3" S&W 66's, how rare are they?

RSR was, and is, one of the largest firearms distributer in the US.

Years ago a LGS had 4 66-5 3" guns on the self. Agency trade in guns. Didn't realize they were special at the time. I kick myself now for not grabbing one at the time.

BTW, while it's certainly heavier, and yes it has the dreaded "hole", my 3" 686+ is one of my very favorite revolvers. I can also not fret scratches, and shoot all the 125 grain loudenboomer reloads through it I want without guilt.

"According to Supica and Nahas (S&W Catalog) there were 5,000 66-2's produced for Ashland Arms with serial numbers starting ALU in 1985. "



If serial numbers are alphabetical then this is inaccurate. I bought mine from Ashland ($250) in 1986 and it's serial number starts with AHL followed by a 4 digit number.

"According to Supica and Nahas (S&W Catalog) there were 5,000 66-2's produced for Ashland Arms with serial numbers starting ALU in 1985. "



If serial numbers are alphabetical then this is inaccurate. I bought mine from Ashland ($250) in 1986 and it's serial number starts with AHL followed by a 4 digit number.

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Some other known prefixes of Ashland 66's are AER, AHJ, and ANA

gamestalker said:

Oh my, that is very nice Blueduck!

GS

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Thank you!, Bought it used, and already had a lot of wear marks so I went ahead and polished it up. It's a love it or hate it kinda gun with polished finished and Hyena Brown grips, but for some reason, it just all comes together for me in this one

The prefix on my 3" 66 is AHJ. I'd love to attach a set of grips like Blueduck's 686. I like the feel of the Pachmayer compacts, but not so much the look.

They are VZ grips in Hyena Brown. I like the "Tactical Diamond" version which has super sharp checkering but they offer other less aggressive options. Sometimes show up on Ebay for better deals.

I was really hoping S/W would come out with a 3" version of the new 66 at this years SHOT show, but no such luck.

To me at least there is a real difference between shooting a 3" K Frame and 3" L- frame with especially with magnum loads at the range, but there is also a large difference in how I feel after carrying one or the other for a 12 hour day as well... The world needs both

Honestly, I may not have fired a box of 50 .357 magnums in the approximately thirty years I've owned it. It's a pussycat with .38's though. Years ago I put on a set of bigger grips and shot a couple of IDPA matches. It held it's own against the couple of 4 inch revolvers there. It has the best action out of the box of any S&W I've ever owned. I just got lucky on this one.

Add AFZxxxx to the known Ashland 66-2 3" prefixes, Product Code 102712, Spec. Ord. 5134 on the box label for those interested.

As I recall, Ashland advertised them in the Shotgun News as 'the FBI revolver' and I bought one but I don't recall the price.

The 3" RB seemed like the perfect compromise, very accurate and beautiful action as GeneS says. Maybe Smith did put a little more effort into these "FBI guns"? I said earlier I actually like the 2-1/2" and 4" better though I've shot the 3" a good bit both .357s and .38s. Hard to beat ANY good 66.

Found a photo. The 3" was lightly polished many years ago - it was just another one-off Smith back then.

I would consider finding a 3 inch 66 for sale a rare event in itself. Those who own them tend to keep them.

I notice on the auction boards that they tend to bring north of 1K these days.

I carried one as a duty revolver in plainclothes for almost a decade. Fine revolver. Perhaps the perfect carry revolver. Mine still has ear wax in the front sight.

I have a 3 inch 66-4 as well. No porting in the barrel. I'm told by a S&W collector, who continually pesters me to sell it to him, that there were less than 600 units made of that model without the ported barrel. Another 571 were made with porting in the 3 inch barrel, according to him. TJ

I have a 3 inch 66-4 as well. No porting in the barrel. I'm told by a S&W collector, who continually pesters me to sell it to him, that there were less than 600 units made of that model without the ported barrel. Another 571 were made with porting in the 3 inch barrel, according to him. TJ

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Nice revolver you have!! I also have a non-ported -4, serial prefix CAA. One thing i have noticed and have seen only on the RSR -4's is the cylinder fluting being longer than all other 66s.
Got this one from a gentleman who brought it to sell at a gun show. Luckily, none of the dealers would give him the paltry sum he was asking for it. It even came with the Spegel grips.