S&W Model 65 With An Interesting History

[texagun]

I found a beautiful S&W Model 65 that was produced in 1987 and it is virtually in new condition. Along with the gun came a letter from Roy Jinks (S&W Historian) indicating that the gun was delivered to the Georgia State Police in 1987. It has been in storage for over a decade when the Georgia State Police switched to another handgun (I'm betting it was a Glock 22). At that time they released these guns for sale. The prior owner bought it as new, and put 100 rounds through it...period. So as I'm very partial to the older S&W's, I was quite happy to find this one.

 

[easyrider604]

I am jealous! Please say you bought it for $450.00 or more. I noticed it has not been engraved with a number, as most ex-PD pieces have

My family has two ex-police M65s, both mechanically excellent, both with negligible flamecutting. The "-2" is pinned and recessed and in great shape, while the "-4" has one side of the rear sight notch brutally filed, I suppose to "zero"

 

[Will5A1]

Thanks for the photos - 65's are such a classic, workhorse of a gun.

 

[texagun]

I noticed it has not been engraved with a number, as most ex-PD pieces have

The Georgia State Police ID Number is on the right side, below the cylinder.

 

[easyrider604]

Ok, see that now.

Ours have big numbers (two digits) about 3/4 inch high behind the cylinder.

 

[Janitor]

Beautiful. That was a great find.

 

[strangelittleman]

Glad you like your 65. I carried one for years and loved it. I had the opportunity to buy-back one, for $175, when we switched to the M&P40. The M65s are modern classics!

 

[Tom Servo]

That's odd. IIRC, the State Patrol carried 19s and 66s, but never 65s. Department of Corrections used the 65, and some detectives had 3" 65s, but those would have been shipped to a facility in Forsyth County.

This may have been a special order, or maybe an instructor's personal gun, which would make its history even more interesting.

 

[texagun]

That's odd. IIRC, the State Patrol carried 19s and 66s, but never 65s. Department of Corrections used the 65, and some detectives had 3" 65s, but those would have been shipped to a facility in Forsyth County.

This may have been a special order, or maybe an instructor's personal gun, which would make its history even more interesting.

Thanks for that info. This gun, according to Roy Jink's letter, was shipped to The Georgia State Police Safety Training Facility in Forsyth, GA.

 

[Confederate]

Beautiful gun. Classy. The hammer and trigger are flash chromed and it has all the charm of the classic Smiths. I sure wish S&W would go back to plating their hammers and triggers.

 

[SaxonPig]

1987 = "older?"

Excuse me while I go get my wheelchair...

 

[2sigs]

Yeah 87 being older, well older than the MIM parts and Hillary holes I guess! I sort of hold out the term older for pre 70's IMHO

I have a M65-2 (78) that shoots point of aim like a lazer beam with 158's
The 65's are great work guns, I have a lifelong friend witha 65 RB 3" and I made the mistake of telling him what it's worth :banghead:

Have you fondled your Smith today?

-2sigs