S & W model 68

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Bush Pilot

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I have to stop killing time in gunshops. Today, I had a little time to myself and thought what harm can a few minutes in a gun store hurt. Thirty minutes and $350.00 later I emerged the proud owner of a S & W model 68-2 in about 95%. I've already got several hundred rounds of ammo loaded, come Saturday morning I'm range bound. Sorry I am not smart enough to post a picture.
 
I think you have a typo in there, you meant to type keep instead of stop. :p Nice find. Only 6055 made according to the Standard Catalog of S&W.
 
Hmmm... Not many of those around. I would think if in decent shape it's worth a lot more than you paid. That would be a gun I would sell to a collector rather than shoot.
 
Very collectable...you basically stole it, if it is a real M-68...the really collectable ones are the CHP Commemorative models

earlthegoat2 - the S&W M-68 only came in one barrel length...6"

The M-68 was issued to the California Highway Patrol along with the Treasury Load...110gr JHP +P+. The idea was being able to avoid the stigma of issuing the overly powerful .357 Magnum by issuing only a .38 spl revolver.

While many think the M-68 is a 6" M-66 with a cylinder from a M-67, it was basically a M-67 (stainless M-15l) with a 6" shrouded ejector rod barrel screwed onto it. This was back when the M-66 was only available with the 2.5" and 4" barrels.
 
All 68s have 6" barrels.

I disagree with the assessment that the 68 is a 67 with a heavy barrel. It is really a 66 with short bored chambers. S&W rated the 68 for +P+ ammo, something they have not done with ANY other 38 Special revolver to my knowledge.

The 68 was developed for the CHP and the 68-2 was sold to the LAPD in 1983. No -1s have been observed. The 68 was never cataloged or offered to the general public.

Collectors would start throwing cash at you if you put it up for auction.
 
You see, hanging out in gun shops IS a good idea and this proves it!

Nice find and you "really" have to post a picture. Heck email it to me and I'll post it up.
 
Very collectable...you basically stole it, if it is a real M-68...the really collectable ones are the CHP Commemorative models

earlthegoat2 - the S&W M-68 only came in one barrel length...6"

The M-68 was issued to the California Highway Patrol along with the Treasury Load...110gr JHP +P+. The idea was being able to avoid the stigma of issuing the overly powerful .357 Magnum by issuing only a .38 spl revolver.

While many think the M-68 is a 6" M-66 with a cylinder from a M-67, it was basically a M-67 (stainless M-15l) with a 6" shrouded ejector rod barrel screwed onto it. This was back when the M-66 was only available with the 2.5" and 4" barrels.
This gun is marked "CHP" on the left side of the frame just below the cylinder. Maybe it won't get turned in to a shooter afterall. Thanks for the heads up.

I picked a Smith 58 marked "SFPD" a couple of months ago, I thought that gun was the collector item.
 
I disagree with the assessment that the 68 is a 67 with a heavy barrel. It is really a 66 with short bored chambers. S&W rated the 68 for +P+ ammo, something they have not done with ANY other 38 Special revolver to my knowledge.

That is what I said (short chambered cylinder) when I first saw it too...and it made sense, because of the "+P+" rating...but their (CHP's) supplier (Bill Davis Co) corrected me with the above information. Of course, it could have just been the company (S&W's) PR line at the time.

Of course the company line at the time was that they weren't going to offer the M-66 with a 6" barrel either :rolleyes:
 
AFAIK no M68s went to departments on the east coast. They all went to either CHP or LAPD. They will be marked as to which department they went to. M68's all went to CHP and M68-2's went to both CHP and LAPD. All M68's left the factory with 6" barrels. These guns are M66's chambered for .38 Special. If the gun has been fired, I see no reason to shoot it. Just take care of it.


ETA: I meant to say "no reason to not shoot it."
 
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I made a call and you are right, the two departments that had them were CHP and LAPD

My memory was faulty, I've edited my original post
 
AFAIK no M68s went to departments on the east coast. They all went to either CHP or LAPD. They will be marked as to which department they went to. M68's all went to CHP and M68-2's went to both CHP and LAPD. All M68's left the factory with 6" barrels. These guns are M66's chambered for .38 Special. If the gun has been fired, I see no reason to shoot it. Just take care of it.

No reason to shoot it or not shoot it? It has been fired BTW.
 
My edition (1996) of The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson states that the 68 is identical to a 66 except bored for 38 Special and so stamped on the barrel.

BTW- If the CHP stamp isn't over stamped to look like OHB it's even more rare. When these were sold the CHP was obliterated (I don't know why) and very few escaped this.

The -3 lacks the pinned barrel but having the CHP stamp intact is much less common so a collector would drool over this one.
 
I've not seen any major price increase due to CHP dept markings.

I have a 66 with KHP (Kansas Highway Patrol) on it, and I paid $300 for it from the state trooper who sold it to me.

If a 68 has CHP on it, they are probably more common then KHP marked 66's, because there were a heck of a lot more CHP 68's then KHP 66's issued, and sold as surplus.

If it has been fired, there is no reason not to fire it some more!

rc
 
If it's been fired, shoot the heck out of it. If you decide to sell it, having been shot more won't matter.
 
rcmodel- It's not how many that were made, it's how many survived intact. The CHP ordered all guns over-stamped before selling them. Only a small number escaped this somehow (likely an employee ushering one through for his use with the stamp intact).

BP- My goof. You said it was a 68-2 and that does have a pinned barrel.
 
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