A close friend called me a few weeks ago and said he needed to free up some cash. He said the first thing to go was a trio of S&W 66-1 revolvers. I expressed interest in a 2.5” but ended up buying the 2.5”, 4”, and 6”.

I want to carry the 2.5”, but it is almost too nice. I paid less for the 2.5” than a new 66-8 cost. It’s possible that this 66 snubby has never been shot and it is probably 95% condition.

Am I wrong for being hesitate to carry such a nice gun?

that's what it is for

Yes, you are wrong. Shoot it. Carry it. It gives meaning to the gun.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

To shoot or not to shoot,,,
The 66 and 66-1 marked models are selling like hot cakes for some serious money. That is nothing to ignore. Did all three come with box, fox and tools? If they are investment grade, it is something to consider.
That said, I have a nice 3Kxxxx serialed 19-3, blued 2 1/2" with box and fox that I do not carry, never have. Only because the Mrs. shoots it very well and hijacked it.

I’d sell the two longer barreled ones and buy more snubs. Then pick which to carry.

What would you do with it if you don’t use it for it’s intended purpose? Seriously, they made a bunch of 66’s and hiding one in a safe for the next 20 years may give someone a couple hundred bucks over it’s cost or it may end up on a table at a flea market...

I don't think you're wrong. It depends on your plans. Here's my approach- I try to protect the value on most of my guns. I look at as a great way to store and accumulate wealth for hards time and for my kids. I use those guns too, but carefully, in ways which won't hurt the value. For example, an 85% gun may still have a lot of value and be accumulating a lot of value, but still the value isn't going to go away with regular careful use, so that gun is going to get used, carefully. On the other hand, using a 98% gun is going to affect the value, maybe a lot. So yeah, with some shame I admit that I have some guns I have never shot and have no plans to shoot. Boxed, high condition etc...

But certain guns are just sacrificed to the gods of joy and war. These guns I am hoping to flat wear out. My CZ 452, my Rami, my S&W model 40, my BSA 30-06, my k22 and a few others. And most of if not all of those favorites started in new or great condition, but I just love them too much to not use them a lot.

No boxes with the three of these. I really wanted a shooter grade 2.5”, but realistically there isn’t much price difference between a 95% gun and a 75% gun if it were to get a little banged up from years of use.

I just don’t want to have regrets in 20 years when I could have had a perfect gun worth $1,200 instead I have a $700 gun.

So it will cost you $25/year to have and carry a snubby 66....... that works out to $0.06 per day, $2/month or one dinner at a place like Applebee's per year......... and by 2038 it may buy you a cup of Starbucks coffee/year.

I have a 3" 66 I've carried concealed and shot over the past decade.... got it used in great shape..... still looks the same as it did in 2005!

If You end up using it, God forbid, You may not get it back.

Show us the pics, please.

But you will be around to regret it.......... vs .....regretting not having it when you needed it!!!!!!!

I would put that "regret" for the next 20 years on the back burner...
Use the 66.

In 20 years $1,200 won't be worth anywhere close to $700.

That being said, about 8 years ago I bought a very nice model 10-5 2-inch with the intention of using it for EDC. No-dice - it was just too nice.

A high fondle factor is worth more than dollars to some folks.

Stainless guns don't show "carry wear" the way blued guns do. I have a really nice 66-1 snub. I don't carry it, but only because when I do carry (which is pretty rare), My "go to" carry gun is my 649.

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'Merica!

Use it, shoot it, and carry it !
If you don't, the next owner will.
5, 10, 20 years more of life in the future is not promised to any of us.

Just one of a kazillion made. Shoot it and take care of it. You’ll like still make a couple bucks, if that’s what’s truly important to you. I am sure most don’t worry about the thousands they lose when they drive a new car off the lot. With a gun, you’ll still likely make a couple bucks regardless if you shoot it or not. You’re talking a couple tanks of gas. Shoot it!

Mutual funds are for investing. Guns are for carrying and shooting. Life is too short to carry ugly guns.

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Metro Man

I'm in the shoot it, carry it camp.

But I can certainly understand wanting to protect something that could be worth money down the road.....

Are any of the other ones nice enough to be safe queens? To me, the 2.5 is the most useful. The 4" is the best all around GP config, with possibly easier to shoot from heavier weight in front and longer sight radius. And the 6" ers are front heavy and the least useful. But may be really good for shooting longer distances in single action. Especially in situations like hunting. But also works for Double action shooting.

Some guys really like 6"ers though....

I am 65. I have a few safe queens. I have others that I shoot, carry and carefully maintain. I value these "shooters" a lot more because of memories and the service provided by those guns. I don't know what your financial situation is or will be. I know that I will value the joy and memories a lot more than "$500 more" when I finally have to sell some of these guns.

Choot 'em! Choot em'!

Seriously, shoot them!

Congrats on pickin' up some great revolvers!

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Meh, finished is already scratched. Go to town with it.

My Dad has one for his bedside gun...... I think his finish looks better than yours.

