Hello, my first post here. I own two S&W revolvers and a few S&W semi-autos. I purchased a model 66-3 new back in the 1980’s and it’s been used very little over the years. Recently I read that the 66-3 model is a non-standard production model, so I started to dig a little more. They seem to all have a 3” barrel, whereas mine is a 4” barrel. Serial number is BHB1301. As stated, I bought it brand new from a dealer and still have the box and wooden grips it came with. Does anyone know why mine has a 4” barrel?

I also have a 1990’s 640-1 that I purchased brand new and is my EDC in an Galco ankle holster. Love that gun. I will attempt to place some photos below. Thanks for your help. Sterling

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Just glancing casually at SCSW4, there was a 3" bbld special produced, but apparently the regular bbl lengths as well. The book mentions a 2.5" model in 1994. It's still early: more knowledgeable folks will chime in soon, and I happily surrender the floor to them!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Welcome to the best forum available.
Those are nice looking revolvers, there's a lot of shooting pleasure there.
I'll let someone more knowledgeable answer your question.

Welcome to the forum, OneThing.

You have two excellent S&Ws -- enviable to own.

Your Model 66-3 with a 4" barrel is likely the most common configuration in which the -3s are found, as the 4" was the mainstay size throughout original 66 production. Other standard configurations were the 2.5" and 6".

The limited, non-standard run was 3" barrel, not the -3 itself, and it's the 3" version that is least common.

Enjoy those fine revolvers, and this forum, too -- it's a great place.

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Pickpocket

Thank you for your warm welcomes and your responses. Much appreciated.

So what exactly does the dash # mean, just different sight configurations, or manufacturing techniques? Is one preferable over another if that’s the case? I have another Model 66 that my dad left me when he passed two years ago and my brother has it. I’ll have to check model and barrel length on that one too.

Thanks again!

The dash after the model number just signifies a change in the manufacture and usually something insignificant the average owner will never realize. But if a part is required, the dash can come into play. Others may write pages of explanation but this sums it up.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Hello and welcome OneThing. My SCSW indicates the BHB prefix is 1991 production. It also indicates the -3 engineering change was: New yoke retention system/radius stud package/hammer/nose bushing/floating hand. The Pinned and recessed feature had already been eliminated with the -2 engineering change of 1982. I owned a couple of the early 66s, and within my humble experience the 4" and 6" barrels were by far the most common barrel lengths.

BTW, I'm a fan of the 66s and model 60s myself. I still have my old no dash model 66 and 60, both carried every working day for years.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

Thank you for the information Rock. That’s very interesting. Perhaps my memory of when I purchased it has failed me. I was certain it was around 1985. It is possible I still have the receipts round here in a box. I will have to look for it. It the books says 1991, then I stand corrected. I’m certain it’s more accurate than my memory is from 30 years ago.

Btw, your revolvers are beautiful. Makes me want to put wood grips back on mine.

Very nice duo. The J-frame appears to be a no-dash 640, no?

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Pickpocket

Thank you. The J-frame is a 640-1

I’m not sure if anyone will find this interesting, but My wife located the original box and it’s contents up in our attic. She knows where everything is. I would have never found it, I’m certain. So attached are some pictures of the contents. I don’t believe I’ve opened it in close to 30 years. I’m fairly certain I purchased the Hogue Monogrips the day I purchased my Model 66-3 and the original grips have been inside the Hogue box until I took them out to take the photo today. It’s like a time capsule.

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That’s a $150 time capsule!!

Welcome to the Forum Sterling!
To clarify, the time capsule “saved” in the attic added a minimum of $150 or more to the value of your 66.
Thanks for sharing

Thank you for the welcome. It’s nice to know it was worth hanging on to for all this time.

Thank Mrs. One Thing, she's the one who knew where to look after 30 years...Apparently she's worth hanging onto all this time also......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I have a 66-3 that I have had forever too. 4". I did some action cleanup and it is the smoothest DA revolver I own. Looking in the box, it must have come with magna grips. I have target grips on it. As I recall when I got them there must have been a chip in the front corner of one of them that looked ugly. So I made them into custom pinky rest grips to remove the damage. Otherwise I like the Uncle Mikes on them. I also have a 640 no dash that must have been carried as it had lots of light scratches. I admired the satin finish on a 60 I used to own. So I bead blasted my 640 to have a nice satin finish like the factory 60 job. But I did them better as I put rubber stoppers in the chambers and barrel so the chambers and bore did not get the satin treatment! Like you, both of these are really keepers.

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Lol! She’s the best!

Thanks for sharing that tom2. Sounds like we both chose the same guns, except I have the dash 1 640. The action on my model 66-3 is so smooth. It’s quite remarkable really. I’ve never had any work done on it. It came from the factory that way. Someone working on it was committed to quality.

My 66 is maybe not as old as yours, it starts with BHV. The wide trigger must account for some of the feel. I tend to smooth out rough spots and burrs etc. and often select springs. Not super light "target" springs but selected enough to reduce the pull to a field grade or defense reliable function. I never ever mess with sears or such altering that stuff. Only have 3 stainless Smiths now. One that I regret parting with was a 6" 629 model, years ago. And what I shot out of that was LWC or LSWC loaded down to probably .44 special levels or target loads. That was sweet to shoot. And I sure cannot afford what they cost now, if I could find one.

FYI there were in total about 5000-6000 3" 66 built ( -2s,-3s and-4s)........ the 3 inch is the least common barrel length