What are these customizations on this snubby 66?

[BluegrassBoy]

I could not resist this unusual M66.
While I usually shy away from customized guns, I actually got this piece BECAUSE it was so unusual.

I bring these photos to the forum, curious if anyone can tell me more about these three ah....enhancements.

1. The bottom of the triggerguard is threaded. There is some residue where something was probably attached at some point. Any idea what the attached item might have been? (Perhaps a broomhandle to allow you to shoot this like a miniature Tommy gun?)

2. On the side, just above the S&W logo there is a...well, I am assuming this is some kind of safety. (??) If the hammer is cocked, the small button in the middle can be depressed which then prevents the hammer from falling. Am I correct? Is this a safety? Factory or aftermarket (if so, who?).

3. The hammer itself has been machined and is removable (by lifting up on a spring-loaded catch). When it comes off, the firing pin is also removed. Any ideas at all why this would have been done? FWIW, the quality of this work appears to be first rate. Again, would this have been available via factory or is there a particular gunsmith that would do this type of work? For what reason?

 

[Road Rat]

Things that make you go...Hhhhmmmmmmmmmm!!!

I'm curious as to what responses you receive!!

 

[jspick]

I have never seen anything like it. Very Interesting. Waiting to hear from more experianced members.

 

[Muley Gil]

That thar gun is sooo safe, you kan't even shoot it!!!!

 

[-db-]

The other two modifications aren't very difficult but someone went through a lot of trouble to mill that hammer like that. I have no idea what someone was thinking doing these things. Can you tell us where you found the gun? Might be a clue there.

 

[j38]

Someone put a lot of effort into making that an aesthetically challenged, and mechanically questionable revolver. ... go figure...

Jerry

 

[gdogs]

Almost looks like it was mounted on something. Most strange.

 

[Reddog]

Could the hole in the trigger guard have held some sort of Laser?
Dick

 

[Old TexMex]

Looks like a booby trap setup. Does the added button hold the hammer back in such a way as to (if the trigger is held back) allow the hammer to fall if it is pulled out of the way? that "button" might not be a safety, but a retainer to hold the cocked hammer back.
Set it up,insert hammer after trip is positioned(so it doesnt go off while preparing the trap) and step out, wait for burgler to contact the wire which pulls the button and the hammer falls.

 

[flintsghost]

The hole in the trigger guard is most likely supposed to mate to the top of a walking stick for use as a temporary rest. Walking sticks that thread into knife handles for conversion to a survival spear are common and a rest would make a lot of sense, especially for a short barrel.

As for the rest, It may be that someone was overly concerned with children getting ahold of that piece. That could explain the safety and the hammer. I suspect the safety was merely there to allow the hammer to lock so the top of the hammer could be removed. I would suspect that those modifications cost a lot of money. Whereas a trigger lock and a bike lock through the frame or down the barrel would be just a few dollars. I think that it looks like a ideal answer to a non-existent problem to me. I would think that the owner probably was a machinist and did it himself but perhaps not.

 

[North5560]

Interesting find... Looks like an extreme armory weapon. Someone was seriously worried about unauthorized use of this and possibly other weapons. From the pics, it looks like a bushing was once fitted to the bottom of the trigger guard (to allow a small padlock to prevent pulling the trigger?) Removing the hammer while in the weapon racks would prevent anyone that broke into the armory from being able to use the firearm even if they got the padlock off.
Possibly a correctional facility?
Thats my working hypothesis...

 

[The Tourist]

It looks like a modification they used to do in the 1960s and 70s.

There was something screwed into the trigger guard that stopped the trigger just as the sear broke. It was supposed to keep you from feeling 'trigger lash.'

I don't even know what that is, but I've seen similar mods.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I could not resist this unusual M66.
While I usually shy away from customized guns, I actually got this piece BECAUSE it was so unusual.

I bring these photos to the forum, curious if anyone can tell me more about these three ah....enhancements.

1. The bottom of the triggerguard is threaded. There is some residue where something was probably attached at some point. Any idea what the attached item might have been? (Perhaps a broomhandle to allow you to shoot this like a miniature Tommy gun?)

2. On the side, just above the S&W logo there is a...well, I am assuming this is some kind of safety. (??) If the hammer is cocked, the small button in the middle can be depressed which then prevents the hammer from falling. Am I correct? Is this a safety? Factory or aftermarket (if so, who?).

3. The hammer itself has been machined and is removable (by lifting up on a spring-loaded catch). When it comes off, the firing pin is also removed. Any ideas at all why this would have been done? FWIW, the quality of this work appears to be first rate. Again, would this have been available via factory or is there a particular gunsmith that would do this type of work? For what reason?

Someone was very safety conscious.

The hole in the trigger guard was for the Saf-T-Trigger modification. It was an invention or product, not sure which, of the Saf-T-Hammer Company, which made this type of key lock for many guns including S&W. A key turned a locking device which caused it to rise up and stop rearward movement of the trigger. I have attached a picture of the packaging which shows how it works.

The hammer modification is unknown to me, but the obvious purpose is to remove the part that makes the revolver go bang.

The hammer modification may have also been a product or modification invented or offered by Saf-T-Hammer of Scottsdale, AZ. Saf-T-Hammer eventually purchased S&W from Tompkins, PLC. Saf-T-Hammer changed its name to "Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation" after the purchase of S&W.

If memory serves, after Saf-T-Hammer bought S&W, there was one year or maybe two where the S&W catalog showed revolvers and maybe some pistols, as having the Saf-T-Trigger device as an available option. It was rather quickly discontinued and I do not get the sense it was a popular option.

 

[Old TexMex]

Sure looks like a VID to me.

 

[-db-]

Thank God that particular product never became popular.

 

[RussellD]

Ugly no matter how functional..

 

[Flint Ridge]

Well, heck I'll ask...

How much did you pay for this?

 

[jhvaughan2]

When I saw the hammer I thought maybe a quick change between hammer and hammerless? Extra safeties because of pocket carry?

 

[ben1]

Thank you for rescuing it now put it out of its misery. Then find the man that did this so we can enlighten him that the only real safety is your finger.

 

[-db-]

I just did some Googling and found that that hammer, too, is a Saf-T-Hammer product (their namesake, in fact):

Congress Called Upon to Ensure that Gun Safety Device Included in Legislative Definition. | HighBeam Business: Arrive Prepared

Here's the patent info, with drawings: http://www.google.com/patents/US6305114

And same for the trigger lock: http://www.google.com/patents/US6301816