What is it about a Model 67?

[Tom Servo]

I think everyone above touched on the qualities that make the 67 such a great all-around pistol. In addition, it makes a great training gun for new shooters.

The Model 15 has always been my favorite handgun platform, but for one reason or another, I never got around to picking one up. This one came my way a couple of years back.

The owner brought it in wrapped in a sock, which she carried dangling from her fingers like it was a dead snake. Someone had shot it until it was filthy, sprayed it down with WD-40, and left it in a shoebox somewhere for years. The cylinder stop wasn't locking, and it didn't feel like it was locking in the rear when shut.

It was her father-in-law's service gun, which he carried until his retirement in 1998. That a police officer would still be carrying a .38 K-Frame in 1998 made me wonder. It must have had some kind of history, but all she knew was that she "hates guns and wants it out of the house."

OK. Fine. If the gun couldn't be fixed, at least I could salvage the stainless rear sight. I offered $75, which she gladly took.

As it turns out, the rust had not turned to pitting, and the action was simply caked-up with dried oil. Once I'd excised the grime, everything worked fine. The original owner had done a bit of polishing to the rebound spring, which makes me think he took some pride in it, and that the gun had been well-maintained before his kids got to it.

It's my second most accurate K-Frame, and worth exponentially more than what I paid for it.

 

[stantheman86]

dave b, thanks for the info! I always thought it was the Dallas-Ft. Worth city police, I've had this gun almost 10 years and just now learned more about it It's marked DFW- DPS so I guess that's Dept. of Public Safety?

I never got around to getting myself another 67 or a 15, I got too into the fixed sight stuff, mainly 64's and 10's......makes me kick myself for passing up a diamond grip early 15 for $250 at a recent gun show

As much as I love my fixed sighters, the 4" 15 and 67 just look "right", perfectly balanced, the non-lugged barrel and the adjustable sight give the gun a balanced look and they feel perfect in the hand.

I would buy a MIM and IL 67 in a second for the right price, at a gun show last month I saw a LNIB one for $450, I was just broke or I would have taken it! It would be the perfect candidate for a set of Wilson Combat springs.

 

[625smith]

67 no dash

Here is my 67 I love it! Shoots great lots of fun at the range.

 

[mcanders]

Here's my model 67 no dash, with incorrect blued rear sight.
This is my go to gun when its time to head to the range.

 

[RidgwayCO]

Well, she finally got here and she's a beauty. Here's what she looked like upon arrival:

And here's how she looks in her new Crimson Trace Hoghunter laser grips:

Needless to say, she shoots a lot better than I can hold. But the CT's really help my old eyes get the most out of her. Can't believe I waited this long to get a M67...

 

[GB]

Very Nice! As good as it gets, when it comes to wheel guns. Shoots well and looks mighty fine. Enjoy!

 

[majortoo]

Some beautiful revolvers, gentlemen. Thank you for sharing! I have a nice 67 and a 66. Both show some wear, but are superb examples of Smith and Wesson craftsmanship. My marksmanship is just slightly better with the 67, but both are far more accurate than I am!

 

[bigmoose]

another thread on the 67

The 67 is an all-time favorite. One of S&W's best all around guns.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/232103-any-model-67-fans-out-there.html

 

[TAROMAN]

Always wanted a 67 to go with my Model 15.
Brought this one back from the dead.
Its an estate gun that was brought into the LGS.
They turned their noses up at it. Offered $150 and it was mine.
Filthy beyond description. Caked with layers of lead and carbon.
Lady's name lightly etched to the bottom side of top strap.
End shake, too, along with nasty Goodyears.
First up as a complete teardown and 3-day soak in Ed's Red.
Then, scraping with brass scrapers and back into the tank.
A washer fixed the endshake after I trued the yoke and inside cylinder.
Then started polishing. Auto sandpaper for starters, took 3 evenings. The name came off easily, too.
A new set of stocks and it's back, a great shooter and companion to the Model 15:

 

[Green Frog]

Well, my Model 67 has a strange story behind it. I needed a donor gun on which to build my "Project 616" and since I could find a 67 cheaper than a 66 and would be getting rid of barrel and cylinder anyway... why not? Well as you know (and I know now) the 67 has a tapered barrel with narrow rib, so the frame has two little bevels where the 66 has a straight corner on each side. It wouldn't mate up properly with the 617 barrel.

Soooo, now I have this well used 67-1 with a set of really funky grips and a broken blade on the rear sight. Then I tried the action. It was as smooth as my old '40s vintage K-38! I went to the OGCA show and found an unprepossessing but nice pair of Magnas and a replacement for the rear sight (easier than replacing a blade!!) and now I have a great 67 that was not in my master plan. It isn't really needed, but it is so sweet to shoot. What to do, what to do!

