Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns I found a pristine S&W 66 today and have some questions.

I found this today on my way home from work and snapped it up. I was in the market for a model 19 but I'm flexible. It's a no dash model 66, pinned and recessed. I assume by the no dash this is the first model with no revisions, would that be correct? Does anyone know what year the model 66 was released? I would like to know the approximate age of this revolver. It looks like it spent most of it's life in a box but those day's are over. I bought it to shoot. It came with the original box (at least I assume it's original.) I'm not saying it's un-fired but it's definitely clean. I got it for $699 tax included. Wadda ya think? Unfortunately my background check got delayed so while I paid for it, I didn't get to take it home. Happens a lot in Mississippi for some reason.



Terry

Clean? You a used car salesman? Ha ha.

You got a good deal.

TC1:Terry - I would have bought that revolver at that price.
Good for you.
I like those grips for sure.
Let us know how it shoots.
I am guessing it was made between 1971 - 1976.
As much as I love the Smith & Wesson Model 19's I think you will be better served with the Model 66.
Best of luck with the new gat.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thanks VG. I'll post more pictures when I get it home.

Nice find and a nice buy!

Very nice!

The SS sights says it’s one of the earliest ones but without the serial number it’s hard to say.

I bought one a few years ago, 66 no dash, smooth target grips and a target trigger which consisted of a trigger shoe. My box is dated 1978 and supposedly the 66-1 was out by then. Using up parts on hand to fulfill orders is the best reason I have heard. I paid $1300 OTD for mine because I wanted it and at the time gunbroker was getting $12-1500 on them. The grips were bringing $300 by themselves.



You got a great deal!

You bought well sir, congrats. Beautiful classic K frame.

Send Cotis a pm he can help you out on aging it. I can say no dash 66 we’re made from 71-77 some say 70. If you gave the letter and 2 numbers of sn, some might be able to give you a year(s) it was made. As they mention on the smith and Wesson forums if you want an approximate year you will have to get a letter.

https://swhistoricalfoundation.com/letter-process/

Also nice 66’s TC1 and TWR have!

Drooooool! $699 was a steal in my opinion.

Yes, $699 in today's market is an excellent price.

Yep. He stole that one. I would have been slobbering as I laid the money on the counter. 🤠

I see those for sale, in that condition, for close to two grand. You stole it.

Yes, you really stole it. Is one of the first runs of the Mod 66’s. Won’t be home until tomorrow but I can give you the date then but I imagine someone else will give it to you by then. Off hand it’s definitely pre 1974 just from my poor memory. You REALLY stole it!

Holy crap what a deal. I have two 66-1’s and love them.

I'll agree with everyone you got that at a very good price. I had a 4-in barrel version years ago and absolutely regret getting rid of it. memory serves I probably give 400 bucks for it back around 1990 give or take a year

You done good.

Nice snag.

DF

very nice...

That is a beautiful 1st production model which started in 1970-1976. Without serial number I cannot narrow down further. Book says “first production models are found with a stainless steel rear target sight rather than black.”

A photo of the box end would explain everything - trigger type, hammer type, grips, etc.

Nice find, had one years ago for LE carry. Ended up selling it because of problems with high power .357 loads. Info from the net

"A common complaint about the Model 66 is that it is not really capable of handling a steady diet of .357. Some have suffered cracked forcing cones and flame cutting of the topstrap. The Internet consensus, for what it’s worth, is that one should avoid excessive use of hot 125 and 130-grain loads, but 158-grain bullets cause less trouble. But what “excessive” means in this context is never clear to me. My solution? Just shoot .38s. "

"Is it an old wifes tail" We had a couple at work have issues, so off it went.