Can anyone give a history of the 3" 66, i.e. when it was produced, what dash numbers, and why it was so limited in production?

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Aaron Terry

Ashland Shooters supply did the first 3" 66's. They were 66-2's, 1986 IIRC.

The 3" 66 has been done in 66-2, 66-3, 66-4, and 66-5.

There were also 3" 66's done up for Walther. Walther marketed these 3" 66-5's as R99 La Chasse.

I don't know if there were any more true 3" 66's after the 66-5, as I didn't bother with any made after that dash number. Regards 18DAI.

Thanks 18. On gunbroker, auction# 170001044, there is a 66 with what's listed as a 3.2" barrel. Is this a typo, or some sort of special order?

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Aaron Terry

66-5s are approx. 3 1/4"

according to a S&W letter, 4195 3 inch 66s were made for Ashland (May '85...serials AER, AHJ, AHL, and ANA).
Afterwards, 3" 66s were produced on special request for various distributors...bringing the total production to "well over 5000 units".

a very nice 3 inch 66-4 just fetched $900 on GB..
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=169622720

Thanks Jughead. I like your S&W 66 avator too...

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Aaron Terry

you're welcome...and thanks

do you own a 3" 66? if so, let's see some pics please

"....according to a S&W letter, 4195 3 inch 66s were made for Ashland (May '85...serials AER, AHJ, AHL, and ANA)."


Mine is an Ashland 66-2, I bought it new when they first came out - at least when I first heard of them. It's been polished. SN is AFZxxxx

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Some people are real proud of them.

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Kevin
NRA Benefactor Member

Love those 3-inch K-frame barrels!

Love mine! Both really rare to boot!

Super K Lew Horton Performance Center with special 3" contoured barrel and factory ported ivory S&W grips (I added Tyler T grip)




And another 300 production run Lew Horton PC 3" 66 with standard barrel and ivory grips (I added Spegals)

Based on the -3 engineering change and BBN serial number prefix, here is what I believe to be one of the 1988 3” model 66s produced for RSR. Anyone know how many were in that special run?



It is equipped with a white outline rear and red ramp insert front sight.



It also has a smooth combat trigger.



Except for the not being pinned and recessed, it looks pretty much like my 2 ½” model 66-1.



Russ

This is probably a 66-6, which is considered by some to be the ******* amongst the 3" K's, because of the barrel length and the dreaded lock. They came with a fiber optic front sight and a V-notch adjustable rear sight.

As was the rest, this was a special run for a distributor which I can't remember for sure....perhaps Bangor??

I owned an Ashland 3" K around 15 years ago, and like so many others that went through my hands, I wish I had it now.

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NRA-USPSA-IDPA-ICORE-GSSF

You've all seen these before ,but here is another thread on 3"
model 66s so here goes.

1. 66-2 Ashland ,AFK serial prefix. May 1985
2. 66-3 BBT serial prefix RSR run. 1988
3. 66-4 CAT serial prefix RSR ported beadblast finish. 1996
4. 66-5 3.25" CEL serial prefix ,all roll stamped markings. 2001
5. 66-5 3.25" CFB serial prefix has m.i.m. hammer with the
cuts for the lock addition ,but no lock. manufactured February 1st. 2002



















This is the same as the g.b. auction. CEL serial prefix ,3.25 inch heavy barrel.
No idea how many were made.




Regards , Allen Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

My 66-3 with the 3" barrel was ordered by me from Ashland Shooter's Supply in 1990.
It's a BFK serial.

An oddity is that S&W had started using separate, pinned-in front sights, but on this gun they made an attempt to hide the pin so it looked like an older one-piece barrel.

The sight is stainless and the pin is polished flush and bead blasted with the barrel rib to conceal it. You have to look very closely to see the pin, and the sight is a close fit to the barrel.

Allen-frame, please let me know where you live and when you will not be home

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Aaron Terry

Picked up here on the forum a few months back. This is a -2 with ANA prefix, that had been sent to Wilson Combat for tuning.

Guess I'm a little late to the party, but I got mine in 1985 when I was stationed in Boston as an FBI Agent. I sold a RB 4" Model 19 to buy it. Man I wish I kept that model 19 too...

I bought one when they first came out,later sold it because it
wasn`t pinned & recessed.
Dick

Oh Boy. Love this topic that comes up every 6 months or so. All info requested was covered. THE best all purpose S&W ever produced IMO. Mines an Ashland and will be the last S&W to leave the tribe. Have everything it came with in 85 and best $275.00 I ever spent. Polished it up a couple of winters ago.

Allen, Never get tired at looking at them beauts! Good thing I'm on the right side of the law and hope you have a Ft. Knox securely bolted down for security of them fine specimens

66-2 with Ahrends Boot Grips

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V/R
Roger / SG

Update to an earlier post in this thread . . . just received a factory letter from Roy Jinks on my 3" model 66-3. I assumed it was part of the special run for RSR Wholesale in 1988, but it now appears there was a run in October 1988 for Banger’s Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama. Letter doesn’t say how many were in this particular run . . . anyone know?



Russ

Thanks for the info and pics Calfed.

Do you know if any other federal officers used the 3" 66?

I've read about the "California Bureau of Narcotics" issuing 3" 66's as a duty weapon. Never been able to find any more on this. Have you any info on other agencies?

Thanks again! Regards 18DAI.

I love the look of the 3" K frames. I've pretty much given up all hope of finding one in California, so I'll probably have to settle for a 3" 686.

A number of my FBI colleges bought the 3" Model 66's at about the same time I did. Many of us who were carrying 2 1/2" and 4" model 10's had been scheming for years to somehow get one of the 3" model 13's that our newer brethren were carrying. I'm sure that Agents from other federal agencies also bought them. They were really excellent revolvers.

However, I'm unaware of any Federal, State or local agency issuing the 3" Model 66's. While there are several references in Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson to special runs of 3" model 66's for various distributors, I can find no reference to any 3" model 66's being made for any law enforcement agency.

What brand grips are those? I would love to try some on my 3 inch 66-4 or my f-comp.
Thanks,
tbird

I have this 3" 66-3 ported, triljon sights. It was 1 of 300 built for lew horton.