S&W Model 64 question,,,

As soon as you say "never" somebody will come up with one -- but they would not have been in the catalog. In the late 60s S&W eliminated the tapered barrel on the Model 10s, so by the time they started making the Model 64s in the 70s, the tapered barrel was a thing of the past.
 
In the late 60s S&W eliminated the tapered barrel on the Model 10s...
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I don't believe this is correct; I've seen tapered barrel M10s with late 70s serial numbers. The 4" bull barrel had eclipsed the tapered barrel in popularity by this time, but tapered-barrel guns were still being sold.

Keep in mind that S&W would often (and sometimes still does) produce guns that had been dropped from the regular civilian catalog if they received a large LE special order. Some entire S&W model lines- e.g. the M11, M45, and M68- were LE special order only!
 
Dang,,, I was hoping they were never made,,,,,

Because I can see this costing me a few bucks in the future. :(

I have a nice Model 10 and an even nicer Model 12,,,
A tapered barrel Model 64 would create a very nice boxed triad.

Dangit!

Thanks for the research Gentlemen,,,
As usual, your Google-Fu is stronger than mine. :o

Aarond
 
I have a 64-2, 2", made in '72. Is this a bull or a tapered barrel? Hard for me to tell given that the barrel is so short but it looks like a definite taper to me. The barrel is certainly wider at the base than at the muzzle. Educate me, somebody.
 

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I have a 4” tapered barrel sitting in my nightstand right now. It’s in excellent condition with service stocks numbered to the gun and a polished Tyler T. Also have the box. :D
 
The early model 64's all had the standard barrel or what some folks call the "pencil barrel". I don't have my S&W catalog handy, but I think in the mid 70's S&W switched the 64's to all HB's for new production.

SW_M64_07_PB.jpg

S&W Model 64 - standard barrel

StevieBoy - yours is a standard barrel. As far as I know, all the 2" M64's were standard round barrels.

The identification point for the standard barrel, besides the taper, is that it is round on top. The Heavy Barrel adds a low rib to the top of the barrel.
SW_M64_162506_01_md.jpg
 
S&W often produced curious variations of standard revolvers until they pretty much ceased producing revolvers as standard. For instance, I had one Model 64 (I think, maybe a Model 65 or even a Model 10) that had a barrel that was 1/4-inch longer than standard; in other words, 4 1/4-inches, heavy barrel. That was a while ago.

I think all of the 2-inch barrel .38 special K-frames had tapered barrels but all of the 3-inch barrels were heavy barrels. I had one blued Model 10 with a 3-inch barrel that had an underlug like on the Model 65-LS. I also think the ones with 2-inch barrels were made in both square and round butts. Some war surplus revolvers were also cut down and nickel-plated, too, but those were not production guns.

I also had a later production Model 10 with a six-inch barrel, which was naturally a tapered barrel. I expect it was 1960s production but it was like new.
 
Wow! I learned something new today. I thought all 64 and 65's had heavy barrels. I have a 4 inch model 64-5 that is hands down one of my favorite guns I own and is absolutely perfect for new shooters at the range (as long as they don't have super small hands). Loaded with wad-cutters has barely barely any more thump to it than a 22LR. I still think I need a 3 inch model 65 to keep it company though...
 
I bought one in the early 1970's. I still have it and the original box and papers. It is a good revolver. I don't shoot it that much, but I have killed a snake with it...blew his head off. It is a keeper.
 
Funny to fins this thread...

I just picked up my Mod 64 No Dash from the FFL today. It's my first revolver. It looks exactly like the pic that BillCA posted.
 
Every S&W Model 64 I have ever seen has the bull barrel.

Did they ever make that model with the tapered barrel?
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Yes...

The first edition (no dash) Model 64s had the tapered barrel. I have one.
 
The first incarnation of the 64 had the tapered barrel. The model 64 no dash, all others after that have the bull barrel. The 64 no dash generally has a $100 premium.

IMG_6610.jpg
 
I have a 64-2, 2", made in '72. Is this a bull or a tapered barrel? Hard for me to tell given that the barrel is so short but it looks like a definite taper to me. The barrel is certainly wider at the base than at the muzzle. Educate me, somebody.
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Yes, Stevieboy, that's a tapered barrel you have there. Very nice.

I passed on a reasonably priced 4" tapered barrel model 64 not too long ago. I decided I prefer to shoot the round butt K-frames and this was, of course, a square butt.

On a side note, I did get one of the round butt bobbed hammer heavy barrel model 64s from JG. It's fantastic, and one of the best guns for the money I know of right now.
 
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