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

Flint Ridge

Flint Ridge

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Looking for something else to add to the stable and want to keep it to pinned barrels and SS. Though some of the old blued K-22's are tempting.

What should I know about these models? Good/bad, barrel lengths available, looks like they started around '77 and still made today? But w/IL and not pinned (pass).

What should I be looking for in this model?

Thanks Gentlemen.
 
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Yes, they were the first stainless steel S&W .22's. The original Model 63's had 4 inch barrels and square butts. 2 inchers came along later, with round butts. There were apparently 5 and 6 inchers made way back then, but these are pretty rare, possibly prototypes; I have never seen even photos of them. I don't know if the first 2 inchers had pinned barrels; I don't think so.
 
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Interesting, would love to luck into a 5" or 6". But a 4" would work.

I've looked at plenty of the K22's, model 16 and 17 - just don't know them enough yet to take that plunge.
 
I have a 4" 63-3; a wonderful gun. Generally they aren't considered as accurate as the K22s, but I sometimes wonder if that can't be attributed at least partially to the fact that small guns are just more difficult to shoot accurately.

Mine has a great trigger in both SA and DA. I bought target grips for mine and that helps a great deal, since the magnas they come with are tiny and add to the difficulty mentioned above.

They are good guns to teach others to shoot with, particularly ladies and children; i.e. people with smail hands. I use mine to review fundamentals of defensive shooting; it is like shooting my carry gun, which is also small. After a session with the 63, I practice again with the carry gun.

Hope some of this is helpful to you.
Andy
 
Go for a 4" 63. Could be $600+ cheaper (than the 1947 K-22 I want!).
7TKULTF.jpg

63 no dash, shipped April '81 (30th Birthday!) Presentation (target sized) Stocks. P&R Found at a local Scottsdale gun store for $419 O.T.D. in January '11. It can be done.
 
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Driheat said:
Go for a 4" 63. Could be $600+ cheaper (than the 1947 K-22 I want!).
fixed63.jpg

63 no dash, shipped April '81 (30th Birthday!) Presentation (target sized) Stocks. P&R Found at a local Scottsdale gun store for $419 O.T.D. in January '11. It can be done.
Click to expand...

Wow! OK that pretty much settles it for me. Something new to look for. And yes to help The Bride get used to the world of shooting & revolvers, then up to the 66-1, hopefully.
 
My 63 no dash came with number matching Magna's, but I put a set of nice Targets on, and it's much more comfortable to shoot, and I think looks great......


141jbth.jpg
 
Looks like we need a Model 63 thread! ;)

Beautiful guns, guys :)

I've only got the non-P&R 2"-er, but I will have a nice 4"-er one day sooner than later!
 
What is the function of the second pin under the rear sight?

Wonder how long it will take me to find one and to get the $$$ to do it.
 
snowman said:
Flint: 22s have frame-mounted firing pins, or strikers; these require a horizontal retaining pin to hold them in the frame.

Andy
Click to expand...

Yep, Thanks Andy - I should have known that as I did note the lack of a firing pin on some pictures I had seen. All the K-22's I've seen at shows had the silly zip-ties around everything.

The hunt is on!

Any idea as to how many are out there with the Pinned Barrels?
 
I have carried my 63 in the field for 25 years everywhere from Alabama to Alaska and it has nver failed me. No problem shooting 1" groups at10 yards which has put a lot of small game in the camp pot.

It is one of 2 guns I own that I would never get rid of; the other is my Python!
 
I picked up a model 63 no dash and it will never leave my possession. Great little 22. I also put a set of target grips on it and I now shoot it much better.
 
I have my 4" model 63, with rubber grips on it. This is one gun I will never sell. I have a model 622, as well, and love it too.
 
redlevel said:
... 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.
Click to expand...

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

Frailer said:
It may not be pinned, but they're all recessed. ;)
Click to expand...
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.
 

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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 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. :D
 
raylan007 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Brian in Oregon said:
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.
Click to expand...

1. Great minds think alike :).

2. It's kind of like "The Gift of the Magi", except with weapons ;) :).
 
redlevel said:
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.
DSC02350.jpg

DSC02348.jpg
Click to expand...

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