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

[gamestalker]

I have a 66-2 / 2.5" barrel, of which I believe quite a few were made. But I also have a 66-5 with a 3" barrel that I recently learned are supposedly pretty rare, like only 2500 or so manufactured.

So is this accurate, the 3" is pretty rare, or is the internet wrong?

GS

 

[MrBorland]

Yes, they are fairly rare. I've only every seen 2, both for sale, and both with an asking price north of $1k. And that was a few years ago.

Are you sure yours is a bona fide 3"? IIRC, S&W also made a 3 1/4" that are sometimes confused with the 3". These have HiViz front sights and at least some of them were 66-5s.

 

[gamestalker]

Yes, it's a real deal 3".

The reason I was asking, a fellow in an LGS recently ask me what I was wearing, I was OC-ing, and I told him a 3" 66. He responded with telling me that S&W only made about 2500 of them, and that it was worth quite a bit.

I got this piece about 8 or 9 yrs. ago in a trade. Get this, a fellow wanted to trade me an XD 9mm for a Tech 9, but I already have an XD 9mm, so he said how about this 3" 66-5 with box, and it was in near 100%, so of course I said yes.

GS

 

[Madcap_Magician]

How come I never meet people like that? :banghead:

 

[MagnumDweeb]

I find it strange that the 3" were rare because supposedly (as I understand it) the FBI was big into 3" barreled .357 magnums at one time. Model 13s and 19s in 3" were supposed to be a common service firearm. If that was true, then I don't see why model 66s weren't popular in 3" unless the stainless version was considered too gaudy for service.

 

[MrBorland]

I find it strange that the 3" were rare because supposedly (as I understand it) the FBI was big into 3" barreled .357 magnums at one time.

I don't know what they used, but fixed-sighted .357mag k-frames (e.g. Models 13 and 65), aren't all that rare and were used in LE. I bought my 3" M65 from a LEO.

OTOH, 3" .357mag k-frames with adjustable sights are rare (3" M66) to exceedingly rare (3" M19).

 

[Old Dog]

Sigh. I've never seen a 3" 66 (or 19, for that matter) in person ... More grail guns, I guess.

Got a beater 3" Model 13, but the 19 and the 66 are my all-time favorite .357s ...

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm pretty sure there were more than 2500 3" M-66s made, as they were the issued sidearm of the USPS Postal Inspection Service...with 1200 investigators and 1000 uniformed officers; 2500 seems like a pretty small number

I find it strange that the 3" were rare because supposedly (as I understand it) the FBI was big into 3" barreled .357 magnums at one time.

The FBI issued the 3" round butt M-13

 

[stu1ritter]

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. There are other 3" models listed but they are later than the 66-2. Seems that 5,000 is the correct number for the 66-2.
Stu

 

[P5 Guy]

Too bad S&W doesn't read this and all the other forums that have REVOLVER sections.
If they had there would be more three inch revolvers in the new guns market.

 

[9mmepiphany]

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. There are other 3" models listed but they are later than the 66-2. Seems that 5,000 is the correct number for the 66-2.
Stu

That is more along the line of what I remember. The ones that bring the high prices are the M66-2.

I'd be suspect of a 66-5 fitted with a 3" barrel. I'd thing it was either a re-barrel or a distributor run

 

[GeneS]

I'm liking this thread. This is my 66-2, bought new in the mid 80's. It's a really handy size and the full length ejector rod kicks the empties out better than the one on the 2 1/2 in. model.

 

[stu1ritter]

Back to the Book. There are several 66-5 listed with 3" barrels. :~) There was a special built for "RSR" (whoever they were) and 3" 66-5 with Red Ramp, White Outline sights and Round butt. After that they seem to go to 3.25" only.
Stu

 

[Deaf Smith]

I've owned several 3 inch 66 revolvers.

No biggie as for being special.

Rare, yes, special no.

I still have a 65, 3 inch Ladysmith .357, but I actually prefer the 2 1/2 19 and 66 revolvers.

Deaf

 

[oldbear]

I find it strange that the 3" were rare because supposedly (as I understand it) the FBI was big into 3" barreled .357 magnums at one time. Model 13s and 19s in 3" were supposed to be a common service firearm. If that was true, then I don't see why model 66s weren't popular in 3" unless the stainless version was considered too gaudy for service.

The model 13's and 65's are not rare at all, lots of theme out there. They are excellent revolvers by the way.
Now the 3" model 19's are VERY RARE. It's believed that less than 500 were ever produced, many for the California D.E.A. On the rare occasion one of these does come up for sale they go for BIG BUCKS. I know one serious collector who was bidding on one, and fell out of the bidding when it went past $3,000.00. In today's market I believe that a 95%+ 3" model 19 would be in the $5,000.00 range.

 

[9mmepiphany]

There was a special built for "RSR" (whoever they were)

"are"...they are a firearms distributor.

It is RSR Group and they have had a huge display at every SHOT Show I've ever attended

 

[Radagast]

The logic of making an exclusive model for DEA agents boggles me. It would be a 'shoot me' sign for under cover agents. I'm not objecting though. The more variants for Smithheads to chase, the better.

 

[Blueduck]

A decade ago a young female Parole Officer that I worked with asked if a "snub nose" model 66 would be ok as a carry gun as she had found one a friend of a friend was selling, and she did not like the new Glocks everyone else was buying.

I told her that sounded like a very good deal, and would be happy to check it out for her since it was used. I was assuming it was actually a 2 1/2" until she brought it in..., and yep one of the original 3" 66-2's I told her about the value and she was very relieved, because she had paid $300 for it and thought she may have been taken.

She still carries it to this day and rubs in her good deal to me each time we end up at qualification together.

 

[Nom de Forum]

The logic of making an exclusive model for DEA agents boggles me. It would be a 'shoot me' sign for under cover agents. I'm not objecting though. The more variants for Smithheads to chase, the better.

Don't you think agents going undercover would have the sense to carry something else? Few DEA agents are undercover. The cost for S&W to make 3" Model 66s for an agency contact are minimal.

 

[WestKentucky]

3" is the fine line between snub and standard. You get the best and worst of both worlds. Great concealability with good sighting radius, wonderful balance, and a requirement for a custom holster because none are available from the normal folks like galco.

 

[MrBorland]

I deleted several posts that were off topic and starting the veer the thread needlessly. Keep further discussion on-topic, please.

 

[short barrel]

I'd trade any of my 10 toes for one.

 

[Blueduck]

That out of the way

I did have one of the later special run models with a lock, fiber optic sight and 3.2" bbl. It was a special run I purchased from Davidsons. I THINK it was a 66-6 and some had gone out as 66-5s without locks same configuration. Wish I had held onto mine. Did not like the sights and holsters were really have to find for 3.2", both could have been overcome though.

Sweet shooting gun though, the 3" 66 really seemed to do everything a bit better than the 2 1/2" with no real drawback (other than holsters of course).

 

[gbw]

Heresy I know, but I own them all and don't like the 3" as well as the 2-1/2" or 4".

My 66-2 3" was bought new from Ashland (I think) way back when. I do like it and I'm glad I have it, but somehow it's neither fish nor fowl, not a snub but not a service revolver either. IMO all 19s/66s are too heavy for daily carry (except OC by Law Enforcement on a heavy belt), there are better lighter choices.

Just one opinion.

 

[mope540]

According to a letter from S&W, "well over 5000 units" were produced. The majority (4195) were 66-2's that were made for Ashland.
I requested a production # for the 3" -4 but the letter does not specify. It does mention that it was produced for RSR wholesale.