Photo tribute to a passing legend, the S&W M65

[DHart]

I've had Smith & Wesson revolvers for more decades than I'd like to count. Started with a 28 when I was 21 years old. Then added a 60 in 2", 66 in 2.5" and 686 in 6" in the mid-eighties, then a 642 in 2" a few years ago. And all these years I've wanted a 65.

Finally, this week, I got my yearned for 65. And guess what... I haven't had it more than a day and it's become my favorite revolver, period. That would including my other smiths and my new Ruger GP100 4" and SP101 3" revolvers. These are all great revolvers, but the 65 3" just hits the middle ground sweet spot dead on.

S&W got this one so right... with the medium frame size, 3" barrel, fixed sight, round butt, and full-length ejector rod this is the .357 defense revolver par excellance. The action feels like a Rolls Royce gliding down the road. Very sweet indeed. Though it's not the best for hunting or long term heavy use of really hot .357 ammo, it's perfect for defense and will happily shoot "lite" .357 loads and .38spl +P loads to your heart's content. My intention is to shoot primarily 135 gr. Gold Dot JHP bullets at about 1000 fps. This is a great load for defense, very comfortable in this size/weight of revolver, and easy on the gun.

Anyway, I'm really loving this classic little blaster. And I'm really ticked at S&W for ending the production of K-frame .357's. Oh well, here she is as she laid on my desk tonight:

Smith & Wesson Model 65-5 .357 Magnum 3" barrel

Serious as a heart attack:

This is one very HOT pistol! I love it.

 

[MartinS]

I'm glad I waited for your photographs to drip through my dial-up.
Lovely weapon. The simple lines of the sight cut into the frame make the adjustables look like add-ons .

 

[Marshall]

Are the Pachmayr's Compact Pro's?

 

[Justin]

very nice!

 

[DDGator]

Gorgeous gun, but seeing it loaded and cocked makes me nervous just looking at it.

 

[denfoote]

Gorgeous gun, but seeing it loaded and cocked makes me nervous just looking at it.

It should!!!

Nice gun.

 

[DHart]

Yes... I think the adjustable sight on my 2 1/2" model 66 looks like a tack on compared to this sleek 65... I much prefer the 3" 65 for defense use... it's perfection in my opinion!

I decided to use the loaded and cocked look because I am really bored with the passive look most weapons have in pics. I wanted to create some images with real impact, images which convey the intensity and power which the gun is capable of. I agree... some of these pics look intensely hot, knowing how light that single action pull is and how much power is at the end of the dropped firing pin. I wanted to create an intense viewer response, not yawns. I think I nailed it! Imagine having to stare down this gun loaded and cocked and in your face! Yikes!!!

 

[Preacherman]

Nice gun, and great photographs! I have one of those, as well as one of the blued equivalent (Model 13). I sent both up to WildAlaska to have the moonclip conversion done to them. With moonclips, I think the 3" fixed-sight .357 K-frames are just about the finest CCW revolver available.

 

[DHart]

Marshall... The grips are Pachmayr Compac SK/C (not Professional Compac SK/CP). The Professional Compac is thinner, less hand filling, and has an open backstrap. The regular Compac SK/C (my favorite revolver grip) is rounder, fills the hand more "fully" and the backstrap is not revealed.

Preacherman... I envy you having a model 13... I would so love to have the 3" blue steel equivalent of my 3" 65. What marvels these are!

 

[S_O_Laban]

Wow... that baby is so sweet. Mine is a 4inch barrel and I'm currently looking for some nice hardwood grips for CCW. I love my model 65. It's not as nice as yours but I understand the feeling

 

[DHart]

Right on S.O. Hey, when you decide on wood grips, be sure to let us know what you found. I'll be wanting some for this baby as well! Man do I love this pistol... it just feels and points so right!

 

[VonFatman]

Beautiful photos!!

of a beautiful gun! Thanks for sharing!!
I snatched one of those photos for my wallpapar!
I don't (as of yet anyway) have any stainless S&W's...but I do have
a pretty close cousin of your Model 65...

I bought this 13-3 last winter and threw some nice walnut grips
on to dress her up a bit.

Hey S. O. ..how's it goin? We've taken 18 deer off the farm so far!

Bob

 

[sturgeon]

That is just lovely. I had one once, and didn't know what I had at the time. Now that I love revolvers I wish I had it back. :banghead:
(Preacherman)

 

[fiVe]

DHart & VonFatman:

Great pics. Thanks for sharing.


R/fiVe

 

[DHart]

VonFatMan... oh how I love that 13 of yours! Absolutely gorgeous. Of the six Smiths I've had, only the first one was blued (model 28) and that's the only one I don't have any more. I LOVE blued guns and my next mission is to find a 13 like yours. Just gorgeous. Great grips too. Thanks for sharing.

 

[S_O_Laban]

only 18....Wow Glad to hear it. I'm sure you helped make some dreams come true out there. BTW very nice pic of your model 13.

DHart,Hardwood grips: Haven't decided what I want just yet... would really like to feel them before I buy, thus it will wait until I get to the next show. I see many that look good on line but hesitate to spend my hard earned dollars until I'm sure about how they feel.

 

[xring]

I had to contribute. I will miss the K frames. Randy

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[DHart]

xring... what a beautiful pair! I really need a 13 to go with my 65.

 

[VonFatman]

DHart,
You will find one...just keep looking. I got lucky, caught Cabela's "Gun Library" manager in a good mood...picked this one up unfired w/the box for $250 out-the-door. I honestly didn't walk in looking to buy a 13...but what's a guy to do??

Good luck with your quest.

S.O.,
We managed to get 4 new hunters their first deer so far! That's what it's all about.

Bob

 

[DHart]

Bob... what a smokin' deal you got! You are very fortunate indeed!

 

[gvass]

Sweeeet!
And those dumbs want to discontinue them all.

 

[Kestrel]

DHart,

That looks great. It's one of my favorites, as well.

I always enjoy your pictures - they're superb.

Steve

 

[DHart]

Thanks again for the kind compliments guys... I'll work on some pics of my other S&W models.

 

[SAG0282]

Hmm.....yeah I need to get me a Smith revolver.

I'm so impressionable!

 

[DHart]

Being a lover of dark guns, once having tasted the fruit of a 3" 65 I just had to add a blue steel 3" 13. I found one on Gunbroker for $301 last week and got her home yesterday. Here's a first picture of it from last night. Has an action job, bobbed hammer, and sculpted trigger by Brad Lewis and runs like a fine, smooth Rolls Royce!

My recently acquired 65 was my favorite wheelgun for a short while, but now this one's taken the top spot. I do love them all, though. But the feel, balance, weight, and shootability of the 3" fixed sighted K-frame makes the 13/65 about the best fighting wheelgun man's ever devised. (IMHO anyway!)


Smith & Wesson Model 13-3 .357 Magnum 3" barrel