Hi folks,

I purchased a S&W M 66-1 some month ago and would be glad about receiving some comments and answers to my questions.

Before I bought this revolver I did a lot of internet-research and this model seems to be one of the most desirable M 66 versions.

As you can see on the attached fotos, the revolver is a late manufactured M 66-1 (logo on the left side).
I was a little bit disappointed when I realized the rough quality (forcing cone-gap, toolmarks etc.).
The revolver works fine - no issues concerning the function/reliability. Furthermore I am pretty sure, that this gun has barely been shot and kept on a steady .38 spec. diat. There are no signs of extensive use or carry...

Nevertheless I would like to know, if you also made these observations.

Thank you!

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Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

I'm not knowledgeable about the mechanics, fit and finish on your Model 66, but some of the experts will be along to answer your questions.

Yours is the first S&W revolver on which I've seen the Kiel Proof House mark.

Willkommen

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Looks like a very fine example to me. They are all a bit different when it comes to tool marks and machining irregularities but this one is sweet. Love the german proof marks too. Very cool.

It's beautiful! There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. The roughness on the forcing cone is normal. I own several Smith's that have rough forcing cones. I believe that the tool marks come from the fitting process. The German proof marks are interesting, and only add to its desirability IMHO. I would love to find a 2" 66 in that shape.

Picture #1; does the cylinder dragging on the forcing cone"????????

Welcome from Arkansas! Sweet Mod 66-1, and a Nice piece of S&W History!

To my mind, the -1 2.5” is the best of all 66s.

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The model 19 and 66 2.5" examples are very desirable. I noticed the barrel and cylinder gap in photo 1 and also wondered if that was just the photo angle or a cockeyed gap. You should be happy with this purchase.

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Ken

IMHO the only thing better is a 3" 66

Hi everybody,

thank you for the quick reply and your valuable advice!
To be honest – I am deeply impressed by your knowledge. Especially recognizing the Kiel Proof House mark shows expertise on the highest level.

I do only know little about the history of this revolver. I think it was manufactured in 1981. The “93”-mark next to the Kiel Proof House mark indicates that the gun passed the check of the German National Firing Proof House in 1993 - this is mandatory for guns sold legally on the German market.

Guns with barrels shorter than 3” are normally used by hunters (finishing shot for wounded game) and to some extent by private security-agencies (not anymore, as they prefer Glock now). Due to the strict gun laws in Germany target-shooters are not allowed to own this kind of guns. Consequently these guns are normally barely shot.
German Police Departments and the armed forces always preferred 9x19 self-loading pistols (Walther, H&K, SIG-Sauer etc.).
By the way. There is another mark on the revolver: “LSA” (please refer to the attached Photo). I could not get any information about this abbreviation…

I bought this gun from a gundealer located in the northern part of Germany. It was not offered, I proactively wrote some e-Mails to several gun stores all over Germany asking for a M 66-1 in good shape. The dealer told me, that the revolver was part of a mixed lot of arms he bought ages ago. Unfortunately he could not provide any further details.

I did the check according to the clip that Larry Potterfield provides on his Youtube Channel “MidwayUSA”. No issues, perfect surface (no corrosion), perfect barrel and muzzle, perfect trigger, perfect timing…. - nothing that attracts any doubts.
As I served in the army I am more familiar with the function of self-loading guns and judging the condition of pistols, but in this specific case I am convinced that also this revolver was a good buy. Only the toolmarks and the forcing cone gap irritated me.

@BAM-BAM: The gap was indeed pretty tight but the cylinder never dragged on the forcing cone. After inserting endshake bearings the upper gap is 0.9mm and the lower gap measures 1,1mm.

I smoothened the rough surface (only the edges!) at some places in order to remove the toolmarks leaving the revolver as originial as possible. Please have a look at edge near the Proof House mark, photo no. 1 of the foto attached to this post shows the edge before I smoothened ist, photo no. 5 of my initial post shows the edges after I accomplished my work. As I am a perfectionist the revolver now fits my expectations.

Thank you once again for sharing your knowledge. I really appreciate your comments as it confirmed me that I purchased a high valuable revolver in very good condition and not a real lemon.
In Germany your are only allowed to own three handguns - therefore I had to select very intensively to make the right decision. I am sure now I did!

