A while back there was a thread I found very helpful asking (and answering) which Model 586/686 revolvers (i.e., which dash number) were the very best ones to acquire if you had a choice.

I'd like to ask the same question of the experts for the early (i.e., pre-IL) Model 66 revolvers. There are a few of them for sale near me and I might be interested in adding another one to the arsenal at the right price. But before I do, I'd like to get some opinions.

So what say the experts? Is there a very best version of the original Model 66? Or are they all equally good to go?

Thanks!

I'd opt for a -2, because it has RR/WO sights, is still P&R, but has the smooth, wider trigger instead of the thin, serrated trigger.
I have a -1 with the serrated trigger, which I disliked. I had to buy a used smooth, wide trigger and swap them myself.

I LOVE my 4” dash one.

I believe that the -1 was the last of the pinned and recessed.

If you are buying as a collector, the no dash would fit the bill.

If you are buying as a shooter/carry gun, then the -4 was the cream of the crop.

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On the Oak Savannah

Not pinned and recessed doesn't particularly bother me. As long as it has the traditional thumbpiece... and frame lug... and no lock... I'm fine with it cosmetically speaking. So that leaves me with a -3 or something lower to consider.

But this is not just about cosmetics... and that's why I'm asking the Gurus which of the earlier versions... no dash, -1, -2 and -3... would be the best one to buy in terms of overall quality and long-term reliability. Is there any important difference between those four versions that I need to be aware of? Or are they all equally good?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+1 for the -4 engineering change.......

Has the best trigger of all of my limited collection of S&W revolvers....mostly J’s and K’s.

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-1 someone added TT, TH
-2

Have a 3 inch -3 but no pic

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Sure you did

I have a 66-2 with a 2 1/2" barrel. It has good balance and shoots great. It is a former Louisiana State Police gun and I bought it from the retired trooper who had carried it.

I have a 66nd. Had to change the trigger from the skinny serrated to the standard .312 smooth one also. They may be getting harder to find.

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Fide Et Amore

I am certainly not an expert on the model 66, as I never owned one or carried one on duty. One of my brothers in about 1972 was a deputy with a California Sheriff’s office and they were all issued new 4” model 66 revolvers. They had some problems with them:
1. The sights were also SS and were hard to see in sunlight.
2. Many of the revolvers had fragile trigger/hammer interface and would have hammer “push off” problems. My understanding is that S&W solved that problem by making hammers and triggers out of carbon steel, flash chromed.
I don’t remember the dash number of those guns, but the time was very near the introduction of the model, so they were likely no-dash guns.
Hope this helps.

I owned and shot a Model 66 ND I bought as a police trade in back in the early to mid eighties. It was rebuilt twice and had a 6" barrel installed to replace the original 4". It was everything a revolver should be, but not being willing to leave well enough alone I used it as the donor gun for Project 616. I've never looked back because the 616 was and is a gun I really want. That said, if I needed another Model 66, I would grab up a nice 66-1 which I regard as the best of the litter with improvements to the small problems in the no dash, and retains the pinned and recessed features that I do like in my revolvers.

The foregoing is my personal opinion based on my own experience... your experiences and preferences may vary.

Froggie

I have a Model 66-4 ladysmith.I have never seen another. I got it at an Estate Auction. I wanted it but it cost me almost $700.00

My personal favorite would be a 3” M66-2 or -3. I lucked into a 3” M66-3 and they really are a fine revolver.

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

Pricing may be different for sure, otherwise, I think they are pretty much alike. Mine anyway, I have a no-dash, dash-1, dash-2, dash-3. I have no dash-4 or higher.
Good hunting...

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Birds like shiny new toys too.

Being an accumulator of no dash and pre-model number revolvers, I really like the original 66. Here's mine, which BTW is a really nice shooter. Can you guess which one it is? LOL

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I like the one on the bottom. It looks like a no-or early -1.

I can't guess which one it is but I really like the smooth grips on the 686.

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Birds like shiny new toys too.

The no-dash and dash-1 Model 66 are my favorites, but I like the dash-2 version almost as much. But I'm an old timer.

