Les Jones: Smith &Wesson 67

July 28, 2006

Guns > Smith &Wesson 67

I've become a fan of the Smith &Wesson Model 64. It's the stainless steel version of the Military and Police (Model 10) that's been made forever. It's a timeless design - a K frame S&W in .38 Special with fixed sights. What makes them sweet is that many were made when S&W was cranking out high-quality guns with mirror-polish finishes, crisp lettering, and good wood. Many of them have pinned barrels.* There are some fascinating 64s out there at prices that are bargain basement compared to some other S&Ws.

The 67 is the 64 with adjustable sights. (Or, depending on how you look at it, the 67 is the stainless steel version of the Model 15.) I like my 64s, but on a gun with a 4" barrel I'd rather have the adjustable sights of the 67.

This Model 67 on Gunbroker has great proportions and is giving me that old familiar "me wantie" feeling. It has the tapered barrel more commonly seen on Magnum-chambered S&Ws. The serial number of the gun matches the serial number on the cardboard box, and I'll bet it matches the serial number on the inside of the grips. (Based on other S&Ws I've had, the company was serial numbering the grips to the gun as late as 1979.) I like it.

This Model 67 was sent back to S&W to have a white outline rear sight installed, and a red ramp insert installed on the front sight. The gun includes the letter requesting the change.

* I couldn't find a good Web reference for pinned barrels, so here goes. On Smith &Wesson revolvers the barrels are threaded and screw into the frame. On older S&Ws there were transverse holes through the barrel and frame. During assembly the barrel was screwed into the frame until the two holes aligned. Then a roll pin was inserted into the hole to hold the barrel into place. On newer S&Ws the barrel is "crush fit" into the frame until tight, which is a simpler and therefore cheaper way to fit barrels to frames.

Some people say that pinned barrels were better - if only theoretically - because they relieved stress on the barrel (somehow). I think that to collectors pinned barrels simply represent the older, more labor-intensive way of doing things, and to collectors the old way is the better way, because they don't make 'me that way any more.

P.S. For Magnum cartridges, the pinned-barrel guns also had recessed chambers. In most revolvers the cartridge rim catches on the edge of the cylinder. On recessed chamber guns the chamber is countersunk, so that the cartridge rim is flush with the edge of the cylinder. This was originally done for balloon head cartridges, which tended to rupture. Recessing the cartridge head enveloped the casehead to reduce the chance of injury to the shooter. Balloon head cartridges haven't been made in 50 years. Nowadays S&W only uses recessed chambers for rimfire cartridges. Guns with pinned barrels and recessed chambers are referred to as "pinned and recessed", or P&R for short.

Bonus! - Do you wanna know why people like Smith &Wesson?

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Comments

It's amazing how such a utilitarian and ubiquitous piece has such a powerful allure.

It will probably never wear out at .38 pressures and is enough or more than you'd probably ever need for a defensive arm. Shooting .38 specials is very easy through that size and weight revolver as well. Pure shooting fun.

Posted by: -B at July 28, 2006

S&W Models 64, 65, 66, and 67 are exceptional revolvers, representing a huge spectrum of performance...from .38 Special wadcutters for punching paper to the highest horsepower of the heaviest .357 Mag loads, still the gold standard for one-shot stops in encounters of the closest kind.

I understand *why* S&W dropped K-frames from its catalog...just haven't forgiven them. For me, K-frames...blued and stainless...are the very essence of 'revolver'. They are incredible bargains these days. Get 'em while you can!

Posted by: Alex the Gripaholic at July 28, 2006

B - exactly. That's a simple, honest gun. Nothing fancy at all. But 30 years later it starts to look like something special. Love that tapered barrel.

Alex - I like K frames more and more all the time. I like my J frame 642 as a lightweight pocket gun, but that's about the only J I'm interested in. The L's OK for shooting a steady diet of .357, but other than that I'll stick to Ks. P.S. - thanks for helping me find those grips. I love 'em.

Posted by: Les Jones at July 28, 2006

"...thanks for helping me find those grips. I love 'em."

My pleasure, sir. Takes a real man to take pride in a 3" barrel. ;)

Posted by: Alex the Gripaholic at July 28, 2006

My .357 S&W revolver, Model 65, will not eject aluminum jacketed rounds (after firing). On the firing range I had to pry them out with a screw driver. Brass jacket .357M work fine. This is my first S&W firearm. Do I have bad revolver? Should I send it to S&W for repair? It is likely to eject .38S aluminum jacketed rounds? Thanks. Dan

Posted by: Dan K. Evans at August 04, 2006

Might try a good cleaning. If that doesn't do it the only thing I can think of would be to take it to a gunsmith to polish the chambers. Or just use different ammo.

Posted by: Les Jones at August 04, 2006

I own the Model 67 and love it. The adjustable sights make punching precise holes in paper at 25 yards a breeze. I recommend getting a competition trigger installed (as long as you don't mind a stiff breeze firing the gun with the hammer back).

Posted by: Dana at August 05, 2006

I have a model 64 and absolutely love it. It is used to train new employees, as well as to plink from time to time.

Posted by: Eric at August 14, 2006

I love my model 67. Mine was made in 1972, with the pinned barrel, and wooden grips. To me, it's the epitome of revolver manufacture. Unlike some of the newer revolvers, it's as smooth as silk.... with a super crisp trigger pull. It's obvious that S&W spent a lot of time polishing the moving parts before they assembled it. It's no wonder they named it the "Combat Masterpiece", since it truly is masterpiece.

Posted by: dave at March 05, 2007

I have just aquired a nice Model 67-3 DOA, yes DOA, I believe that it was made that way but I'm wrong alot. Just wondered if anyone has seen such a thing, I have not found anything on it yet. I'm still looking. Thanks

Posted by: Zeus XIII at June 14, 2007

Anyone know when an airweight J frame Smith & Wesson with the serial number J689xxx would have been manufactured?

Posted by: vaughan at October 18, 2007