Best Regards from Munich
Fips

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Oh, I forgot to ask about the gas ring.
I cannot remove it from the cylinder.
Do you have an explanation or any recommendations?

Thanks for your advice!

Distance: 25 m = 27,3 yards
Ammo: Sellier & Bellot, .38 Special, 158 grs
For a snubby not bad.

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I finally succeeded. After several inquiries to many potential institutions who use "LSA" as abbreviation (Louisina Shooting Association, Lone Star Armory etc.) I received an answer to my e-Mail I sent to the "State Office of Criminal Investigation" in "Saxony-Anhalt" which is one of 16 states here in Germany.
According to the public official who contacted me, my revolver was a backup-gun of the elite tactical unit of "Saxony-Anhalt". The M66-1 was carried in this unit in the period from 1994 to 2002 before all revolvers were replaced in favour of selfloading pistols. All these guns have been marked with "LSA" which is the abbreviation for "Land of Saxony-Anhalt".
This is very remarkable as the "regular" police in Saxony-Anhalt was equipped with the Makarov-Pistol and later with the SIG P225.
After 2002 my revolver was stored in an arsenal before a gun dealer purchased and finally sold it to me.
So I am pretty happy that I could enlighten the history of my personal gun.

The last information I am hunting for is the exact manufacturing date of my M66-1 snub. As I do not have access to the "S&W Standard Catalog" I would highly appreciate if someone of the forum members could provide this detail. The serial number is:
96K738*

Thank you so much.

Best regards

Congratulations on your acquisition of a very nice S&W.



This is how I received my 66-1 except it was pretty dirty.
This was my brother's service revolver for the first 10 years being a LEO.

My brother LOVED .357 Magnums and I can't even imagine how many thousands of them left the barrel of this gun over the years.





You can tell this ones been shot a lot.

I don't know why soo many people think they can't handle a steady diet of .357 Magnums.



This is how its kept today.
I took these Target stocks off a 68-2 CHP and I think they fit the gun perfectly.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

In my opinion, the S&W 66-1 revolvers were the cream of the crop. They were the last version to be elegantly pinned and recessed, and the quality was usually outstanding on these.

Here are mine - I love 'em!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Hello Fips, beautiful firearm!
The SCSW says that the 96K dates to 1981. That's as close as the book gets. I think a letter from Mr. Jinks is the best way to obtain a shipping date, although some people have been successful with calling S&W Customer Service.

I have 4 66 snubs... a 66-1, 66-1/2, 2, and 3. Yes a 1 1/2... it has no pin in barrel but recessed chambers. Yet it is marked 66-1.

I'm a 66 snub junkie. Owned many of them. Your 66-1 seems about run of the mill. Now considering they were made 40+ years ago don't be shocked if there are some wear marks.

Mine I got long time ago along with a Ruger Security Six snub. Excellent guns.

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Deaf

Thank You so much for the information you provided! This is exactly what I was looking for. As the S&W-logo is imprinted on the left side of the revolver I knew that my Smith was manufactured in the very late period of the 66-1. So now you furnished me with the exact year. Very valuable. Thank You once again.
I will contact Rob Jinks for further details - The history of my 66-1 must be completed.

66-1 with serial number 96K8835 shipped in July of 1981

These are “must owns” in my mind, hope yours can grow on ya!

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Pass it on.
Mark

You're welcome! There is info around here for submitting a request to Mr. Jinks. Be advised that it costs $100, but that's what the other major firearms company charges for an historical letter, too.
I have my own pair of Model 66s, a 2.5" and a 6", both dash 2. One of these days I'll get a 4 and complete the set.
I hope you get many years of enjoyment from yours.

I always agree with John - PALADIN85020.

"Heads I win..."

•66-1 - shipped: April 1980•

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Bill - SWCA #2327

I am currently considering rebluing the sights of my 66-1. As the choice of the bluing agent depends on the material of the item you intend to blue, I would be glad if anyone could provide this information. Is it Aluminum?

Thank you for you support.

Best regards.

Hello everyone!

I do have the chance to complete my 66-1-package in purchasing the "Combat Stocks" shown on the attached photo.

According to the information the seller provided he wants to sell these grips as they do not fit 100% to his L-Frame 686. If you have a close look at the foto you will realize that the grip seems to be a little bit overdimensioned on the back.
As to my knowledge these Grips have been designed for the K/L-frame RB-Revolvers of Smith & Wesson I wonder why the offered grips do not really match the shape of the frame.

