Gun Identification
 

Friend has a smith and wesson k frame 357 magnum, stainless steel, and a trench style rear sight. Model not numbered on gun. He inhereted it. Shot it today and it was sweet but we want to find out what model it is. How many in this configuration.

Was it heavy barrelled? That would likely make it a Model 65.

Kind of, it wasnt tapered but it didnt have the big underlug like a 686 or something does.

http://www.gunshopfinder.com/smithan...sonmodel65.asp

This it?

Yep, thanks.

No problem. More obscure model, I guess. I only found it on my police Firearms Reference Table disk.

This had some pachmayr presentations and shot well for me, even with the crude sights.

I've mentioned the Model 65 more than once on here, in fact, I was just talking about one in the DA Revolvers vs. DA Autos thread. My buddy has a 65-1 and I''m proud to say I've handled and shot it. It's a prime example of a "service revolver" and of the quality craftsmanship that Smith & Wesson used to put in their firearms. It's almost sad that he's going to have me try and sell it for him.

Oh yeah, the sights are referred to as "service sights" on S&W's website, I've never heard the term "trench sight" but it's an interesting term, where did you hear it? As far as them being "crude" is concerned, they are certainly not 3 dots, but relatively speaking, the notch is pretty wide and the blade front sight is too. Also, the model number has to be on there, since the gun has to be post 1950s if it's a Model 65, or anything that could resemble a Model 65. Tell your friend to open the cylinder and check under the "yoke" or the hinged portion, is supposed to cover, like here:

http://i41.tinypic.com/i53nrk.jpg

The serial number should be there, and if it's not, you either don't have a Smith, it was a grave mistake at S&W when producing the gun, or it has been filed away.

I was looking on barrel.....my bad. Im used to rifles.

Im also a bit of a snob when it comes to sights and triggers......i know its a character flaw lol. Trigger was truly excellent.....for a double action:p

I'm a sight snob too (in fact I'm pretty much a gun snob in general, though I see merit in just about everything), but I look for different things in my sights. I want the rear notch and the front blade to be wide enough to see, but still as narrow as possible, since it seems to provide me with a little more precision when aiming. Of course, this is sort of the antithesis of pretty much all the sights that are out now, large, blocky, and covered with dots (which don't generally bother me, but I can do without 3 dot or 2 dot type sights, unless it's a defining feature in the gun, like my 92SB), but, again, I am a damnedable gun snob who likes the way things used to be made, that are "true" to the original design, if you will. The 65 is certainly one of those guns.