Question on my 66-2 (maybe -1)

ARAK1547 · #1 05-19-2018, 10:39 PM

So I was finger banging my Smith today (acquired the full package, box and all, for $550) and noticed this

-1 overstamped with a -2. *** is this? Transition period from the -1 to -2?

And porn of it

g8rb8 · #2 05-19-2018, 10:52 PM

That's a nice looking revolver and a nice package.

First the facts.
66-1 was made circa 1977 to 1982 and the barrel was pinned and the cylinder was recessed, i.e. counter bored.
66-2 was made circa 1982 to 1986 and the pinned barrel and the recessed cylinder was eliminated.
Serial number 127K627 dates to 1982.
The barrel on your revolver is not pinned, i.e. consistent with a dash-2 or later.
There appears to be a 1 under the 2 (or some people might see it the other way, a 1 over a 2).

Now for the conjecture.
I cannot tell from the pictures if the cylinder is recessed. It looks like there's a fair chance it could be. Looking at the back of the cylinder would answer the question. If the cylinder is recessed many would refer to your revolver as a "transitional" example, i.e. having some traits of the newer model (unpinned barrel) and some traits of the older model (recessed or counter bored cylinder). More than likely your frame had been struck with the dash-1 prior to the engineering changes made to the dash-2 and during the production process the engineering change was made and the 1 on the frame was over-struck with a 2.

ARAK1547 · #3 05-19-2018, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g8rb8

That's a nice looking revolver and a nice package.

First the facts.
66-1 was made circa 1977 to 1982 and the barrel was pinned and the cylinder was recessed, i.e. counter bored.
66-2 was made circa 1982 to 1986 and the pinned barrel and the recess cylinder was eliminated.
Serial number 127K627 dates to 1982.
The barrel on your revolver is not pinned.
There appears to be a 1 under the 2 (or some people might see it the other way, a 1 over a 2).

Now for the conjecture.
I cannot tell from the pictures if the cylinder is recessed. If the cylinder is recessed many would refer to your revolver as a "transitional" example, i.e. having some traits of the newer model and some traits of the older model. If the cylinder is not recessed then you have a frame that was was either incorrectly stamped and then corrected or had been in production at the time of the engineering change and originally stamped as a dash-1 and then purposefully re-struck with a dash-2.

Non-recessed

njl · #4 05-20-2018, 11:50 AM

Where the heck did you find that for $550? Around here, they’d have been asking a couple hundred more for that package.

apollo99 · #5 05-20-2018, 12:15 PM

That's a good deal on a fine revolver, If you can't get used to that -2 over the -1 thing, I'll take it off your hands. Congratulations on your purchase.

Nesmith · #6 05-20-2018, 01:51 PM

I have a 66-2 that is stamped exactly the same (“2” stamped on top of “1”). It is neither pinned nor recessed. I agree with g8rb8 on the likely production scenario.

ARAK1547 · #7 05-20-2018, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njl

Where the heck did you find that for $550? Around here, they’d have been asking a couple hundred more for that package.

Local FFL has it on consignment.

ARAK1547 · #8 05-20-2018, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apollo99

That's a good deal on a fine revolver, If you can't get used to that -2 over the -1 thing, I'll take it off your hands. Congratulations on your purchase.

It’s going nowhere lol.

SeamasterSig · #9 05-23-2018, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARAK1547

So I was finger banging my Smith today

Congratulations on scoring the quintessential revolver of the 20th century for an amazing price! I, too, have a 4-inch 66-2 and consider it to be the perfect foundation for every S&W collection.

Hasbeen1945 · #10 05-23-2018, 10:13 AM

I guess mean there are still some good deals out there. You did extremely well.

Warren Sear · #11 05-25-2018, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apollo99

That's a good deal on a fine revolver, If you can't get used to that -2 over the -1 thing, I'll take it off your hands. Congratulations on your purchase.

I am willing to lend a hand, too. :-)