So I count on your valuable advice. Will these Grips fit my k-frame 66-1? I am asking as I do not have the chance to check the fitting in advance. I also do not have the option to return the grips.

Thank you so much.

Best regards!

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I p/u a NIB ‘73 Model 66 four inch that went to a gunsmith for light strikes. You just never know.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Fips... I have the exact same grips on my NIB 66-2.

Guten tag.

I suspect that the grips you have shown are intended for the round butt N frame revolver. As a M66, yours is of course a round butt K frame, which is a bit smaller. In the photos below, please observe how the N frame grips are just a bit too large for my M66-2. This particular pair were purchased only because the price was very low, and I was surprised that they turned out to be for the larger frame. The size difference is subtle. Therefore, they will not fit your revolver.

In the current US collector market, these "Combat Stocks" are expensive (frequently well over $200 US) with the N round butt stocks probably costing a bit more than the K frame version.

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I would like to thank you all for your valuable input! I highly appreciate your expertise!

As the seller did not mention that the Stocks are obviously designed for a N-Frame Revolver I am glad that you furnished me with this detail. Consequently it may be more reasonable to wait till some K-Frame-Grips will be offered.

These grips are also very rare here in Germany, although I doubt that someone will pay 200 USD. I will observe the auction on eGun and keep you informed.

Once again I would like to thank you for the timely reply on my post.

Best regards from Munich.

Bitte.

Good things come to him who waits.

I just picked up a 66-1 from a guy at work who is retiring. It is in great shape and the action is smooth as butter. I ordered the grips from Altamont.

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66-1, 686, 640-1

Iron, you have found what many revere .
Congrats & be proud of your new "hole puncher".

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Dino in Pittsburgh's Rat Pack

Are these stocks designed for k-frame? I would appreciate if you could share your thoughts:
- Dropbox - s-l1600.jpg - Simplify your life
- Dropbox - s-l1601.jpg - Simplify your life

Thank You for your advice!

Those were the Bangor-Punta years (1964-1984). Quality in finishing slipped a bit in the latter part of that era. Other than leaving a few tool marks they are excellent guns. Mostly it was a cost-cutting initiative in response to the economic times.

We see German proofed guns occasionally. Most were purchased in Germany and brought back by U.S. Servicemen.

Those are K-frame grips.

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- Post No Bills -

Thank you for sharing this information.

My M66-1 was manufactured in 1981 (obviously one of the last dash one) and the quality was o.k. Perfect timing and trigger but some tooling marks that not really impacted the function.
It took me some weekends to remove these cosmetic issues and also to refurbish the surface. As the revolver was carried as a backup-gun by a police elite unit till 2002 it showed some signs of wear but was only barely shot. So investing some time made sense for me.
The proof-mark indicates that the gun was imported in 1993 to Germany - unfortunately I have no information about its history between the period of 1981 and 1993.

The gas ring is pressed into the cylinder, and does not remove from it. No need to remove it anyway. The M66 had the gas ring as part of the yoke, and was moved to the cylinder on the dash-1 series.

Except for the proof marks and location of the S&W seal, yours is identical to mine, which is a 1980 manufacture. You have a very fine handgun there, shoot it and enjoy it.

You were (are) part of a very good military. I met quite a few Bundeswehr officers while stationed at Ramstein AB during Desert Storm.

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Thank your for sharing - I already assumed that the gas ring was pressed into the cylinder. Tahnk you for confirming this.

I love the stocks on your revolver - they look fantastic. Your M66-1 looks like it is in pristine condition.

You served in the US-Army during Desert Storm. In this period I still went to school. I joined the army in 1996 at a time when serving in the army was still mandatory in Germany. Good old times!

The gas ring is press fit and not meant to be removed unless for replacement.

My M66-1 was new in the box when I bought it, unfired except by the factory. I've got maybe 100 rounds through it. The stocks are from Altamont.

I was USAF during Desert Storm, stationed at Ramstein AB. We flew medevac missions from there in C-141B transports (I was a Flight Nurse), we had an air staging facility set up in a hangar large enough to hold two C-130's. Luckily, we never managed to fill it with patients, who would have been triaged there and then sent wherever they needed treatment.

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I was TDY there a time or two from Spangdahlem, but that was over 50 years ago...Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...