Unfired 66-1 ???

Any way to tell with certainty or does this just end up a really nice example of a Mod 66-1

Recently inherited by a friend upon his fathers passing. He remembers the day his dad brought it home in 1994 just as it is seen in these pics ($376.74 OTD). For certain never fired by his father.

I’ve serial number searched it to 1980 production. I’m assuming the zip tie was placed by the dealer his father bought it used from to either:
1. Prevent turn marks on a gun he knew to never have been fired or
2. Simply to prevent dry firing in the shop

I do see a very faint turn mark in a couple locations but to me this isn’t anything beyond factory function testing.


Either way, I’m encouraging him to remove the zip tie so we can at least give it a clean and wipe down. I don’t feel the zip tie is any form of evidence to never being fired. And if there isn’t a way to declare NIB without certainty then why not shoot the thing as well.

I’ll add that while hard to see in there I do not see any evidence of flame cutting either. I’ll try and get a pic of that also once we have some guidance on the zip tie.

Pics below. Appreciated anyone’s thoughts on this

One of my thoughts also. Those look incredibly clean to me. I know what my SS cylinder faces look like and they have badges of honor. Flitz every now and then but not on the regular.

wcwhitey said:

I will add a pic so you can be the judge. It’s really faint and barely noticeable. If I were to polish the gun it would be gone..

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Thank you for the photo’s. That adds some reference and perspective.

halfmoonclip said:

That wire tie is the work of the dealer, and proves less than nothing regarding having been fired or not.
It's a nice example, but it's not the Lincoln derringer. Your buddy should shoot it and enjoy it, and enjoy its family provenance too.
Moon

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My thoughts as well.

Thanks to everyone for all the insight and feedback.

We’ll get the strap off it and give it a good wet patch/dry patch and inspection. I’m pretty sure he will shoot it as it will never get sold so any loss of value would not be in consideration. His overall plan is to build the handgun collection that his dad wanted and this can obviously serve as the cornerstone.