I might have a chance at a model 66 serial number:4K 85XXX
Stone stock with stainless steel sights.
An idea of age please?

Thanks!

That SN is 1974, the stainless rear sight was changed about 1-1/2 years into production, which would have been 1971 or 1972. I'd check to see if that is the original for that gun, the SN puts it past the change date, but S&W has a funny way of things not fitting neatly in a specific date range. Is it a round butt or square butt, and a 2-1/2", 4" or 6" barrel, and which stocks?

Thank You! What numbers determine the year? It is a 4" with football stocks.

Serial numbers 4K54105 through 4K99999 were used in 1974, so 4K85xxx fits into that range.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Without the entire serial number all one can do is guess. A check of the shipping records is the only was to tell when a gun shipped.

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Don Mundell

I have a model 66 with stainless steel sights, #4K863xx that was shipped in December 1974, another clue that the one you’re looking at is a 1974. Remember that S&W did not ship in serial number order and that guns with very close numbers might be shipped months or even years apart.

Also in my safe is a model 67 with stainless sights, #5K632xx, that was shipped from S&W in June 1974. Smith & Wesson was definitely shipping revolvers with the stainless sights through mid 74 despite what the book says.

Good luck with your purchase!

Actually stainless sights were discontinued in 1974 and most 66 aficionados consider 1971 as first year since only 100 prototypes were made in 1970.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

Agree. In early 1981 I purchased a brand new M66 ND with a 6-inch barrel at the now-long-gone-but missed Brunswick Gun Shop in Brunswick, Maine. I distinctly remember it had a SS rear sight. Sold it under unhappy domestic cricumstances to another officer about 1986. When I met him again in 1994 in better financial circumstances he still had the gun and didn't want to sell it back. Couldn't blame him a bit.

This thread lacks pictures. Here’s my 4” 1972 one

S&W never wastes or throws anything out...... plus shipping date doesn't always equate to build date

^^^^^^







My 66-1.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Here ya go.....

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What about the front sight? Plain or red insert?

My 66 no dash ser # 4k has factory SS sights and LOA states 1974 shipping date.

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Handgunhunter

I have a S & W model 66 No dash revolver with a 4 inch bbl that I purchased new on 2-12-1972, for $123.50. It was sold to me by Colosimo's Gun Shop 933 Spring Garden St in Philadelphia. It has SS sights front and rear. It was only the second 66 revolver in Delaware County at the time and it was my service weapon for at least 12 years until I went into plain clothes. I still have it but the box is gone.

The prototypes were fitted with a target hammer. Click on the photos for a better look.

Bill

My 66 with stainless steel sights is a 2K in the 65000 range. Shipped September of 1972.
I didn't know they went into '74 with them.
I thought it was about a two year manufacturer time before they were DC'd.
Good info Bastogne71!

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SWCA #2420

Interesting; the M66 is stamped over M67. I would have said 57, but that would be a N frame and not stainless. The stamping die for 66 is different from that of the 67.

Now! you see my problem. It's my wife's family estate
gun. Just trying to figure out how much I want it. Hasn't
been cleaned in many years.

I have a 66 with the black sites hoping to someday come across one with the stainless so I can have both variants. What is the approximate number of each produced?

The Catalog mentions that the stainless rear sight was only the first year and a half of production. I haven't seen specific numbers.

Though I never observed a 6" ND with stainless rear sights, that certainly does not imply that they were not built. Do you recall if the front sight was plain or red ramp?
The 6" barrel did not appear until 1978, in the -1 revision. The 4th edition has it "special order" prior to that.
Possibly the gunshop changed out rear sight from an earlier revolver? Possibly S&W used a sight from the bottom of the bin (first in & last out).
If possessed, that might be an interesting one to research?

My 66-1 was my brother's service revolver his first 10 years.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Truth is the stainless sights are awful in anything but good light.

Here's a 1972 vintage 66 with a Memphis Police Dept. history and a 1976 66.

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	1976 model 66.jpg (173.4 KB, 453 views)

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

Here’s mine.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Got it!!! Very dirty but way nicer than I thought! 12MP pictures doesn't
do some things justice. Nice gun, fired very little, just a night side gun.
The stocks don't fit my hand.....ideas?

Good question, I was wondering that as well. Was the red ramp offered with the stainless rear sight versions?

I always thought the early 66 with the stainless rear sight was cool looking and have lusted for one for no other reason that that. To that, I have never seen a 66 with either a target trigger or target hammer, but I guess they are out there.

As a matter of preference I added a WO rear sight to all the S&W revolvers I have purchased over the years, with no regard to affecting collectability at a later date. I guess I should reconsider that...

That's interesting. I've never seen a 6" with the S/S rear sight.

What is a average value for one in average condition, without red inserts in front sight?

It seems like everyone on the forum has a 66 w/stainless sight. i looked and looked for over a year and settled for a 66 with the black anodized rear sight. I'm happy for you guys that have 'em, but it sucks to be me... lol

I was less concerned finding one with a stainless rear sight as I was finding a P&R gun. Found my M66-1 ANIB, which was just as good.

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	DSC01899.jpg (130.0 KB, 24 views)

These were the guns that 1st gave me butterflies and sparked such a strong liking to S&W as a very young kid in G.F. Mt at our local Montgomery Wards sporting goods dept...I remember the store had a few different guns but mostly I noticed a small glass display with about 20 handguns and all those on top were S&Ws’.....then I remember a fair amount of Mossberg 500 hunting guns in the Westernfield guise....but the stainless rear sights of those model 66’s and the target grips just mesmerized me! I have never owned any model 66 and briefly have owned only 1 model 19 which was a 6”. When I came of age to buy a handgun, my 1st center fire was a 4-5/8” new model Blackhawk followed a couple years later with my 1st S&W in model 28 with a 6”.... and these were used.....when I finally got money enough up for a new magnum after boot camp in 1987, the 686 was all the rage and I followed that path....still...though the 66 with a 4” may someday get in front of me

The prototypes built in May 1970 to test the tooling for the new stainless Combat Magnum were fitted with a target hammer and standard trigger. When routine production began, the target hammer was deleted in favor of the standard hammer.

Bill

A few observations, I have 2 four inch Model 66's from 74, both have SS rear sites.
Dont think I have ever seen a 6" M66 no dash , seen plenty of dash 1 and dash 2 but the SS rear site was long gone by then.
Also have never seen a 66 snub with a SS rear site, well actually did see 1 once but it looked painted ( the snub uses a longer leaf rear site than the others).
Also for those with M66 with a black rear site be advised many were swapped out by individuals and dept armorers after complaints.
Lastly, if your 66 or 66-1 has a black rear site and your curious remove the rear leaf and look for a letter "S" stamped underneath, if it's there your site is actually blackened stainless.