Well, I finally got a gun from my agency

[MelvinWalker]

As some know, I retired with 20 years as a Captain from Tennessee Department of Correction. I then went county with the same retirement system before moving here.

We used mainly model 64's, a few 67's and some older Model 10's... For years, there has been discussion about trading all revolvers in for Glocks and SiG's, so they finally did. I have been waiting for years for the agency to do this to be able to get a 64 or 67 from my former agency.

I just happened to be perusing Gunbroker yesterday and just happened to see this one for sale and my heart skipped a beat. I immediately talked to the seller/dealer and he told me that bought all of the S&W's he could from the wholesaler when the State traded them in a few months ago. This one is from RMSI, which is Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, (Tennessee's Death Row). Having been on the statewide Tactical squad, I have been to that facility many, many times. I have probably been a few feet from this very gun several times.

It is a 67-2, made just a few years before I started with the agency. Engraved on the side with the institution and rack number. I would imagine this gun has been an inmate transport gun, or tower or mobile patrol gun, because most issued and range guns were fixed sight models.

Anyway, it's on its way. It's dinged up pretty good with the standard Bucheimer seat belt holster rash, but then again, these guns usually got carried and beat to death way more than they were ever shot...When I get it, I may try to get some advice about a light clean up of the gun...Thank goodness its stainless. I'll probably leave the Pachmyres on there, because those or magnas was what I always carried... I never saw targets on any of the ones I carried.

I am going to get it lettered and I hope the info comes back agency specific. At around $650 after it's all said and done, I paid a little too much for it counting taxes, shipping and fees, but I just don't care as I have been looking for one ever since I retired.

 

[Slufstuff]

I think you did fine, especially if it makes you happy! Do not feel alone, I am the same way with US Air Force issued S&W pistols. I am sure I overpaid for some of mine also. But they are so hard to find that I do not worry about it. As the saying goes for US military weapons, you never pay too much, you just pay it early.

 

[Erocksmash]

I would like to get a Florida DOC MDL 15 we used and shot through the academy...

I use gray scotch bright on my rougher stainless guns... start in one spot say where the barrel meets the frame and in one fluid motion move the scotch bright towards the muzzle and off the gun, be sure not to go back n forth pick your direction and make a fluid movement.

 

[ken158]

Since your new acquisition was a state owned firearm it most likely was sold to the state procurement (purchasing) department on a state bid price, put into inventory and then passed through to the prison that made a request. (I just saved you 100 bucks!)

 

[TJm15.38]

When I bought this Model 65-5 with 3" barrel and round butt, the owner of the LGS indicated that it was a Tennessee Department of Corrections issue weapon that had been bead-blast refinished and sold off for surplus. I have been using it as a shooter, and it is a good one. There are no agency markings that I can find, so I just trust that he was telling me truth.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Disappointing to hear they are being traded for "Glocks and Sigs", unless it's P226s and P229s. My condolences if procurement of G17/G19/P320's is in the works.

 

[MelvinWalker]

When I bought this Model 65-5 with 3" barrel and round butt, the owner of the LGS indicated that it was a Tennessee Department of Corrections issue weapon that had been bead-blast refinished and sold off for surplus. I have been using it as a shooter, and it is a good one. There are no agency markings that I can find, so I just trust that he was telling me truth.

View attachment 729717

I never saw any M65's at any time with TDOC...Then again, there was a division in Nashville that was always held as "tighter and brighter" than us that wore uniforms..

Main Internal Affairs and the fugitive division got .40 caliber Glock 22's several years ago. They were the only TDOC unit that I was aware of that had a different weapon/training and issue than the rest of us. That would be the only people in TDOC that could possibly be issued a .357...Especially with it being a 3 inch. Do you have an approximate ship date on your 65?

 

[shovelhead]

I use Flitz metal polish, a soft cloth and patience.

 

[mikerjf]

Grey Scotchbrite is your first stop! Search here for directional tips.

 

[Tijeras_Slim]

Decades ago I decided that for some guns the deal was being able to get it at all, not the price. I’d say this one qualifies.

 

[minconrevo]

I would like to get a Florida DOC MDL 15 we used and shot through the academy...

I use gray scotch bright on my rougher stainless guns... start in one spot say where the barrel meets the frame and in one fluid motion move the scotch bright towards the muzzle and off the gun, be sure not to go back n forth pick your direction and make a fluid movement.

