Smith & Wesson Model 64 revolver - how much are they worth?

BP7

BP7

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As per subject line! How much are they worth on the used market? Had a chance to fire one not long ago, and I believe the owner mentioned that it's available for purchase. It's a 6" barrel with an underlug and top rib and those funky sights, and a nice light trigger. It's essentially a PPC gun, but has a full hammer (and does SA and DA)

Separately - would it be possible to have its cylinder modified to handle 357 Magnum loads, or would the frame / barrel still be a limiting factor?
 
The 64 is essentially a stainless model 10, K-frame in 38 special. There are 357 k-frames but they have a longer cylinder. The 64 is 38 special only. I saw a 4 inch one sell in a local store recently for $500. Set up in PPC configuration would be more. The rib sight alone is worth a couple of hundred plus installation. A decent heavy barrel like a Clark or Douglas, grips and a good DA action job... It all adds up.
 
With PPC guns, a lot of the price depends on who built it - there are some guns that are worth more simply because they were built by a specialist as opposed to a gun that someone tooled together themselves. A used gun built by a specialist at revolver work will run $800-$1200, depending on condition, largely because a new gun will cost $1500 and often more. Premium barrels run as high as $700, ribs go to $350, action work is cheap (relatively) but a full house gun has a ton of work done to it beyond a trigger - true the cylinder face, chamfer charge holes, take out end shake, tighten B/C gap to under 4 thou. throat forcing cone and cut crown. Shooting 357 out of a gun like that would be almost criminal, and dissappointing. Most of the guns are designed to shoot one load (not calibre, load) 38 wadcutter over 2.7-3.0 grains of W231 ignited by a Federal small pistol primer. The primer is actually critical, that smooth 6-8lb trigger pull drops the hammer too lightly to ignite other brands reliably, so a Magnum primer has almost no hope.
 
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This set is $3500 US. Try being specific about what you want. Stock factory 64's are 12.6 prohibited now. Are you 12.6? If not you will have to find a rebarrelled custom job. That will cost more.
 
BP7 said:
As per subject line! How much are they worth on the used market? Had a chance to fire one not long ago, and I believe the owner mentioned that it's available for purchase. It's a 6" barrel with an underlug and top rib and those funky sights, and a nice light trigger. It's essentially a PPC gun, but has a full hammer (and does SA and DA)

Separately - would it be possible to have its cylinder modified to handle 357 Magnum loads, or would the frame / barrel still be a limiting factor?
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I have a 64-3, with a factory type 6 inch barrel (gunsmithed by previous) and half underlug/adjustable sights. Got it on the EE for 380 shipped.
I'm still not used to the K-frame, but at times it can really shoot well @25 yards. (my bad!)
The frame cutout & cylinder can only fit 38 special only.
What I really like about it, is mine is virtually identical to a S&W Model 68, specially made for LAPD & CHP officers, in 1976 only.
For those interested, just Google this specific S&W. These Model 64's (as said by Viper, a stainless Model 10) have no MIM parts, no ugly lock. IIRC, Model 10s/64s, were ceased in production, in the mid to late 1980s.

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The problem with PPC revolvers is that the market for them is very small, I'm sure there are PPC shooters that will argue this point but compared to IPSC, IDPA and Cowboy Action shooting it is small. Unless you can find a dedicated PPC shooter who wants a 38 Spl. revolver the market is even smaller, one built on a 357 Mag platform would be better as it might be of interest to other shooters outside the PPC world too. Just something to think about before you consider buying one.
 
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got a second look at it yesterday, like i said big bull barrel, fancy sights, PPC ready, etc. guy is thinking of around $700 for it, which is OK if i were to focus on using it in PPC. but i'd use it as a generic range toy and maybe do some IDPA with it, so it's maybe too tweaked.

Jason - like i said, it's not stock, it's been massaged for PPC stuff and it's a 6" barrel so def not 12.6 prohib. and it's FAR from THAT type of fancy, no scrollwork or ivory grips here! :p (but those are nice, though i'd probably go minus the scrollwork)
 
Your best bet for that type of pistol is to try and find an L Frame (686) they will shoot 357's forever and still work perfectly. If you can find one that's older, you'll generally get a better gun for less, if it isn't perfect on the outside, send it in for a trigger job and spruce up, it'll come back better than new and you'll still be ahead on the money side.
 
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