I met up with a guy yesterday to get a 3" model 10 he had advertised locally. We started talking a little about guns and he tells me he was a Miami Beach police officer from 1982 to 1992 then became Miami Beach firefighter/paramedic...until 2009. We talked a little about his duty weapon as police officer and he says his first issued weapon was a S&W model 66 with 5" barrel. I told him I've never heard of 5" model 66 and he pulls one out of the safe to show it to me...yup 5" model 66. He said they were originally made for Florida Highway Patrol but some like his were sold to individual police departments too through local distributors. He said FHP had a "thing" for 5" barrel 357 magnum revolvers as they also issues nickel plated 5" S&W model 27 and 5" model 28. Prior to that they also issued 5" model 10. Interesting conversation with the guy and he promised to call me when he was ready to sell the 5" model 66.

That's a great story. Never heard of a 5" model 66 either until this post! That 3" model is beautiful. A nice 3" k frames is next on my purchase list!!

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Please post a pic of the 5" 66. That's a must see.

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of it as it wasn't my revolver.
Thinking back I should have asked him if I could take a picture.

Agreed. Need to see a picture or it don’t exist.

Sounds like a Bigggffoot 66 to me to...

Wowz. Love the 3" model 10 and I'm looking forward to seeing this 66 someday. Hopefully it will work out for you.

I know the nickle 28's in 5" were a Florida thing, so I believe it. Sure would like to see a picture of it though. You get his number where you might could ask for one?

I only communicated with him through the sales website private message system. I don't know his address but I think I can find his house address through google map. He lives about 100 miles away on the other side of the FL coast but I occasionally go that way so I think I'll try to stop by his place next time. Had I know how rare that revolver was I would have at least asked him if I could have taken a picture.

BTW I was told by an owner of LGS that back in the mid or late 70's FHP did issue nickel plated model 19 with 5" barrel for sure. I learned that FHP also issued 4" polished SS Colt Pythons too.

The Florida Highway Patrol did, in fact, have a "thing" for five inch Nickel .357's. I'm familiar with their Model 28's, Model 27's, a few Colt Pythons and a limited number of Model 19's. Never heard of a five inch '66, but not out of the realm of possibility??? They also wore many of them in patent leather cross draw holsters. (I know because I went to a management class with a FHP Captain in 1989.)

Here's an example of one of their Model 27's.





I added the grips. It had Pachmayr's when I got it from crsides.

Thanks for letting me be its caretaker Charlie.

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Bill

I'd love to see one myself,i'm sure if he sale's it to you we'll see it one day.

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Life is short,live it fully.

Always interesting when one can put a face, or a story, to a gun! My 5" bbl. Heavy Duty is the only 5" bbl. revolver I've ever seen. Skeeter Skelton opined that 5" was the best bbl. length for the Model 27.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103