Should I buy this 66-1 snub? Update - still there so I got it.

stansdds · #51 09-09-2021, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigp220.45

I think I’m done. My nephew’s birthday is next week and its going to him. I think he’ll like it.

After the soak it was time to pop the sideplate. It was gunky but not as bad as I expected.

Then the rear sight. To everyone who said to just buy the whole assembly: YOU WERE RIGHT. Of course I didn’t listen, and was forced to perform micro-surgery on it. Never again. But its done.

Last was a rubdown with a purple pad then a gray one. All the scratches and almost all of the pits disappeared.

I think it looks ok. My nephew prefers Pachmayrs so that’s what I went with.

That turned out great! Hopefully, your nephew will take better care of it than its previous owner.

ColbyBruce · #52 09-09-2021, 08:16 AM

Your nephew has a wonderful uncle. I hope he knows that.

Green Frog · #53 09-09-2021, 11:02 AM

Have been following this with interest. Back when I was young and had better vision and digital dexterity I changed out several sight blades with only one leaping spring (which I actually found.) now I regard the whole process right up there with a root canal or colonoscopy! Great find and great save on your 66-1, which I personally regard as best of the breed. My only negative would be your nephew’s choice in grips. All of his taste seems to be in his tongue! That gun would be sheer perfection with a set of factory smooth combats with finger grooves. Then it would be total perfection.

Froggie

old bear · #54 09-09-2021, 11:16 AM

Quote:

I think I’m done. My nephew’s birthday is next week and its going to him. I think he’ll like it.

That guy is looking 200% better. Any chance of you adopting me

?

Truckman · #55 09-09-2021, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old bear

Any chance of you adopting me

?

Hey! I got here first!...I just didn't say anything figuring my good looks and honest face would make me the obvious choice for adoption...

...Ben

Florida Guy · #56 09-09-2021, 05:20 PM

Job well done.

raygixxer89 · #57 09-09-2021, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigp220.45

They said CBI was down for a couple of hours, so its just backlog.

They still have a nice 4516 and a 3” Model 65.

I would jump 9n that 4516!!!

raygixxer89 · #58 09-09-2021, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigp220.45

So here we go....

Doesn't look too bad from afar:

Something is amiss here for sure:

Someone tried to pry these square butt Pachmayrs off. Turns out the rusty grips screw just turned and turned. I had to cut them off, which is a first for me.

Grim:

I don't want to know:

Dirty but not cracked:

Gonna have to straighten this out:

Its in the soup now.

The action is really nice, at least. I think it'll clean up ok.

I think it was polished once upon a time. I'm not sure if I should polish it again or try the Scotch Brite pad thing.

I still would have bought it. Bet she cleans up fine

stansdds · #59 09-10-2021, 07:18 AM

I would have to say that is not a used revolver, but an abused revolver. Whoever owned it certainly did not appreciate it nor give it the care a stainless firearm requires. The pitting is the permanent damage and in my experience, it takes a good amount of neglect to get a stainless firearm into this sad of a condition. It will always bear the scars of it's abused past, but at least you are doing it a great service by saving it.

roundels · #60 09-10-2021, 03:55 PM

What shop is this gun in?

BC38 · #61 09-10-2021, 04:26 PM

You're nephew is a lucky guy to have such a great uncle.
Think one of your siblings would adopt me? My birthday is coming up soon...

bunkie12 · #62 09-10-2021, 04:57 PM

As SVT28 wisely suggests at the top of this article, the forcing cones on M66 and other K-frame .357 Magnums can split with hot magnum ammo. Yours looks fine, but you might want to warn your nephew about staying away from light bullets in full magnum loads.

There are threads in this forum with nauseating photos of split forcing cones in these revolvers.
.

67ray · #63 09-10-2021, 07:14 PM

What's the 50/50 looks like ATF and maybe kero?

Hoosierville IRN · #64 09-10-2021, 07:28 PM

Sigp: a great job on a classic 66. Congrats! Having never "saved" such a firearm, I've got a couple of questions:

What is this "soup" you used to clean the revolver?
Did you soak the internals with the sideplate off or on?

Thanks

sigp220.45 · #65 09-10-2021, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoosierville IRN

Sigp: a great job on a classic 66. Congrats! Having never "saved" such a firearm, I've got a couple of questions:

What is this "soup" you used to clean the revolver?
Did you soak the internals with the sideplate off or on?

Thanks

Its half acetone and half Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).

I just plop whole thing in, minus grips. I don’t want to fish around for small parts.

jframejoey · #66 09-10-2021, 11:39 PM

sigp220.45, glad you grabbed it. I never got around to calling them after I reached out to you.

kbm6893 · #67 09-11-2021, 12:02 AM

Excellent job! I love cleaning up neglected Guns. I would have jumped at that. I’ve given them a week long bath in straight up ATF, no acetone. I fully take them apart before they go into the bath. I also prefer pachmayr grips, but snubbies don’t look right with the full size. The Compact grips you put in look great. As long as the grips are taken off every now and then (as all grips should be taken off), there’s no danger of issues underneath. I watch guys clean guns without taking them off and just cringe. That oil and solvent runs right under there and just congeals.

jcs266 · #68 09-11-2021, 09:04 PM

A great find and thanks for the step by step in the whole process. Good job of cleaning up an old work-horse and bringing it back to glory.

jjmIII_Ruger · #69 09-11-2021, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigp220.45

Its half acetone and half Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).

I just plop whole thing in, minus grips. I don’t want to fish around for small parts.

That mix stores fine in a plastic bucket with lid??

sigp220.45 · #70 09-11-2021, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjmIII_Ruger

That mix stores fine in a plastic bucket with lid??

Yep. I usually use a new clean paint can but the store was out.

Don’t measure out the acetone in a Solo cup, though.

RAPOM65 · #71 09-13-2021, 04:10 PM

As much as I would like to have a 19 or 66 snubbie that 4516 would have come home with me, especially with a discount.

Bookmaker · #72 02-09-2022, 05:24 AM

What comprises your soup?

Just gasoline or a mixture of a few things?

Thanks!

Jameson

John Patrick · #73 02-09-2022, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookmaker

What comprises your soup?

Just gasoline or a mixture of a few things?

Thanks!

Jameson

I was wondering my self. Here’ the soup recipe, from post #65.

“Its half acetone and half Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).

I just plop whole thing in, minus grips. I don’t want to fish around for small parts.”

stanmerrell · #74 02-09-2022, 11:39 AM

I love a good rescue story...

rubiranch · #75 02-09-2022, 11:44 AM

A few years back I had a nice 66-no dash 2.5" that I gave to a close friend.
When he saw it he told me that he had always wanted one so I gave it to him.

I also gave him a nice triple lock.

He's a retired Vice Sergeant and we has been a good friends for many many years.
Here we are back in 1961, first grade with Sheila sitting between us.
He's on Sheila's right side and I'm on her left.

raljr1 · #76 02-09-2022, 12:55 PM

I paid $500 for a decent one 5 years ago... Good thing the store name isn't on the tag

Robert

Igiveup · #77 02-09-2022, 05:16 PM

I just finished reading the entire post. Thank you for sharing the rescue. Is your mixture of acetone and transmission fluid the same as "Ed's Red"?

ACORN · #78 02-09-2022, 05:53 PM

I believe original Ed’s had mineral sprits also.

yugolovr · #79 02-10-2022, 11:44 PM

You are a great uncle, and I hope your nephew enjoys his new revolver. I bought my niece a Ruger Speed Six for Christmas last year. All she had to do was tell me was revolvers are cool, and I was on the search.