S&W Model 67?

[Gearhead Jim]

Today I saw an old (grooved trigger) S&W 67, but it had a taperd 4" barrel instead of the heavy barrel on all the other ones I've seen.

Anything especially good or bad about this setup?

Thanks.

 

[slick6]

The model 67 is the stainless version of the model 15. Both of these have the beautifully styled(Tapered barrel)and, in fact, the heavy barrel, as was used on the other versions of the S&W K-frame, chambered in .357 magnum, was not necessary for the .38 special caliber, in these model's(15, 67, including the model 10 )with their tapered barrels! All of these .38 special(K-frames)are very accurate revolvers)! These models have been proven to be excellent and reliable revolvers! They are a "Classic" design, with that elegant, tapered barrel(Often called a "Pencil" barrel)! The heavier barrel was needed for the more powerful(.357 magnum)round, to aid in controling the weapon whenever firing-and, to bring the weapon, back into firing position, more quickly(For faster, follow-up shots)! In my opinion, you just can't go wrong with a proven performer, like the model 67, that you are considering!

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Slick6-

I agree with everything you say, except it seems that most of the 4" Model 67's were produced with the heavy barrel similar to a 66. All of my catalogs going back to the early 1980's show the 67 with a heavy barrel, and even Jink's History of Smith & Wesson shows only the heavy barrel 67.

So it seems that the gun I saw is rather rare, not a collector piece but still not common.

Thoughts?

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

My Model 67 that was bought new in 1972 doesn't have a Heavy Barrel.They are the same gun as the Model 15 except in Stainless Steel.The earlier ones has Stainless Rear sights.So did the earlier Model 66's.That are a great revolver.As a matter of fact,my M-67 was my first handgun I ever owned.It would be the last I would ever part with.

Ruger Redhawk

 

[FPrice]

Jim...

Today I saw an old (grooved trigger) S&W 67, but it had a taperd 4" barrel instead of the heavy barrel on all the other ones I've seen.

I am under the impression that all Model 67s had the same barrel profile throughout all of it's production. I saw a Model 67 (-2, I think) at a local gun store recently and was tempted, but short on funds.

On page 167 of Jinks' book there are adjacent photos of Model 64s with the standard weight (pencil) barrel and the heavy barrel configuration for comparison. I wonder if what you saw was a re-barreled Model 67 or if it was an un-catalogued or very rare configuration?

 

[Lone Star]

I just responded to this question over on the new server at the Smith-Wesson.com forum, under my board name of Texas Star. Check there.

Lone Star

 

[BluesBear]

The Model 67 was called the Combat Masterpiece just like the Model 15.

I have never heard of one having a tapered barrel.
As FPrice* said it could be a rebarrel. Any idea what the serial number is?

 

[FPrice]

BluesBear...

I have never heard of one having a tapered barrel.

Actually, if you look closely, the barrel on a Model 15 does taper very slightly where it exits the frame, although not nearly as much as the standard weight barrel of say a Model 10.

 

[rbernie]

The pics here show this very well. I have a blued Model 15 that has the 'tapered' barrel exactly shown in the Model 15 pic, and a Model 64 that has the heavy/non-tapered barrel.

 

[Lone Star]

Blues Bear-

I respectully suggest that you have me confused with someone else. I never said that the C. Masterpiece never had a tapered barrel. It danged well did.

What I said on the other forum is that I thought that going to the heavier, untapered barrel hurt sales of the Combat Masterpiece, and that many buyers preferred the M19/66 for more versatility, with about the same weight and bulk. Unless one wasn't allowed by a police dept., etc. to carry a .357, there would be little point to buying a gun that handled only .38 ammo, unless it was a small snub.

Lone Star

 

[FPrice]

I respectully suggest that you have me confused with someone else.

I was the one who advanced the possibility of a re-barrel. But after reviewing the thread over at smith-wessonforum.com it appears that S&W made an engineering change to the Model 15/67 without letting me know.

I hate when that happens.

 

[FPrice]

There's a nice pic of a Model 67 in this new thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=132650

 

[BluesBear]

We interrupt this thread to bring you the following clarification;

Please forgive my miscommunication in the wee hours of the morning.
By using the term "tapered barrel" I was referring to the "pencil barrel" as originally used on the M&P.
Which is what most people think of when they hear the term tapered barrel.


We now return you to our regularly scheduled picking of nits.