smith 63 opinions value

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geronimotwo

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i have been looking for a 22lr revolver for some time, and just came across a 63 no dash. it has a slight cylinder line, not rock solid lockup, but pretty tight. the big condition issue is that it has dings in the back of the cylinder (around 30), which the owner claims was from someone fanning the hammer. the timing now seems perfect, and the firing pin does not seem peened.

also, i wanted this for plinking, and was thinking i wanted a 5-6" barrel, but this has a 4".

can this cylinder be replaced at a fair price, or will it need to be custom fitted?

will i be terribly dissapointed with the shorter barrel and sight radius if the gun looks and feels good in my hand.

any guesses on value?

thanks for the help, g2
 
considering the possibility of abuse I would pass on it. I have a M-63 with several thousand rounds through it and I won't get rid of it. if you have to have it I wouldn't give more than $250 considering the history and abuse. nobody fans a DA revolver
 
This gun sounds like it was owned by an idiot. Replacing the cyclinder is an expencive repair, and it may well be in need of other parts. You could end up with as much sunk into this gun in repairs as the purchase price.

Unless its dirt cheap, I don't think I'd gamble unless you know a good honest gunsmith that will look it over for you.

Unless you get one of the new model 63's, a 2 or 4 inch barrel is all your choice is going to be.
 
the gun itself looks really nice, as though it only had a few hundred rounds put through it. the cylinder line is just noticable. it almost seems as if somebodies kid had at it for a half hour playing cops and robbers. the price is what has me interested, 200. but a piece of junk is not worth anything.
 
I'd check with Smith & Wesson's service department to see if they have the cylinder available.
I took a chance on a 940 that wasn't perfect, though not as bad as this one seems, and they fixed it up beautifully.
 
At $200, I would not pass up a Model 63. That's partially because I've been diligently searching for a S&W .22, but it's also because I think at that price, even with some problems, you wouldn't be out much more to get it in proper working order.
 
the three things on my mind are:

1) i have been looking, and this is the first reasonably priced 22 i've seen with a sweet trigger.

2) i paid top dollar for my smith 66-1, and while it hurt once to buy it, every time i shoot it i love it.

3) will i regret not having the longer sight radius for plinking? my 66 has a 6" barrel.
 
I've got a 63 2". Mine is in excellent condition. In todays market, I'd price it at $460-$500. $200 is a great price. H&R's in .22 are bringing that and more.
 
The range where I coached at UT Austin has a S&W 63 with dents like you describe, which occurred when the revolver went out-of-time, causing the firing pin to strike the cylinder.

As I understand it, it didn't appear to happen from obvious abuse, but the part which turns the cylinder (pawl? hand?) wore or chipped, causing the cylinder to not turn properly into battery.

We sent it off to S&W for repair, and as I recall it was not even $100 to get it fixed.

For $200, I'd certainly take a chance on it. When I was shopping for one a year or so back I simply couldn't find one at all under $350, and even that took some luck (and came with no accessories or paperwork).
 
I'd maybe want to shoot it first. In Dec of 99 I got a 63 no dash 4" with a Bianchi holster for $200. I shot countless thousands of rounds thru that gun and basically taught myself how to shoot a DA revolver with it.

It may be one of the few guns I sort of wore out! It liked some sort of obscure .22lr Fiocchi ammo a local gunshop used to sell.
 
I had a beautiful Model 63 that was stolen out of my apartment. It had less than 200 rounds put through it and it was one of my favorite revolvers. I still get ticked when I think about it. Unable to afford or to find one, I bought two Rossi .22LR kit guns. I actually like them almost as much as I did the 63, but they lack the "class" that the 63 did.

If the gun locks into battery and fires, you don't need a new cylinder. Any raised areas caused by the firing pin strikes can be easily removed with a tiny screwdriver. And a mildly abrasive cloth can buff up the finish.

For $200, go get it.


Rossi511.gif

The Rossi 511 is no Smith & Wesson!


.
 
The Rossi 511 is no Smith & Wesson!
Click to expand...

Maybe not, but the rabbits never seemed to know the difference. :D

attachment.php


This gun will shoot 1" 25 yard groups with RWS target, 2" with Federal lightening bulk pack, and it always goes bang. The DA trigger sux, though. SA is sweet.
 
MGunner: You're right about that$ I had a mild timing issue and some fore/aft play on one of mine. Just got it fixed for about fifty bucks. Both of my 511s are tighter now than my Smith 63 ever was, the 511s also have an ejector rod shroud (which the 63 doesn't), and you've got to love those rear sights...they look like they're made for a tank.

For some reason though, I still miss the 63. It was a nice little gun and it was a S&W gem, no doubt about it.

Your photo didn't show up. If you can repost it, it would be great.
 
Hmm, seems to be working. Click here.

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=52460&d=1170458198

Mine has some end shake. I've just ignored it. Don't seem to hurt how it shoots. Times okay, but not really perfect on one chamber. I thought about shimmin' it, but I just keep shooting it. Been that way since I bought it. It's gone though God knows how many bulk packs and I bought it used. First one I had got ripped off. Actually, this one is slightly more accurate than my first one was. One of these days maybe I'll have a Smith deal with that end shake. It's not REAL bad, but it does bug me when I just pick it up and fart with it.
 
Fanning the hammer!!??
Some people should own guns and some people should not be allowed to run around with a blunt stick.

A gunsmith may be able to iron the dings out of the cylinder depending on how bad they are.

Offer $250.00 for the gun and see if the owner bites.
 
went back to see it again. everything checked out, although i did notice a slight roughness in the first third of the trigger pull. i told him i'd take it. he thinks he has a holster around, but can't lay his hands on it right now.

i'll get back with a range report, and pictures if able.
 
Good buy !!! At that price it would be hard to go wrong. I suspect at the worst if the hammer fell real close to a chamber opening it might have pushed a little metal into the chamber causing a cartridge chambering or extraction difficulty.

If that's the case, a tapered mandrel can be used to repair and cost should not be that high to have a smith do the work.

Good luck. I'll stand in line to give you your money back if you don't like it.
 
Good luck, hope it shoots well for you. Hard to wear out a quality revolver in .22 if it's not abused. It ain't like the caliber is tough on the gun or something. Barrels last forever, too. And, if it needs fixing, at least there's plenty of smiths that will work on it and plenty of parts for it and, being a Smith and Wesson, it's worth spending some money on if you have to.
 
You did well - I am considering a new 5" 63 at $589 - or a new 4"/6" 10-shot 617 at $619. Okay, not really... that's too much. You got a great price, but I'd still consider a trip back to S&W...

Stainz
 
Mod 18's rare in these parts as well. I got my 18-3 in great condition for $250 in 2005.

I really could use another S&W kit gun though.
 
finally got to the range. using one hand, freestanding at 50', i was able to keep 6 shots in a 4 inch grouping within 15-20 seconds. slightly low and left of point of aim, but i should be able to straighten that out. the trigger pull is between 2.5 and 3 pounds using single action.

i think i like it!

thanks for all the input!

(still looking for a holster)
 
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