I recently acquired a very nice 66 no dash 2.5" in box. Strangely enough, it came with flash chromed hammer and a combat case hardened trigger. I contacted S&W and they indicated that my weapon was made in 1975 and "It most likely was not shipped from their factory in that configuration."

I contacted a handful of Smith collectors that I know, and they all had a varied opinion as to how my 66 got the way it is. The following are the answers that i obtained:

I dont know

It is a transition gun, and very well could have been shipped from the factory that way.

It was done by a gunsmith after it was purchased.

It being a 1975 model P&R, I thought the hammer and trigger both would have been flash chromed. The label on the box doesnt indicate TT, TH, or any other special variation.

Any useful info or insight would be much appreciated. My OCD is killing me and I am going to have to have the trigger changed out to a flash chromed unit. Thanks yall. Be safe and God bless.

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That looks to me to be a target trigger (wider) so if not marked on the box label I would say it was added after it left the factory.
Nice 66, they are some of my favorites.

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Birds like shiny new toys too.

The trigger is a replacement for the original.

Bill

That's a beauty! The 66's are way up there on my list of "favorites". I have a 2.5" and 4", both 66-1s. They will remain in my possession as long as I live.

You might find that you like the wide trigger, even though it's not exactly a "target gun". Congratulations!

One of my favorite Smith's as well. I appreciate your response.

Kind of what I was figuring. I appreciate it Bill.

I appreciate it. I have a 66-3 2.5" that I shoot, not sure I can bring myself to shoot this one. Time will tell, lol! I appreciate it sir.

If you're really OCD, check and see if the hammer is stamped "S" for stainless. If it is, most likely the trigger was also stamped the same. This would indicate hammer/trigger were stainless steel and not just "flash chromed".

Someone changed the trigger. It is VERY common.

I change out my triggers and hammers all the time to whatever configuration I am looking for

I just put a .400 smooth trigger and a .500 target hammer into a 3" 625 last weekend

I have one or two where they do not match because I only had the one part to install

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"Acta non verba"

Nice gun!
As posted, a lot of us swap out hammers- triggers on a regular basis.
Especially on guns that we plan to keep forever!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I have a 66 no dash 4" that was changed somewhere in it's life before me to a CH TT and TH. Also have a 66-1 2.5" that has been with me for decades. That one with standard flash chromed parts.

For mine, I don't care as that is exactly the set up my previous 66 4" when I wore a badge during the Jurrasic Period. That gun had been tuned by a master gunsmith (so has my current one) and the reason back then was a shortage on availability for flash chromed parts from S&W. I've also been told that carbon steel was easier to work with than stainless, but I don't know the truth on that. What I do know is that mine will literally put every round into a silver dollar at 30 feet if I can do my part. My 2.5" isn't a slouch, but the 4" is a smile generator.

Might want to test that trigger out before you change it.

I replaced many triggers when my dept carried 66's.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

From what I have researched, it doesnt seem to difficult a task. I ordered a combat stainless trigger (period correct) and it is on the way to me now. Any advice or words of wisdom for the process of swapping it out?

My 66ND has a standard width flash chromed trigger.

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Member MVGCA, OGCA, NRA Life

My 66 no dash came with a standard width flash chromed serrated trigger in 1978. Now has a smooth flash chromed trigger.

I also swapped out quite a few hammers and triggers for my fellow officers during my cop days. Did a number of red ramp inserts and white outline blades too.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I feel your pain.
Recently, after going back and forth over this decision for close to 8 years, I finally replaced the bobbed hammer on my 60-3. It came from the factory that way, supposedly 1 of 2000, but I really dislike bobbed hammers. REALLY dislike. But gee, it was factory and kind of a limited number, and before I picked up some desirable 3rd Gen semis, it was the only one I had with any claim to "exclusivity." So you kinda get the idea what was going through my mind for all that time. And it WAS agonizing. Wouldn't carry it. Almost couldn't stand to look at that hammer. For 8 years.
Well, wouldn't ya know, the hammer and trigger were flash-chromed and when I dug through the parts box, the only replacement J hammer I had was case-hardened. UGH! NO WAY would I mix finishes like that!
Well, by sheer "luck," I have a Model 37 that my dear wife completely destroyed by leaving it under a car seat and then dumping a Diet Pepsi down in the same well as the gun. Did you know a long-term bath of DP will eat into an airweight frame? I found out the hard way.
To make a long (and sad) story come to a merciful end, I took the trigger and hammer from the 37 and put them in the 60. Since they were already paired, they went in just fine. I put away the spare J hammer and the trigger-hammer pair from the 60 for future use. OCD managed successfully for another day.