S&w 66

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Rangegod

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OK, I’ll be the first to admit that gun shows aren’t what they used to be, but even today, every once in a while you can turn over a rock and find a real gem.

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Today while wondering around the Miami gun show, fending off various beef jerky sales men, political hacks and beggars soliciting donations for doggy body armor (like I don’t pay enough taxes for this stuff already) I suddenly come upon a beautiful S&W 66 (no dash). After a detailed inspection, I would be very willing to bet this gun has never been fired outside of the factory. And as impressed as I was with the gun, the dealer suddenly mentions that he also has the original box, with packing material, papers and complete (unopened) tool kit. To say that a deal was quickly made would be an understatement.

This particular revolver model has always meant a lot to me. Way back in 1975 when I was a young, fresh from Nuke school sub sailor I bought one of these as my first real quality revolver. It was the beginning of a long list of Smith wheel guns I’ve had over the years. Unfortunately, in 1984, during a moment of insanity in the middle of a divorce I sold the 66 to a friend. Over the years hundreds of guns have come and gone through my collection, but whenever the question of “is there one you truly regret selling” comes up, that 66 always comes to mind. Today I'm happy to say, I corrected that mistake.

JAC
 

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That with round butt and fixed rear sight is the best combat .357 one can get. Not .357 range toy but that is why we have "boulders" like GP100 and N&L framed S&Ws.
 
That's a beauty, better hang on to that one for sure. Is it going to be a safe queen or a shooter?
 
Nice find! That's why I continue to wander through my local shows. Every now and then you find a good one.
 
Wow a real beauty there! Nice you "set things straight", hopefully it did not set you back too much. Even if it did, it was worth it. Won't be selling any of my 66 no dash's.
 
Love my 66-2. Only handgun on the serious wish list right now is a little brother for it - a short-barreled Model 19. The balance of the 4-inch 66, such as the one we both have, is just right. I love loading 38 special for it, and when I've got more reloading mileage on me will probably enjoy rolling some mild 357 to feed it.
 
A freind of a freind, that I blast with occasionally, has a sweet old 66 that I immediately loved, but it was his father's and there's no chance of him letting it go.
But, earlier this year ( maybe late last year?) ,I stumbled on a 4" no-dash at a local show. He "came down" to $480 even ( moaning about only making $30 bucks:rolleyes: ) , which I thought was a so-so price,especially considering it didn't have the original wood grips. But the thing was clean as a whistle, and very tight, and it was exactly what I wanted so I didn't whine. I later found a nice set of walnut target grips pretty cheap at CDNN, so it's all good !!!
 
May we respectfully ask how many sheckles you had to shell out to acquire that gorgeous lady?

From the stainless rear sight assembly, she's a First Issue No-Dash 66. Got one like it, but not as minty fresh and no box. One of my most ever favorite revolvers.
 
From the stainless rear sight assembly, she's a First Issue No-Dash 66.
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This is the only reason I bought the gun. Nice 4" 66's are still relatively easy to find, and I've had a 3" 66-2 in the safe for years. But, to find the exact model, in the same condition, as the one I walked out of the gun shop with over 36 years ago is indeed a rare find.

May we respectfully ask how many sheckles you had to shell out to acquire that gorgeous lady?
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According to the government's very much underestimating CPI index I paid (in FRN's) exactly what I did in 1975. In real money terms, I gave 1 oz. of gold for my first 66 and only 0.35 oz. for this one. I consider that a real bargain.

JAC
 
Rangegod said:
This is the only reason I bought the gun. Nice 4" 66's are still relatively easy to find, and I've had a 3" 66-2 in the safe for years. But, to find the exact model, in the same condition, as the one I walked out of the gun shop with over 36 years ago is indeed a rare find.



According to the government's very much underestimating CPI index I paid (in FRN's) exactly what I did in 1975. In real money terms, I gave 1 oz. of gold for my first 66 and only 0.35 oz. for this one. I consider that a real bargain.

JAC
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So...$615?

Gold as of 11/4 = $1754 * .35 = $613

Seems a fair price given the condition.
 
Life Saver

The S&W 66 was my carry gun when I was in Uniform Division. It has 3 for-sure and possibly 4 notches on the butt. Three defending my own life and one for saving the life of another LEO.

I also put many, many thousands of wad cutters through mine because I also used it to practice for and use it in PPC competitions. Great gun - congrats.....Doc

PS - My 66 is well worn, but I'd NEVER take $613 for it! Now if someone offered me a $1,000 for it I might be inclined to forget sentimentality! :D
 
Nicely done! I agree about the gun shows. Just when I about give up hope, I find a little doozy. I picked up this 1975 no-dash 66 at a gun show two weekends ago for $500 cash! Now I need to add a 4" no-dash to my collection.

PA300051.jpg

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I love stainless .357s and would love to get my hands on a S&W 66 with recessed chambers, stamped sideplate, pinned barrel and chromed trigger and hammer.

But...if you can't have one of those, there's always the Rugers:

RugerSecurity-SixTrio_4.gif

The grips of the 4-inch and 2.75-inch barreled models can be rounded and
the actions greatly improved.

And I don't ever aim on selling my (unfired) 686 6-inch. This is one of the few models with stamped sideplate and chromed hammer and trigger! These very early models were designed to compete with the Colt Python. I don't know whether S&W has continued to further this fine tradition, but I hope they have.

SW686_2c-1.gif

.
 
For $600 I woulda been all over that like a hen on a junebug.

And to think, just a year ago, I was hemming and hawing over wether or not to buy a nice LEO trade 4" No-Dash first issue M-66 for $389...Like the man says- "You didn't pay too much, you just bought early!"
 
Confederate: "And I don't ever aim on selling my (unfired) 686 6-inch. This is one of the few models with stamped sideplate and chromed hammer and trigger!"
Click to expand...

The hammer and trigger on my 66 used to look like those on your 686. Are you saying that they were hard chromed?

I ground the trigger grooves off mine and polished it and the rest of my gun to a bright finish that resembles a nickel finish. I can't say what the underlying metal(s) of the hammer and trigger were, but I would appreciate it if you shed some light here. Thanks.....Doc
 
Some of the real early 66s had stainless parts like hammers and triggers, but they were problematic in that they would bind. (That was in the days when the stainless was made of the same types.) Most 66s had hard chromed hammers and triggers, which I prefer.

Look at Olympus' photos. The hammers and triggers are all hard chromed, as well as the hammer and trigger on my 686 (also shown above). Rangegod's 66 also has chromed hammer/trigger. His sights are stainless, though.
 
As a follow up on my original post, I got the 66 out to the range last Wednesday. This is the first 60 rounds fired, DA, standing from the 7 yard line. All I can say is that whoever let this one sit unused for 36 plus years, missed out on enjoying a very nice handgun.

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JAC
 

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