I'll 2nd the grey scotch bright pad. If you have a SS S&W K that's in newer condition you can study the direction of travel used on various spots of the revolver. You may need to experiment with how much pressure put on the pad to get the look to match S&W Factory. Hint: start with light pad pressure. Don't expect instant results; patience pays!

 

[Bald1]

There was a stretch a few months ago when I saw lots of TN Corrections guns on GB. There was one where they really played up the prison it came from. It was a really bad place I guess with a colorful history. I have a NYDOCS model 10 with belt holster and speed loaders. Pretty sure it was used at Attica and Wyoming County Cortectional for prisoner transport.

 

[TJm15.38]

I never saw any M65's at any time with TDOC...Then again, there was a division in Nashville that was always held as "tighter and brighter" than us that wore uniforms..

Main Internal Affairs and the fugitive division got .40 caliber Glock 22's several years ago. They were the only TDOC unit that I was aware of that had a different weapon/training and issue than the rest of us. That would be the only people in TDOC that could possibly be issued a .357...Especially with it being a 3 inch. Do you have an approximate ship date on your 65?

Best I can tell is around 1988.

 

[stansdds]

Although it will not address the deeper scratches, a gray Scotchbrite pad can restore the finish to near factory appearance. As for stocks, Magna's would have been the factory stocks, but it was a popular thing to throw away the Magna's and swap in a set of rubbers.

 

[DeafSmith]

As some know, I retired with 20 years as a Captain from Tennessee Department of Correction. I then went county with the same retirement system before moving here.

We used mainly model 64's, a few 67's and some older Model 10's... For years, there has been discussion about trading all revolvers in for Glocks and SiG's, so they finally did. I have been waiting for years for the agency to do this to be able to get a 64 or 67 from my former agency.

I just happened to be perusing Gunbroker yesterday and just happened to see this one for sale and my heart skipped a beat. I immediately talked to the seller/dealer and he told me that bought all of the S&W's he could from the wholesaler when the State traded them in a few months ago. This one is from RMSI, which is Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, (Tennessee's Death Row). Having been on the statewide Tactical squad, I have been to that facility many, many times. I have probably been a few feet from this very gun several times.

It is a 67-2, made just a few years before I started with the agency. Engraved on the side with the institution and rack number. I would imagine this gun has been an inmate transport gun, or tower or mobile patrol gun, because most issued and range guns were fixed sight models.

Anyway, it's on its way. It's dinged up pretty good with the standard Bucheimer seat belt holster rash, but then again, these guns usually got carried and beat to death way more than they were ever shot...When I get it, I may try to get some advice about a light clean up of the gun...Thank goodness its stainless. I'll probably leave the Pachmyres on there, because those or magnas was what I always carried... I never saw targets on any of the ones I carried.

I am going to get it lettered and I hope the info comes back agency specific. At around $650 after it's all said and done, I paid a little too much for it counting taxes, shipping and fees, but I just don't care as I have been looking for one ever since I retired.

Stainless steel polish... and 0000 grit stainless steel wool!

Totally disassemble your gun, use a tooth brush to clean it and then use the steel wool soaked in stainless steel polish to take out scratches.

Take your time and do it slowly, piece by piece... may take days.. or even weeks. Relax and take your time. And while at it once you have polished all the exterior you wish then after a good rinse job use grease on all the moving parts and reassemble. Use locktite (green) on the screws and you are good to go!

If any cylinder wobble you can get a new bolt lock and put that in to while it is in pieces...

 

[PHS327]

Although it will not address the deeper scratches, a gray Scotchbrite pad can restore the finish to near factory appearance. As for stocks, Magna's would have been the factory stocks, but it was a popular thing to throw away the Magna's and swap in a set of rubbers.

For the frosted stainless finish, sometimes called matte or glass bead blasted, I believe it's the light grey ultra fine 7448 3m scotch-brite pad. Go in the direction of the grain with very light pressure. I have done that to remove light scratches and it only took a few seconds.

 

[mchom]

I couldn’t find a 67-2 for the longest time
Not saying they are rare but it took me a couple years to find one

I did get one last year (no dept markings) shipped in a batch to GTs in Georgia.

 

[Rock185]

I carried a model 66 in the 70s, but always admired the '67s. I did buy my last dept. issued gun, a G%#*k, because the price was right. No dept. markings, but then it only cost one dollar.

 

[moosedog]

I really like the working guns of the pre plastics period.

 

[jglsprings]

Decades ago I decided that for some guns the deal was being able to get it at all, not the price. I’d say this one qualifies.

Yep I have a few / many? of those... ;-)