Question on original no dash 66 grips

[4T5GUY]

First off, don’t jump all over me. I originally ONLY had S&W revolvers. I really didn’t have any interest in the semi’s. I sold most of my replaceable, (so I thought,) revolvers 25 yrs ago to finance a Cobra. I did keep a few, one of them being a no dash 66 that I bought new. Sometime in the early ‘90’s I got a 617 that came with combat grips. My wife wanted those grips on the 66 so I swapped them out. The 617 is long gone, along with the original 66’s grips.

So anyway, what exactly were those original grips. I read here football cutout but I can’t see any difference from any other grip. Does anyone have a picture? Would they be worth the same as the combats if I were to trade? Should I sell the combats and buy the correct grips? I want the 66 to be original again.

Thanks for any help and or suggestions.

Jim

 

[murphydog]

Target stocks with the smaller extractor or "football" cutout are correct for this gun. The earliest versions had no cutout, and the later ones had the larger speedloader relieved area, similar to the one on the Combat stock panel in the photo.

The Combat stocks are probably worth $200, or double what a nice set of "football" Targets would cost. I'd keep these and buy the proper Targets.

Was having the car worth not having the revolvers? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Doc44]

The stocks original to your revolver look like these.

Bill

 

[4T5GUY]

Great, thank you both. I'm "stealing" the picture and starting the hunt.

I do not have the car anymore. I sold it three years ago. I did really enjoy it for the 20 some years I growled around in it, but it DID NOT appreciate like my wonderful S&W's did.

Jim

 

[KalamazooKid]

This is my 66 no dash with its original target stocks.

 

[mbliss57]

Thats' a nice looking Model 66 No dash. Plus 1 on those combats. They are worth a lot more than the correct target stocks. Either hold on to them as they seem to get more expensive by the year or you could sell them (even on this forum) and have money back in your pocket toward another fine S&W revolver.
As for revolvers on this forum..you do not need to apologize for owning what you like. S&W revolvers and semi autos are great guns. So are a lot of other manufactures offerings.
I own at least 1 of most of big name the gun brands in revolver, semi auto or long guns but I still visit this site more than any other by far.

 

[TDC]

I might add a personal observation on early Mod. 66 no-dash guns.....

For some reason many early 66's I owned and observed seemed to be very commonly equiped with unusually "orangeish" colored target football stocks. Much more so than the color found on other K and N frame football targets of that era.

Coincidence or by intent?

Doc44's picture reflects the typical color I mention. I'm posting pictures of one of my own original owner no-dash 66's in the "2k" range, that is "bone stock" and completely original with the orange colored GA stocks it was shipped with.

I'm wondering if S&W may have chosen a different colored wood to offer with their first stainless handguns produced after the Mod 60. For years I've heard many others comment on the same color issue. Probably just coincidence. Perhaps Doc44 or another expert would comment on the issue....

 

[Doc44]

TDC...I think it is coincidence because I have noticed the same color on stocks on Model 29-2s and Model 57s shipped in the early 70s. This is probably due to the supply of wood (Goncalo alves) received by S&W at the time to make stocks for the Model 29, 57, 66, etc.

Bill

 

[Mark S.]

Yep

Doc44's picture reflects the typical color I mention. I'm posting pictures of one of my own original owner no-dash 66's in the "2k" range, that is "bone stock" and completely original with the orange colored GA stocks it was shipped with.

If I were to post a picture of my early 70's "2K" range, no-dash 66 it would look identical to your and Doc44's pictures, down to the orange tint.

 

[sheepdawg]

Here's my 2K vintage 66. These stocks seem a tad darker.