Surplus Model 64 DAO opinions?

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overkill556x45

New member
I was cruising my favorite surplus sites online and found one place had a glut of various S&W model 64 4" DAO variants for $230ish (good to very good condition) before shipping and transfer. Very good plus condition was $10 more.

I'm an S&W acolyte, and I've been looking for a Model 10 for a while, but can't find one for a decent price. I think these 4" former police guns might fit the bill as a part-time match gun and I want to train my mom and my oldest niece on centerfire handguns, and a big, lazy .38 spl in DAO seems like a really great place to start (simple to use, soft shooting, etc).

Anyone think this is a bad deal? Is there some horrifying secret that the 64 DAO holds that I need to be aware of? Also, please no .38spl vs X responses. I am an avid reloader and ballistics nerd. I am fully aware of the .38's shortcomings. I'm mainly looking for a fun gun that will expand my wheelgun collection and S&W collection. And my wife has already given me the green light, given the diminutive price tag. (She's secretly sweet on S&W revolvers too.)

Thanks in advance.
 
I have been eyeing those for a couple of months now as well. It seems like a reasonable deal to me.
There is a model 10 blue heavy barrel, and a model 15 in the used section of budsgunshop.com as of this morning for a little bit more if you are worried about the DAO.
 
I don't think you can go wrong here. The guns will have cosmetic wear as they were carried a lot, but they should be great shooters as they were most likely shot little.

I recently picked up a 64 and with a little home polishing of the internals, the action is even better. The gun had some nicks and scratches overall, so I used some 320 grit wet/dry sandpaper on the scuffs and dings and it looks a lot better now. That's one of the real benefits of stainless is you can do a lot with the finish without having to have it re-finished, so to speak.
 
Okay, now how about round butt vs square butt? A "very good plus" square butt is $229, while a "very good plus" round butt is $245--why?
 
Bought one from J&G about a month ago. Paid the $10.00 extra for "hand select." I am very happy with the condition. I have not shot it yet. Very clean, almost unsused in appearance, no scratches, no carbon fouling on the front of the cylinder at all. When I cleaned it a little soot came out on the patch but not a lot. The grips are worn but original rubber. The guys on the S&W forum say that my serial number indicates that the revolver was made in '98. Only bad part: the grips reek of women's perfume. I think the gun was owned or used by a lady security guard. I am severely allergic to perfume - instant headache. I am airing it out in my safe and will shoot it at the Hite Hollow shoot in Va in about two weeks.

Mike D.
 
I to am waiting for my 64 to arrive. While not from J&G, the one I am gettting is comming SA/DA and I have a 3" barrel from a 65 waiting to go on it. It will be my little franken gun. I may even have it cut for moon clips just for s&g. I think they are a great buy for the price. Plus grip selection for these things are endless. I will probility get another soon to use for a truck gun.


Smee78
 
OK556, I suppose the smaller round butt grips are easier to conceal thus the premium price. Personally I like larger square butt grips like my Model 19 has.
 
I too have noticed that Model 10s are getting scarce, so I bought a square butt 64 from J & G a couple of months ago. Went to their store in Prescott and picked it out. Truly in Very Good condition. My gunsmith bead-blasted the finish and now it looks new. It is extremely accurate. A great deal for the money--$239 for mine.
 
Decision made: I'm ordering a very good plus square butt, and hoping they send one with old school Pachmayr grips (there are six styles, three of wood, three of rubber--no choice). I can't think of a better place to put $229.

Thanks for the responses guys.

Now I gotta get some .38spl dies and a new turret ring. I already found some cheap 158gr LSWCs. I'm like a kid in a candy store now. :D
 
S&W MOD 64s

While I realize I missed out on helping the originator on his purchase decision I still wanted to reply, since this thread is what tempted me to register here in the first place. More to the point I've owned a Smith 64 (DA/SA SS) for 20 years. . . I've shot it so many times that eventually the fireing pin wore to the point it was unreliable and required replacement, until the cylider paw spring just gave up. . . litterally until the factory wood grips dried out and cracked. . . and for less than $100 worth of gun smithing that pistol has consumed more ammo than I would care to count. . . and its still (after repair) as accurate and reliable as could be asked of any revolver. I hadnt thought about it, but realizing how cheap a surplus one can be bought I'm on the hunt for an additional one. . . it's what I learned to shoot centerfire pistol on, compeated with, plinked, trained, carried and eventually trained a whole new generation on (not to mention girlfriends, co-workers etc). I hope i'm not over the top when I saw that a better training revolver might never have been created.
 
What's funny about this thread is that almost all of it is almost three years old and right now J&G still has those Smith's for sale and Buds just got a new shipment of Model 10's for sale too.

Great American handguns at a great price.
 
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