Well I bought this M66 4" back in April. I should have taken better pictures but it was a PD trade in that cosmetically was pretty worn but mechanically, even though a little loose/sloppy shoots great. I spent a good deal of time sanding out the larger imperfections and didn't worry about the smaller ones as this is a truck and farm gun. Once I finished it I found out fast that I didn't care for a polished finish so I disassembled it and went after it with some #10 glass beads and a few hours of cleaning all the grit out. The only thing I want to do now is replace either the blade on the side or the entire rear sight. The current blade is missing a good chunk on one corner and I'd really like a white outline. I'd love to have a pair of woods on it as well.

Before:




After:

the right side of that rear sight might be broken off, but when we carried those thing guys would file that sharp corner off too to keep it from catching on clothes and doorfames, and your arm when you had to fight some dude who didn't want to go to jail......that is what those pics look like to me, but I could be wrong

Nice job bead blasting, it looks great!

FYI, barrels are measured from the front of the cylinder. That's a 4".

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"I also cook."

I had half wondered if someone had purposely done that - it doesn't look like a break but a sanded/rolled edge. Thanks for the insight!

Thanks I'm happy with the results especially for a first try. I had a lot of fun with this one and might look for another cheap one to flip. And thanks for the clarification I'll edit my post.

I am certain then that the edge of the sight was cut back on purpose....the main reason that I like fixed sight revolvers to carry on or off duty....

have you looked in the accessories classifieds here on the forum...you will find some very easily there...

That 66 looks great, looks like it went to a 'smith....

I've got a Model 15-3 with the rear sight filed down like that. I always figured it was to keep from scratching arms and ripping shirts.

Nice 66 you got there.

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John 3:16 .

What a nice twin to mine. Mine has a sanded down sight as well and looked very similar to how yours looked when you got it.

Mine has been polished before I owned it to clean up scratches so I used some Mothers mag polish and cleaned it up further. I'll agree I don't like the polished look as much as the brushed look, but I don't have the ability to bead blast.

Looks great.

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M66, M&P 360, 642, M85 UL/Ti

good job on a great gun

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God save the SOUTH

Awesome job and it looks new now.

Thanks for the compliments gents!

I've found plenty I like, just not any I want to spend the money on! Been watching though.

Call me Bubba 'smith Not really, but it was a fun project.

Mine had obviously been polished to clean before as well. I used the same stuff and polished the whole thing out but after a few range trips decided I couldn't stand the high polish finish. I may just leave the sight alone - I shoot well with the gun and it adds some character to it as well.

Thank you, made yesterdays shooting like shooting a new gun again

Gotta roll w/ the Sheriff on this one. That's what it looks like to me also. You did a GREAT job w/ the cosmetics. If a white outline floats your boat, go for it. You're gonna look at that sight picture each and every time you shoot. Get what you REALLY like. Same thing with the grips---life's too short to do otherwise..........

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

As far as I know, you can still get rear sight blades from S&W. I have ordered & replaced several. they are not very expensive & are easy to install. the entire rear sight assembly is more costly. I think that I still have a spare sight blade, just in case I break one.