In my wanderings today I found a small gun shop just outside the metro area. Since it was on the way home I stopped to see what they had, hoping to find some small pistol primers. They had some nice Colt and S&W handguns in the case including a 4" M66. The gun was in real nice shape but the $700 price tag was too rich for my blood. When I questioned the price I was told that it was super rare because of the stainless rear sight. I know that a small number of S&W's were built with the stainless sight but does it really add that much to the guns value? I figured it was a $500-$600 gun at best...

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"Shall not be infringed"

I don't think I would like a SS rear sight. It would be
hard to see in the daylight. I do know they are more rare
but I don't think they are $700 rare. Keep looking! Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

First year production of the 66 had stainless front and rear sights. Not good for target work, later changed after all the cops bitched about the silver sights.

The sight has a very dull finish so I don't think glare would be an issue Don...

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"Shall not be infringed"

I have an early Model 66 with stainless front and rear sights. The problem isn't so much with the rear sight blade, it is really with the stainless ramp front sight that is hard to see in certain lighting conditions.

Bill

I've still got my first year production 66 with the SS frt & rear sights. I found the grey sights very difficult in certain light conditions. I can recall seeing a few of those early guns in the hands of cops...who simply masked off the sight ramp and sprayed them with some matte black paint.

FN iin MT

I have both a model 66 no dash and a model 67 no dash and they both have the stainless sights and as already stated the problem is seeing the front sight. Both of mine are shooter grade and the 67 has red paint on the front sight and the model 66 has a red ramp front sight.

They are rarer then the later models but no where near $700 worth of rare. The gun is a $500 gun at most if it's a shooter.

Red fingernail polish does wonders for a front sight ramp.

Here is a model 67 no dash with stainless sights next to a 66-1.


I like the uniqueness of the early SS rear site.
It is sometimes more difficult to see them due to the lack of contrast, epsecially in certain light conditions.


As for adding value, My opinion is not worth extra $$ on a shooter,
But I would spend a few more bucks for a clean SS site model in new condition because they are harder to find.

I had an early M/66 with stainless sights, I installed a blue rear sight blade and red ramp front sight. That took care of the hard to see sights for me.

Most shooters who had the stainless sights got rid of them asap. As to it's "worth", I don't believe it is worth a nickle more than any other M66.

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Martin Co,FLA(finally made it)

I have a 66 no dash with stainless front and rear sights. As a couple of other posters have noted, the stainless rear sight presents no problem. The stainless front sight, on the other hand, is a whole different story. In low light it's fine, it shows up in my eyes as a nearly black sight. But, in bright light, especially when the light is coming from behind me, the sight essentially disappears. I've kept the stainless sights on my 66 (which I truly love) for sentimental reasons and also because they look pretty cool. But, the stainless front sight obviously has its drawbacks and I'm guessing that's why Smith discontinued it so soon after introducing it.

I have my model 66 with stainless sights that I bought new as a young police officer. I had no trouble putting six rounds in a tea cup size circle at 30 yards with it. One of the most accurate handguns I ever carried. I bought it when I retired my 1968 colt python which was as accurate.
Ed