Hello, I feel your pain!, I too have a NIB 66-1, 2.5” never fired, box&papers. Haven’t brought myself to shoot it. Luckily I have a 66-3 2.5” with night sights and ported for carry. You guys got me thinking!
Semper paratus

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NRA Life Member
CPO

If you don't want to shoot your NIB Model 66-1 put it in the safe and be like "Gripgrabber"... buy yourself another 2-1/2 Model 66 to carry and shoot.

Another thing about a Model 66 is how easy it is to hit your target with one and only hits count. If you need a side arm for something serious, you have a real gun. $1200 is going to look really cheap if you have that sort of problem.

Exactly! These aren’t faberge eggs.

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As long as Ruger Makes LCR's, and LC9s/EC9s, my nice Smith & Wesson revolvers stay in the safe. They might get shot, but not carried.

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John 3:16 .

If you are ever put in the position of really needing a gun, and you have the option of a LCR or a 66... well, we all know the answer to that question - just saying...

Carry and shoot that snub.

no dash

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C & L

I say carry it and shoot the snot out of it til you get tired of shooting. I’ve got several stainless guns that were new or almost new when I bought them. They still look that way but have 100’s of rounds through them. Stainless is so easy to keep like new with a little effort. And so what if I devalue one by shooting it! The fun I have with my guns actually adds to the value I put on mine. I have guns I wouldn’t sell at any price because I have so much fun with them. My first 3” K Frame was a like new 66. I was so excited to find it that I shot it the same night using the headlights of my truck!

You sir have a firm grasp on the art of understatement.

You WILL enjoy carrying and shooting it, while you MIGHT make a little extra money IF you don't shoot it and IF the market moves upward over time on these models and IF you live to the time when it's sold. Those are a lot of IFs for an indeterminate financial benefit at an unknown future time. I'd say carry the sucker.

"You WILL enjoy carrying and shooting it, while you MIGHT make a little extra money IF you don't shoot it and IF the market moves upward over time on these models and IF you live to the time when it's sold. Those are a lot of IFs for an indeterminate financial benefit at an unknown future time. I'd say carry the sucker. "

Now that about says it all.
My 66 2.5" gets CC sometimes but I have no qualms about that....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

once upon a time I bought a 19-4 snub.... man, it was purdy…..now after 15+ years of use and almost abuse at times... it is still my EDC

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Carry it, use it, care for it, practice with it...… it will not let you down

all that said above, I do have a 66-3 snub I carry on occasion…..

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Life is too short not to enjoy your treasures.

I’m selling my 2 1/2” NIB Blue 19-3 because I’ve never, and will not shoot it. I have this 66-4 for that. Decided to rid myself of all safe queens.

As you posted your M-66 is a 95% revolver, so it’s not perfect and it never will be. A 95% condition revolver is just the right condition in carry. They are nice enough to show off, but not so nice you have to worry about toting it.
As for the $500.00 difference over 20 years that works out to $25.00 a year, which is very little money. So here is the deal carry it for ten years and have a revolver which is worth $950.00, instead of $1,200.00.

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Always Stay Strong!

Oh, just shoot the durn thing and get it over with!
I would add that we expect a range report, but then, they ALL shoot great!

Once upon a time I bought a 19-2 that dates to 1968. Now it's 50 years old and still looks Ok and shoots great!

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C & L

That baby just oozes class.

I wouldn't say you're wrong, but I do think you should use it.
Those are nice guns. Compact and powerful.

The next guy to own it, once your stewardship is over, is going to thank you for not shooting it.....think of it that way and you will come to your own conclusion on what to do.....mine rotates carry duty with my 24 and 624. The next guy that gets them ain’t getting any safe queens.....not on my watch anyway.

My problem is I am a “pride of ownership” guy. If I don’t take pride in owning a gun, I won’t buy it, let alone carry it. I can’t get warm and fuzzy about the above mentioned Ruger products, to my eye they are simply hard to look at. Conversely, i consider my Smiths a work of art and get all warm and fuzzy when owning or carrying them. I don’t ever recall losing money on a Smith that I bought and used before selling or trading it. The only homely gun’s I own are Glocks.

I concur with the majority. Shoot it carry it if you wish. It is stainless so it will show little if any wear. Anyway do what you want to do. Its your revolver.

You didn't say you weren't going to shoot it, right? And if you're thinking about carrying it, it would be really nice to make sure it works.

As far as carrying it, you will not put a lot of wear on it if you put a nice coat of wax on the exterior, use a non-abrasive holster (resisting the urge to practice your speed draw several dozen times a day) and carry it under something that protects it from getting dinged like a shirt or jacket.

That said, if the thought of using it bothers you that much, that's why plastic bottom feeders are made. (Nothing against them, it's what I tend to use.)

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

66-3, 2 1/2" really nice condition gets carried in a 21 32 S&W holster. Wish it gets shot more than it does.

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Retired trap shooter

Did anyone mention that if you carry it and have to use it God forbid you'll never see it again.

That's why I carry a beater Colt Cobra or a Shield.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

If we are still allowed to have handguns 20 years from now, that banged up gun will bring at least $1200, because of inflation alone.