have decided to focus on old S&W revolvers for the most part. My local gun shop had a model 64 come in used it has a pinned and tapered barrel. Would I be correct to think it would be manufactured in the early 70's?

Thanks in advance for any info!
 
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Thanks for the info Bob and Bob! Was there a year when they went to the fatter barrel or were both the tapered and fatter barrel available all the way to 1982?
 
Was there a year when they went to the fatter barrel or were both the tapered and fatter barrel available all the way to 1982?
So, the first thing for you to understand is the Model 64 was the stainless steel version of the venerable Model 10 .38 Military & Police revolver.

That is important because the numbering system and the barrel configuration on the Model 64 mimiced the pattern of the Model 10. For both models, the tapered and heavy barrel versions were produced side by side over the years. The two variations were identified by dash numbers.

With the Model 64, the initial introduction in 1970 was tapered barrel only. The heavy barrel was introduced two years later and initially was only chambered for the .357 Magnum (special order for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol). Soon, however, the Model 64-1 became the heavy barrel variant of the Model 64.

In 1977, the tapered barrel variant became the Model 64-2 and the heavy barrel variant became the Model 64-3. In 1988, the two became the 64-4 and 64-5, respectively. In 1991, the tapered barrel variant was dropped from the lineup.

All of the above is a true account of the evolution of the Model 64 .38 M&P Stainless. However, with S&W there are exceptions to nearly every rule. The fact is there are some no-dash Model 64 revolvers that have the 4" heavy barrel. Since the frames were slightly different, that should not be the case, but they do exist. They seem to have showed up in the market in around 1974. Somewhere around that same time period, the original 64-1 .357 became the Model 65. The book says those came out in 1972, but I don't believe that is correct. In '72, they were marked as Model 64-1, if I recall correctly.

The bottom line is this: there is seldom anything simple about S&W history. :rolleyes:
 
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As for this:

I . . . have decided to focus on old S&W revolvers for the most part.

Excuse me, but you should watch how you use that word, "old." :p

You go on to talk about acquiring a Model 64, which model was not available until 1970. Many of us had been to the wars and back by that time (or were still running around the jungle in one). We might not think kindly of someone calling a gun from that era "old."

These two are old (they left the factory in March, 1904 and April, 1908, left to right):
jp-ak-albums-k-frame-target-revolvers-picture11566-two-k-frame-targets-right.jpg
 
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Good information above. You didn't mention if the model 64 you saw had a 2 or 4" barrel; the 4" tapered barrel was only made from 1970 to '73, but the 2" was made (usually in even dash numbers, like 64-2, 4, etc.) until near the end of production.

In my observations pinned 2" barrel model 64s tend to be -2s, and the 2" model 64 with no extra numbers is less common. Welcome to the addiction! :)
 
JP, point taken, my wife was born in 1970 and I do not call her old, for obvious reasons! I think vintage would be a better moniker for these firearms. I want to thank you for taking the time to post all that great information, that was very helpful. I did buy the revolver. Here are a couple of pictures.
 

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murphydog, I posted 2 pictures above, it is a 4 inch tapered no dash revolver. I did end up buying it.

Thanks,
Scott
 
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The Model 64 might be THE quintessential service revolver of the later half of the 20th century.

It is STILL in service with the (very) few LEO & corrections agencies still issuing revolvers of any kind. They are not as sexy or storied as some S&W revolvers, but are as dependable and effective as the very best of them.

A Model 64, from any year, in good shape, is a winner!
 
Hello I am new to the forum and have owned multiple handguns during my life and have decided to focus on old S&W revolvers for the most part. My local gun shop had a model 64 come in used it has a pinned and tapered barrel. Would I be correct to think it would be manufactured in the early 70's?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Welcome from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Consider joining the Smith and Wesson Collectors Association also.
 
Thanks Ikabug, I will look into that...Greetings from North Dakota!

Scott
 
I have a Model 64 (no dash) 2" that I bought new in 1 976. 2" only came in round butt if I am not mistaken.
 
What I have gleaned from all these great posts, and I thank you all, is I think if I say it was manufactured in the early 70's that would be in the ballpark?
 
Usually members looking for the date post most of their serial number. Some serial number ranges are in the SCSW and some members keep "data bases" of serial numbers from the factory historical letters other members post. The letters write the date S&W shipped guns. Most revolvers can be dated fairly close.

At least for Model 10s S&W's name for the tapered barrels was standard barrel. I regret not buying a police surplus 4" standard barrel Model 64 back in the 1990s when a local gun store had them for $160. I bought an early 1950s 4" standard barrel M&P for $140 instead. The store said my M&P was part of a lot of evidence guns that a PD sold them. I wish I'd bought one less automatic so that I could have bought both. Standard barrel Model 64s are among S&W's best looking revolvers.
 
Good info, yep I got this just as a man came back to the store after looking at it, I was already processing my paperwork though. I tend to buy when I see something vintage, kind of the buy it when you see it mentality. Never know who will grab it while your thinking about it!

Here is the serial:
D613XXX

I hope that's enough, I'm not sure if more numbers are needed.
 
K22fan, thank you so much for looking that up for me, I think I got a decent deal for it at $460. It's my first vintage S&W and I am very happy with it!

Thanks again!
 
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