Froggie

 

[Florida Guy]

I just picked this one up off GB.
It is a commemorative edition of Suffolk County P.D. 25th anniv.
in 1985. It is my one and only .38 sp. to date.
Here it is after its first range excursion and cleaning.

 

[L Pete]

These days, people don't give the old 38 Special much credit, but I don't fell ill armed with same. It's been working for more than a 100 years.

I have a 67-6 (pretty new version with the IL), and it is a wonderful shooter. I replaced the front sight with a partridge style, and use it for mainly shooting wadcutters at the range. It is wonderfully accurate, and a joy to work with it. It is a more modern version of the 1952 pre-15 that sits in the safe, that was purchased by my dad way back when. I personally consider the 15/67 to be the perfect handgun. Yes, I have other revolvers, and good autos as well, but the K-frames will always be around me when the others are gone.

That's what it is about the Model 67..........

 

[MakeMyNight]

I must be the only forum member who was malcontent with their model 67.

Bought a model 67 with 4" bbl, brand new, back in 1979; a Bangor Punta era gun.
Chambers were rough & tight, so after some honing and polishing, the emptys did easily eject.
The second factory defect was; the breech end of the barrel was angled, and it had a significant barrel/cylinder gap.

The gun shot OK, but when the opportunity to buy a new 686 with 4" bbl presented itself, I opted out of that model 67.
Never regretted leaving that particular S&W gun behind.

FWIW: the serial of that gun was 25K3644, and I hope that none of the S&W forum members got stuck with it. LOL

 

[user]

Agree with all the "positive waves". I'd add, though, that there are a couple of advantages to the 64: you can't damage the sights very easily while carrying in rough country, and the heavy barrel won't heat up very quickly, so you can shoot it continuously for an hour with no appreciable loss in accuracy. On the other hand, it's less precise, heavier, and clunky looking. There's a certain elegance to the 67, eh-wot?

 

[66Park]

There's a certain elegance to the 67, eh-wot?

As far as looks go, I think any K frame, non ejector shrouded four inch Smith looks about perfect - 18, 15, 67. There is something so elegant and perfectly proportioned about them.

 

[oldafsp]

The 67 is on my short list to add to my collection of Smiths.

The perfect companion for my three Model 15's....

When the kids come to visit (they only show up to shoot Dads guns I think)

The Combat Masterpiece is the favorite for all of them..and they are great training guns for new shooters.

What's not good about them.....I can't find one thing.

 

[66Park]

The 67 is on my short list to add to my collection of Smiths.

The perfect companion for my three Model 15's....

When the kids come to visit (they only show up to shoot Dads guns I think)

The Combat Masterpiece is the favorite for all of them..and they are great training guns for new shooters.

What's not good about them.....I can't find one thing.

How fortunate you are to have three Model 15s! One is definitely on my short list - preferably a non model stamped Combat Masterpiece. I prefer blue to the stainless 67.

 

[Spectragod]

I know this is an older thread, but........ I have a question, I inherited a model 67 that was once my uncle's, oddly enough, the barrel is ported on the top of both sides. I should say, it is a model 67, no dash, and, it is a 4" barrel.

I have been around guns for some time, this to me, looks as though it was done at the factory. Can anyone give me a little insight?

The gun appeared to have not been cleaned for years, it sat in a drawer for the last 12 or so years by my aunt, she needed it one night in a hurry, it's a good thing she didn't need to squeeze the trigger. It is cleaned now, but now I have the question as to what it is exactly..............HELP!

 

[mbliss57]

I sold mine about 6 months ago. A new to me one is on it's way. I could not live without it. It is a no dash from 1973 with SS rear sights. The one I sold was cherry too. I don't know what I was thinking...

 

[stantheman86]

I don't think a 67 of that vintage would have left the factory ported....it may have been done by anyone, although this is the first I've heard of a ported .38 Special......

I replied to this same thread back in 2010 so I just wanted to reply again lol

I still have my 67-1 and although I'm more of a fixed sight service revolver fan, ill never part with my 67-1. It was my 1st Smith and its still one of my best shooters. .38 Special is my favorite handgun round and probably my favorite overall round out of all of them.....it's a joy to shoot, doesn't beat you up with recoil and blast during a 500 round range session.....very accurate and I have guns as old as 1919 like my 6" M&P right up to 2008 with my 64-8....loaded with Hydra Shok .38 +p or Golden Saber, I'm confident that a .38 will meet my needs for defense.

I'm no skirt but I really don't want to be touching off full bore .357's in my house for home defense and basically flash banging myself im also rusty and dont get the trigger time I used to...I tend to flinch with full bore .357, in years back it didn't bother me as much..I like the mild recoil of .38's plus I have thin walls and live in a row home, so standard 158 gr. lead HP's are good medicine for HD for me...... it's better for me to put two standard .38's on target than miss with 6 .357's.