Was the Model 63, the first S&W stainless .22?

[M29since14]

... I prefer the classic look of the magnas and a tyler t-grip. Especially when the whole package is completed with a Lobo carved holster.

The first thing I did with my gun was put the target stocks on it but after a while I came to the same conclusion. My 63 and 651 both wear their factory magnas. The J-frame .22s are easy enough to handle without big stocks. They are not like .38s that fly around in your hand when they go off, but as you said, JMHO. Very nice looking holster.

 

[raylan007]

Example of M63 N/D 4" non pinned with recessed barrel

It may not be pinned, but they're all recessed.

I waited a long time to find this one to come along. I thought the cocobola grips were after market but after seeing this post I am wondering if the grips are stock. They do seem rather large for the gun. I am going to refinish them either way. I also found a nice pair of Herrett's Shooting Stars with the cross checkering that I have yet to receive and look forward to trying on this revolver.
The first 2 photos are before I refurbished the SS. The last 3 are with a couple of coats of Ren Wax.
P.S. Not being pinned was a non issue for me.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

I bought my wife a 4" Model 63 for our first Christmas. I had it on layaway at the local gun shop and would go in every paycheck to put money on it.

Unknown to me, she put a Model 18 on layaway for me at the same gun shop.

The dealer later told us they'd get a good laugh because every payday the two of us would go in to pay, missing each other by a few minutes.

 

[M29since14]

That's a neat story, Brian. My 63 came to me as a Christmas gift too. The giver is long gone, but the gun remains.

63s are neat little guns. I never thought of them as being the first stainless S&W .22 but now that the OP brings that up, I do recall the demand for them at the time. They were as hard to get as the Model 60s and Model 66s were in their hey-days. It was fun time back then for us revolver-hacks with the "new" products coming along that now seem pretty mundane. But it was fun nevertheless, even if lack of supply was sometimes a bit frustrating.

 

[murphydog]

I waited a long time to find this one to come along. I thought the cocobola grips were after market but after seeing this post I am wondering if the grips are stock. They do seem rather large for the gun. I am going to refinish them either way. I also found a nice pair of Herrett's Shooting Stars with the cross checkering that I have yet to receive and look forward to trying on this revolver.
The first 2 photos are before I refurbished the SS. The last 3 are with a couple of coats of Ren Wax.
P.S. Not being pinned was a non issue for me.

These are factory universal fit (both square and round butt) Target stocks, which were available in both smooth and checkered versions. They were sold as replacement stocks only as far as I have seen.

 

[murphydog]

I bought my wife a 4" Model 63 for our first Christmas. I had it on layaway at the local gun shop and would go in every paycheck to put money on it.

Unknown to me, she put a Model 18 on layaway for me at the same gun shop.

The dealer later told us they'd get a good laugh because every payday the two of us would go in to pay, missing each other by a few minutes.

1. Great minds think alike .

2. It's kind of like "The Gift of the Magi", except with weapons .

 

[billwill]

It is a matter of personal preference, but I think anything other than magnas make a j-frame too bulky. I prefer the classic look of the magnas and a tyler t-grip. Especially when the whole package is completed with a Lobo carved holster.

Good looking holster. Who made that one?.....OK saw it Lobo. If you don't mind, what price range
was that one in?

 

[redlevel]

Good looking holster. Who made that one?.....OK saw it Lobo. If you don't mind, what price range
was that one in?

Here you go . . . .

Lobo Gun Leather - The Classic Tom Threepersons style holster

 

[mrrick]

I foolishly traded my 63, and then spent many years looking
for a replacement.
Did it with a model 34, which, as a blue gun, I prefer.

You might consider a 34, 17 or 18 if you can find them.

A 6 inch 17 would be and was my first choice for my
first .22lr revolver.
6 shot like a "six shooter" should be.

 

[Lew Archer]

It is a matter of personal preference, but I think anything other than magnas make a j-frame too bulky. I prefer the classic look of the magnas and a tyler t-grip. Especially when the whole package is completed with a Lobo carved holster.

Beautiful rig! Great gun!

 

[Lew Archer]

I bought my wife a 4" Model 63 for our first Christmas. I had it on layaway at the local gun shop and would go in every paycheck to put money on it.

Unknown to me, she put a Model 18 on layaway for me at the same gun shop.

The dealer later told us they'd get a good laugh because every payday the two of us would go in to pay, missing each other by a few minutes.

That's a love story!

 

[Hellraiser]

Back in the early '80's... my woman purchased five raffle tickets in my name to assist the volunteer fire department. It was for a Colt MK III Trooper in .357. However, unbeknownst to me... she slipped up... and accidentally put her name on the first raffle ticket before puttin' my name on the rest of 'em.. A couple of weeks later, I get a call telling me that my woman won the handgun... I corrected the caller... and told him that he really meant me. He corrected me... and said that he really meant her. Dang.

Well... (she had previously shot my Model 66)... and didn't want no part of a .357. So... I swapped the Trooper... for the 63 in the pic below. That's what she wanted... and that's what she got... and still has it.

 

[wundudnee]

I have large hands and put this set of Badger grips on my 63. It really works for me.

 

[SuperMan]

Have to concur with the majority here... I have many .22 handguns but for what most .22s are used for the 63 is just about perfect. I have two of the no- guns. The first one I purchased simply has the best sights of any 63 I have ever seen...only wish I could find out who did the work.

The red ramp front was replaced with a Patridge with a white dot. The rear blade has two white dots...have never seen another like it. A few years ago I also added a 651 .22 Magnum cylinder...





This is my second 63...I got it very cheap from a dealer I know because after he bought the gun a customer was going to buy it, but when they took the grips off it was found that someone had done a butcher job converting the gun from square butt to round...but the target grips hide everything...



Bob

 

[Green Frog]

The Model 63 comes and goes from my "short list" but it would be hard to turn one down if it became available any time! Even with a K-22 in hand, there's just something about a handy, durable little J-frame 22 that seems to speak to me. While historically the Model 60 predates the 63, the little 22 will always have a special place in S&W history.

Froggie

 

[Messer]

To add to the Model 63 porn - here is my factory engraved 63, Sambar Stag grips...

I also have it's cousin, the 651 - factory target grips...

Bob S.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I bought my 63 no dash back in 1982. It was my first gun purchased post law school. I paid $212 OTD for it. I was the first owner. The magnas were stamped from the factory wit the serial number but it was one off. On the inside of the factory magnas, there was/is a pencil mark from the factory crossing out the incorrect last number with the correct number penciled in! Must have been a Monday morning run. It will be the last gun I get rid of. (Actually the LAST gun I'll get rid of is my father's Ruger .22 pistol made in 1952).
Oh and currently it wears a pair of chgeckered targets which make all the difference in the world and is carried in a left handed basket weave El Paso Three Persons holster.

 

[Rule 303]

I bought each of my nine Grandchildren a Model 63 or a 34 four inch gun to learn to shoot a revolver with. Paid $275.00 for my first one and $350.00 for my last one. This was back in the 1990s and 2000s. Did seem to be much intrest in those guns back then.

Rule 303.

 

[JJman]

Beautiful 63s. Please keep the pics coming guys

 

[MrPete01]

I have a 63 with 2 inch barrel but I don't know how to put a picture of it in this message.