Dear Paul,

thanks for posting this picture.
I am re-barreling my old school 66 and want to get rid of the flat peace at the cone at 6 o'clock.
Question about your new model: Is the gass ring now attached to the yoke and does the cilinder slide over it?
Would appreciated your reply.
best regards, Hans Peter

See my post #25 above - The gas ring has been replaced by the redesigned interface (which is part of the crane/yoke) between the crane/yoke and cylinder. The cylinder is a separate unit and has no gas ring. See larger picture in post #25 - the crane is contoured to fit under the barre shank, not the other way around as on the 19/66.. My guess is that if your M66 could be retrofitted, you would need both the new crane and cylinder and I'm not sure it would be a drop in fit or even close. I just don't know.

Paul

Dear Paul,

Thanks for the swift reply.
I think I know/see what S&W did with the gasring, what you nicely cal the interface.
With a bit of luck I can fix a solution/principle like that on my old 66.
You're totally right that a new cylinder and yoke will not be a simple drop in.
Maybe I get to my drawingboard tomorrow and post some sketches.

Best regards,

Hans Peter

"My only wish is that is was a square butt."

Why? It's a lot easier to make a round butt into a square one with different grips, than doing the reverse.

Nice gun, I like my new blued version (model 19) quite a bit also.

Here are some pictures of the cylinder and crane/yoke removed from the frame.











Hope these help.

Paul

My first S&W revolver, Model 66, 2.75 inch barrel. I found the action heavy compared to my sons 686, but with over 3000 dry fire cycles and plenty of lubrication...the action is now about 50% of what is was (measured by trigger finger...not by scale). I now have over 800 rounds through it equal amounts of 38 & 357. I have carried a Sig for over 18 years now.....however I am loving this new revolver. It is now my carry gun when I am not working. Do I feel under gunned going to a wheel gun ? Not at all. On the contrary my combat magnum has prompted better marksmanship skills.
One change I have made to my revolver is adding a HI VIZ fiber optic Trijicon illuminated sight to it. The sight is designed for the S&W DX sight exchange system.....but with a little filing by hand the sight can easily be fitted into the pinned slot on the Model 66.

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Thanks for the new pictures, yes they certainly help!
It is clear to see that there is a recess in the front of the cylinder in which the small flange of the crane fits in. Very nice gas ring 2.0. From a engineers point of view these small but significant updates are nice to see. Makes me smile. Nice example of getting (thinking) out-of-the-box, a 50 year old box.
To me the challenge to modify my old school like this. Pulling out the gas ring, make the recess a bit larger and mount a flange on the crane.
Would be great to make the gun better than it already is.
I also have a 627 PC, custom 6", full barrel underlug, but no guaranty for beating the 66. I am shooting a 19/66 since decades and they fit great, shoot great. Nice that S&W fixed the problem of the cracking cone. Not that I am such a 357 enthusiast, but it makes the gun complete.
Would like to see a new model live, but it takes a while before the new models get overseas. They can't swim as good as they shoot ;-)