Not that this matters to me as I sell basically nothing.

However, my no dash has a replacement cylinder and I knew this going in as it had the "R" stamped on it.

Presuming that this was sent back with the standard issues of the no dashes and the gas ring problem and basically upgraded with the 66-1 gas ring setup.

Thoughts other than shoot it!

I have no idea. I'm just trying to post ahead of DW.

Thanks for the highlight of my day!

Love the 66's 2 no dashes and 2 -1's in under a year.

Great looking revolver and I'd love it either way and enjoy it.

You sure that is not an "F" stamped on the cylinder? Most 66's have that.

Nice looking 66! Regards 18DAI

my dash 2 has the "F"

It's a beautiful revolver. Unless it's meant to be a museum piece, don't worry about the cylinder, and enjoy shooting it!

As long as the cylinder fits, times and works perfectly, I don't see that it matters much. While it is a beautiful looking gun, its not a museum collectible and will not matter in the long run. Any gun if shot a lot will eventually have to have replacement parts of one sort or another. Shoot it and enjoy it!

Chief38

My 66 no dash has a "V" stamped on the cylinder. Could the letters just be some kind of an assembly code?

Thanks for the replies, yep it's a shooter for certain.

Certainly has the normal "V" I see on my others and has the "R" as well. (No "F" on any of mine). I've had it apart, but did not take the time to note the difference of the gas ring placement to my -1's at the same time.

Must say I like all the questions, just forces me to go back, open the safe and drag out a bunch of 66's and fondle them.

No evidence of the crane being replaced, numbers on it match the frame. Stampings - don't know what I should be looking for but I have seen others that have been reworked and had a date and marking. One stamp "seems" fresher and appears to be a C-(something) maybe a C-S. Just going to shoot it and enjoy. With 4 it's not like I will wear anything out here.

FACTORY replacement wouldn't bother me a bit.


Just looked. I have 5 V's, and 5 F's.

Oh, it doesn't bother me. But I do find the F & V's to be of interest. Maybe I need to get some of those too! Are the "F" stamped models no dashes or -1's?

Thanks.

Can't help you with the marking other than that is an early 66-0. You don't see the stainless sights all that often. I've got one just like it only not in quite as good of condition as yours. Nice iron!

I got a V on my 66 no dash.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

M 66 no dash has a V & directly across has a X. ???

I looked again. Here is what I have:

No dash I have 2 with 'V'
-1 I have 3 with 'V'
-2 I have 3 with 'F'
-3 I have 1 with 'F'
-4 Have 1 with no stamp.

Where are the markings? I'll check my 66 no dash and see what I have as well even though mine is a 6 1/8" barrel.

I like the stainless sights. I'd be interested to know how much of an impact they have on shooting. I guess S&W changed them out to make it easier to see.

I had one back many years ago and I can tell you that the stainless sights are very difficult to shoot in the sunlight!! I have long forgotten what I did with it.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

they are on the cylinder face between the charge holes centered at the top.
my no dash has a v and an r, w/the v being a faint stamping.

I have several no-dash 66's and one of them was sent back to S&W for some sight work. It had a gas ring on the yoke, and when it came back, it had a new cylinder (gas ring on cylinder). The cylinder had an "R" stamped on it. S&W didn't charge me anything for it. I have never had any real issues with the yoke-mounted gas rings but having them replace the cylinder didn't bother me one bit.

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Aaron Terry

By the way, here is the 1977 no dash 66 that went back to S&W. Had the sights replaced as the stainless ones were hard to see.

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Aaron Terry

Want some more fun? Look at the address markings on the right side. The ones with no stamp, or the V stamp has a large address. The F stamp uses a small address stamp, 20% smaller.

Interesting how many subtle changes there really are.

I like my ss sights, but not nearly as much as RR & WO.