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FBINA, 204th Session

66..................(1970) Introduced at K949100
66-1...............(1977) Move gas ring from yoke to cylinder
66-2...............(1982) Eliminate cylinder counterbore and pinned barrel
66-3...............(1986) New yoke screw, floating hand, and hammer nose bushing
66-4...............(1994) New rear leaf sight, drill and tap frame, change extractor, and Uncle Mike’s synthetic grips.
66-5...............(1998) Sep – Change to MIM hammer and floating firing pin
66-6...............(2002) Introduction of the Internal Lock
2005 Model 66 discontinued




I like my 1980 M66-1 with a smooth target trigger and factory trigger job.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I have this 4" No Dash

And this 3" -4

The No Dash has the best trigger/ lockup of any Smith that I own, but I made it that way. The -4 does have a very good trigger, with little help from me.

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

Op doesnt mention intended purpose.
If you're looking for:

Most collectable , The early no dash w/ SS rear site.
Most desirable for CCW any pre IL 3"

Best P&R version, the 66-1 w/ rr front and white outline rear sites.
Best warranty 66-5

No intended purpose in asking other than general information (I enjoyed the earlier similar thread on the 586/686) and to help me decide between two used Model 66 revolvers that are currently available nearby: A Model 66-1 and a Model 66-3, both in 4". Turns out from this thread that everyone pretty much loves what they've got and that is a good thing... apparently no versions to look out for.

The truth is that I should be buying a Model 67 to fill the last 'hole' in my pre-IL stainless steel revolver collection, but that has been a fruitless search so far and probably not going to get any better during this pandemic. I did well filling the second to last 'hole' when I picked up a sweet Model 65-3 last fall, but it only encouraged me more to go after the last missing stainless revolver of that era and maybe more shooters.

Anyway, the Model 66's that I already own (all 66-1 version) are still unfired NIB and much too valuable to shoot. Picking up a used Model 66 shooter locally at the right price makes more sense, or at least it does to me at this unusual time.

I have a 66-1 that was originally my dads. I used it in the police academy in 1988. Nice piece but that serrated trigger and me never got along.

I need to look for a smooth trigger. is there a part number or certain version that is preferred?

I am an Lframer, but this 66-1 will stay with me.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

My vote would definitely go to the 66-1. Last of the pinned and recessed models, and made with traditional care. I found this one, new in the box - shipped in 1978. I treated it to a Nelson Ford action job, shot it a few times to verify the sights, and put it back in the box as a (semi-) safe queen. It's one of the nicest S&W revolvers I own.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

As others have mentioned, acquire for what?

I am not one to walk away from a Great revolver based on it's engineering revision. Very few of the changes altered the firearms abilities

For pure collectiblity, it has to be an early no dash with the original stainless rear sights

For carry, the 2 1/2" or 3" Model 66s of any engineering revision take the cake

If you want to do long range target shooting or even hunting with one of the 6" Model 66s, you will want to have something that is a -4 or newer engineering revision since those are already drilled and tapped for scope mounts. One of the 4" 66s with a red dot sight on it makes steel plates and bowling pins very fun


There are lots of them that were used to commemorate Department and Agencies and other things if you would like a nice cased one with embellishments ranging from a few simple roll marks to nice engraving and inlays. My grandfather once worked for the Chicago PD, so this one commemorating the CPDs 125th Birthday made a nice gift

Then you have some that are totally unusual like this 6" no dash that was made for the Rhode Island State Police (3 years before the Model 66 was offered as a 6"). The Rhode Island State Police revolvers were attached with Lanyards. Only 200 were made in the 6" before the RISP changed the specification to a 4" Model 66

So if you over look which is "THE BEST" Engineering revision, you have Lots of great revolvers to choose from

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"Acta non verba"

I’m with Jeppo!

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

I like this one.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Very interesting collectible you have there in that 6”.
Could you please show the other side?

No dash with silver sights seems to garner higher resale. FWIW

Sorry but I had only photographed the one side

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"Acta non verba"

As mentioned above, this potential acquisition is about obtaining a reasonably priced 4" Model 66 "shooter." My four Model 66-1 revolvers are all unfired NIB w/everything safe queens and much too valuable IMHO to bring to the range.

Well, surprise, surprise! Guess what I found?

Just when it looked like it was going to be impossible...

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Have I mentioned lately...

That I hate you?

Nice going. Shoot it in good health.

Oh, come on Jep! Some of your scores make my occasional nice scores look like chump change!

As is usual for me, I had to overpay a bit... but it was important to me that I fill that pesky hole in my collection.

Next up: A Model 68?

Wouldn't that be a hoot!