Picked up a 64-5

[smokycity]

Went to the local gun show today and picked up a 64-5, serial number CCC47xx. I was thinking about getting one, since it was what i carried as a duty gun from 1987 until about 1992, before transitioning to 9mm. Anyway, gun needed a cleaning, but otherwise looked good, little use etc. I figure it's a PD trade in. I don't think it's one the J&G guns folks have talked about, since it doesn't have a bobbed hammer and is a SA/DA revolver.

I was surpirsed when I cleaned it to find out it had a round butt under the black rubber grips. The grips are Uncle Mikes brand and don't have any S&W logo. Gun cleaned up nicely and looks like it is fairly unused or abused. No scratches, nice satin finish, mecahnics are tight. I paid $349 for the gun, plus call in and tax. Which brings me to a couple questions:

1. When did Smith start making 4 inch guns with the round butt instead of square?

2. Are the Uncle Mikes grips factory? I looked at the J&G guns on their website and they all have the same grip. I was hoping to put a nice set of larger factory wood target type grips on it.

3. Can anyone tell me if Smith makes a conversion wood grip to make the gun feel like a square butt like the Uncle Mikes do?

4. I am guessing the gun was made in the late 1990's, am I in the ball park?

5. Did I get a decent deal on the price? It seemed like most everything else for sale today was price much higher, in the $475-575 range (revolvers overall, not just Model-64's). NIB guns were even more.

 

[robotoid]

I can't answer all your questions, but any SS S&W for under $400 is doing good in my book. I'm not sure when S&W switched to RB for the 4" guns, but my 4" 65-5 had one too, with a grooved backstrap which I thought was a feature only for adjustable sighted guns. Mines prefixed CBE****. I'm thinking they were mid-late 90's production, mine still has forged/CCH trigger and hammer. I just had the barrel swapped out for a 3" Ladysmith barrel.

 

[sal1911a1]

64

When I went to the NYPD academy in 88 you had a choice between square and round butt for a four incher smith.

Good point I don't remember seeing too many four inch round butts in gun shops. 3" all were round butt.

On one of my range beaters, 64 NY-1 with a 3" barrel which I had as a second gun and off duty has a round butt, I did put on the uncle mikes grips round to square conversion

I like the square butt uncle mikes grips the best. and it does work very well with a 3 or 4 incher.

the model 64 is a great gun I have a few with 4 or 3" barrels most are NY-1
That I purchased at the NYPD equipment section or from fellow MOS.

 

[smokycity]

I can't answer all your questions, but any SS S&W for under $400 is doing good in my book. I'm not sure when S&W switched to RB for the 4" guns, but my 4" 65-5 had one too, with a grooved backstrap which I thought was a feature only for adjustable sighted guns. Mines prefixed CBE****. I'm thinking they were mid-late 90's production, mine still has forged/CCH trigger and hammer. I just had the barrel swapped out for a 3" Ladysmith barrel.

That looks nice. How hard was it to get the barrel swapped out for the 3 inch? Did you have it done locally or send it back to S&W?