Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 66-1

Are these still desirable w/6" barrel?

I only see a couple on GB, maybe that says something...

Swag: I pay pretty close attention to Model 66's pistols as they are among my favorite guns.
In fact I bought one to carry on duty and did so for many years.
THEN... I got enough seniority to apply for our departments Harbor Unit and was successful at that.
I learned that I then qualified for department issued stainless S&W's so I went after one of them.
In short order I was issued a N.I.B. Model 66-1 in 4" to go along with the 66-? 6" I already had sighted in.
So I kept carrying the Smith I had purchased for myself and never fired the department issued pistol.
Ten years later I retired and the city sold me the Model 66 (still unfired!) for the labor contracted rate of $60.00!
I also had "finagled" a S&W Model 60 for summer uniform duty and it also came into retirement with me for the aforementioned $60.00!
I currently own 6 Model 66's (in 2", 4" and 6" styles) and 1 Model 686.
I think the Model 66's are VERY desirable and maybe the reason you aren't seeing many is because they are popular and useful to and for their owners?
About once every year an early model 66 comes into our local sport shop (LGS) and they never last a week!
At gunshows in the west they gain MUCH attention and fondling when found on a table.
If you are specifically inquiring about the 66-1 having some short-coming then I am not aware of that at all.
In order of "my" preference of Model 66 barrel lengths I prefer the 6" models then the 2"ers and finally the 4" models.
Just my preference that and no one elses.
Good luck if you are looking for one of them I highly recommend them.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I would say they are desirable....when I worked at the LGS the 6 inchers were the slowest movers, but they did move, and you saw fewer of them than the other lengths. I love M66s...carried mine for years ( 4 inch) and prior to their advent I carried a 6" Model 19 for 18 years. I'm a fan.

Love Model 66 Smiths in ANY barrel length, and have owned them all.

The 3" Model 66 is the Cats Meow!

Great sport revolvers. Very classy looks, too. For carry, I like one with a 2.5" barrel and round butt frame.

Absolutely.

Working night shift homicide division for several years, I always carried a 66, 2.5" round butt as my back-up weapon. Got it as soon as they brought it out. Fine weapon.

What did you carry in it? These days, I'd go with Gold Dot 135 grain short barrel .38 Special. Back then, choices weren't as good.

I picked up a 4" 66 no dash this fall that just came into a LGS and all I can say is it is SWEET! I have no idea as to it's past but it's smoother than my no dash 686 and a dream to shoot.

Thanks for the comments guys, especially VarmintGuy!

I got this one in trade and never got around to shooting it. My safe is 357 heavy, some with sentimental value, so I am thinking about moving this one along. I am more interested in trading it, as it's cheaper to test other drugs that way Rubber grips, no box.

and you are dropping your 66 off here next time through ..correct

All this talk of the Model 66 put a bug in me to go looking for one myself. Believe it or not, I've never had one.

Found a beauty today after work. It's pinned and recessed (dash one), snub barrel, round butt frame, in very sweet shape, locks up tight, no timing issues, and has a great trigger action for (after a bit of haggling) $600.00. Manufactured in 1980.

No original grips, box ner nothin' but that's fine. It came with some nice Hogue neoprene grips exactly like Swag's (same contour despite it's being a round butt frame). If I carry it, they will come off and get replaced with compact wood grips.

Everyone should have a 66 and/or 19 just on principle.

Desirable? But of course.

Their hasn't been a k-frame I didn't like.

This 66 has had a lot of rounds through it this summer(cheap 38 reloads) and has greatly improved my handgun shooting...

TRH, that is sweet! The one I have is a 1980 I believe too. I think you should buy it from me and have a little 1980 wheelgun thing goin, it was meant to happen!

Matt

Thanks, but the one is enough for now. If I got another, it would be a pinned and recessed Model 19, same configuration.

I had to try

What do you plan on feeding it?

If I carry it, I will feed it what I feed my current carry gun, i.e., Gold Dot, short barrel, 135 grain .38 Special. Not a fan of .357 Magnum for self defense carry, but it's nice to have the option.

PS The original intention behind the 19/66 was to use it like a .38 that has the option (for special purposes, like a roadblock) to load it up with Magnums.

Very nice guns...all of them posted. I too have never actually had a 66, though I've owned several 19's including my current one.

Mark, do you have a closer shot of that 19?

Had a 2.5" 19 and could hit well with it, But had the "bug" for stainless and traded off the 19 and got a 2.5" 66.

Don't know why, but I could NOT hit as well with the 66 and ended up trading it off. (trigger?)

Should have just kept the 19.

Virgil B.

If I had a dollar for every time I've said that about a gun I'd be rich.

Ah, much better.



At least till I can get some compact, wood, aftermarket grips for it.

Lookin good TRH!

I've got a pair of these on my M13 and will order a pair for the M66.

Not a 66, but close. My 3" 65 has become my carry gun of late.



The 3" 66's are priced out of sight, and being the cheap bastid I am, I snagged up this 65 with CTC's on it for a decent price a while back. For a carry gun I like the fixed rear and lower profile front sights. Shoots like a dream.

..we think alike....




With an extra .38 Super cylinder installed..



Bob

Agreed. I have a three inch, round butt, 65 too. Currently, my EDC is its cousin, the Model 13, same configuration. Love the looks of the 2.5" 66 and 19, though.

Cool. Is that an easy modification, i.e., having a .38 Super cylinder fitted? Expensive? Who did it? Sees like it would just be a matter of the owner buying the cylinder and switching it out at will, assuming they're available. Moon clips, I assume.

Bought a brand new cylinder complete with ejector rod on ebay. I was lucky in that it dropped right into the 66 but would not drop into a 65 3" without fitting.

TK Custom did the rechambering and milling for the moon clips however the chambers are cut to headspace on the case mouth so one can fire rounds without the clips. I was told by TK that 9mm should also work but have not thought to try them yet. They advised not to fire 9x23 as it may damage the gun.

Did the same thing to a 3" Model 60....





A 2" Model 649 just had the original cylinder cut and will shoot Supers and Specials...

Swag: I have to tell you how I came about "obtaining" one of my Model 66 2" pistols.
A rich married couple heard I moved luxury vehicles for a price and they needed their Hummer H-1 moved from their St. Augustine, Florida "winter getaway" MANSION back to their main MANSION in Montana.
They offered me $2,000.00 plus food and lodging to drive one of their Hummer H-2's down to St. Augustine and then drive the H-1 Hummer back to Montana.
Naw I says - I'll do it for $1,000.00 plus expenses.
Off I go to Florida (3 friggin 800 miles days it took - each way!) and stayed in their mansion overnight.
Once back home to Montana they tried to force their originally offered $2,000.00 on me but I refused so's they made me take two unfired "yacht protection" firearms and 10 one hundred dollar bills from them!
They were fearful of marina thefts in Florida and had removed the guns from their two yachts and brought them to their permanent home in Montana!
Now, I could refuse money but could not refuse the guns.
One of them was a Model 66 2" that was unfired but they had discarded the box!
I was in heaven.
One of my all-time favorite pistols, and, I got it for "free" - just drivin and sight seein.
I still haven't fired that particular pistol.
Long live the Model 66's.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy