Smith and Wesson K Frames

[Newguy1]

I am really interested in getting a K frame of some type. What Model Numbers were/are available in the K frames? I know about the 10 and 15, but what others are out there?

Where is a good place to look for "Police Turn-ins"? I am really interested in getting a K frame of some type. What Model Numbers were/are available in the K frames? I know about the 10 and 15, but what others are out there?

Where is a good place to look for "Police Turn-ins"?

 

[sm]

Welcome to THR.

There are a bunch of K frames, in calibers ranging from .22lr ( model 18) to .357 Mag.( model 19 - has adj sights) Just two examples. The Model 10 is a .38spl in blue, fixed sights often seen as Police trade in. The model 64 is the same gun in Stainless. Some K frames have fixed some have adj sights.

I don't have S&W website handy, don't know if they list them by frame size.

Do a search ( upper right corner) , use more than 3 character search. LOTS of info, some pics as well.

Hard to beat a model 10 4" bbl to learn to shoot a revolver , nightstand gun. The 2" bbl makes a great carry gun.

HTH

 

[albanian]

For police trade in guns, look in the Shotgun News. I have seen some S&W K-frames in there from time to time. They are getting a little harder to find as most police depts have switched to autos long ago but there are still plenty to buy.

I know a few K-frames but others here can fill in the rest. S&W 19, 14, 10, 15, 66, 67, 17, 65, 16, 13, 12, 18, 53, 64, 66, and 617. There are other but those are the ones that you will come across most often.

For Police trade ins, you will probably want to look for S&W 19, 10, 12, 13, 15, 14, 66, 67, 68, and 65. those are the the 38 and 357 K-frames.

 

[Hutch]

M10 - you know about
M11 - Like M10 in .38 S&W
M12 - Fixed sight allow frame .38Spl
M13 - Fixed sight steel frame .357Mag
M14 - Adjustable sight 6.5 or 8.375 inch target
M15 - you know about
M16 - Like M14 in .32 S&W (very rare/pricey)
M17 - Like M14 in .22LR
M18 - Like M15 in .22LR
M19 - Adjustable sight 2.5, 3(rare) 4(common) and 6" .357Mag
M45 - Forget it, you'll never see an M10 in .22LR!
M48 - Like M17 in .22Mag
M53 - Like M17 in .22Jet
M64 - Like M10 in Stainless
M65 - Like M13 in Stainless
M66 - Like M19 in Stainless
M67 - Like M15 in Stainless
M547 - Like M10 in 9mm Luger. Not common, very spendy
M617 - Like M17 in stainless

There are various special editions and Performance Center versions of a lot of the above. Enjoy. Get a copy of Supica and Hahas's book the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. Worth every dime.

 

[albanian]

Do you want SS? Do you want 38 or 357? Do you want fixed or adjustable sights? Do you want round or square butt? If you narrow it down a bit, we can tell you what models to look for and other info about them.

Don't forget that Ruger made some very very nice guns that would be considered a "K-frame". The Ruger Six Series is about the size of a Kframe but much stonger. The action is less likely to get out of time than a S&W also. Many Police K-frames have been abused and I have seen plenty of 19s and 66s that were loose. You have to be careful when buying a used Police S&W K-frame because of this. I wouldn't buy a used Police S&W K-frame without being able to handle it first. Ruger are safer to buy sight unseen. They were selling Police trade in Rugers not long ago but they seemed to have dried up. Check your local Pawn Shops and Gun stores for used Ruger Sixs. There were three models, the Security Six, the Speed Six, and the Service Six.

 

[Newguy1]

Thanks for the quick responses. I am looking for a .38 with adjustable sights. I know the M15 is the primary model for that.

If I cant find what I am looking for I will probally go the Ruger route. I have 3 ruger guns, 2 CAS types; a 45 colt Vaquero and a 32 Mag Single Six; and a MKII 22 LR.

I am a "custom gun" guy. I like to send the guns out to be worked over and "Modified". I would probally re barrel and re-cylinder the gun any way. I know it isn't cost effective, BUT neither is having mutiple gus. If it is a good shooter I will keep it as is.

I have been looking at the GP100 4 inch with adjustable sights (which I will up grade to XS Big dot; I have been wanting to try that sight system out for several years.

 

[sm]

Jack Weigand in PA used to do Custom Smith Wheelies,I'm betting he still does - maybe he has something to your tastes in house.

www.jackweigand.com

 

[Brian Williams]

sm IIRC Weigand is no longer doing any pistolcraft, just sights and mount systems.

 

[sm]

Brian,
Thanks for info, It has been some time since I checked his site - obviously.
I had "heard" he might stop doing pistolcraft.

He did great work, I had the priviledge to shoot a couple of his very fine finished pieces.

K frame, 3" RB is a great carry gun. Mr. Weigand did a great job of tweaking these for the individual, and Herrett knows stocks. Gray Area Ammo completed the package. I didn't know Weshoot2 at the time. Small world .

 

[Stainz]

The best alternative might just be a new SS 3" or 4" 64 (Fixed sights.) or 67 (Adjustable sights.) .38 Special +P. A local dealer has them ~$400 new... no need for 'custom' work or cylinder & barrel replacement. A decent clean & lube, dry-fire 1,000+ times, and a follow up clean & lube will give you a quite decent trigger, too.

Some time back, I bought a 3" 65 police trade-in from 'Centrefire Systems' for ~$225 delivered (... before ffl fee.). It was a bit dinged... I even said it looked as though it had been used as a wheelchock. The SS buffed out nicely, although the deep scratches & dings are still there. The grip was trash, too. It's innards, cylinder, forcing cone, and barrel looked unused. It had indeed seen few rounds! It has seen many more now - great shooter, great trigger. I'd rate myself as lucky... and I will reserve future such 'sight unseen' purchases for the odd antique paperweight and/or 'truck' gun. If you want a really good 'keeper', buy a new one.

Stainz