How Many '1988 Special' Model 66-3 Were Made?

[Vettepartz]

While looking through the new 5th edition of the Standard Catalog, I see a mention of a 3" model 66-3 that they refer to as a 1988 Special, if I am reading that correctly. I have this one pictured here with the box and tools that I bought used several years ago to complete my Model 66 collection.

I am wondering how many of these were made, if anyone knows. I guess it may be time to request a letter.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

What does the Standard Catalog say about production?

 

[80sgyrene]

Can’t help you, but I have the same revolver, minus the box.
Might be the last gun I would ever sell.
I really like the sight ramp aesthetics on these as opposed to the more abrupt ramp on other 3”s.

 

[Gunhohulk]

I’ve heard somewhere in the 275-500 range but that could be completely made up as I don’t have any actual info backing that number up. They seem to surface less often that the 66-2 3”ers.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I’ve heard somewhere in the 275-500 range but that could be completely made up as I don’t have any actual info backing that number up. They seem to surface less often that the 66-2 3”ers.

Have heard those #s before. I have two 3" 66-3s I got in 1988/89 in Harrisburg Pa. Story from my gunsmith was they'd been sitting on a local Distributor's shelf for the better part of a year. While the 66-2s were heavily written up in the gun rags..... the rest of the world had just entered the "Age of the Wonder-9". If it didn't have 15 up the butt no one wanted one! Die Hard and Lethal Weapon were all over the screen.

After a year of no real interest my Gunsmith said the Distributor just want to get them off his books. I heard he got busted by the Feds a few years later .......................

Mine were $270 OTD with an action job thrown in! So about $200 for the gun!


IIRC the reporting is that about 5000 -2s were built for Ashland Supply

Picked up a used -4 around 2000 at a local gunshop for the going price of a used 2 1/2" gun..............$225. No idea on the number of -4s built.

The used -4 with Spegel Boot Grips is my most carried EDC revolver.

 

[PatriotX]

I have a boxed example, and mine is the same product code as the one shown above. 9273 Spec.Ord. code, so almost a year later than yours, Vettepartz!

 

[BAM-BAM]

Not sure I understand the ; "...so almost a year later than yours,..." reference??


EDIT: SCS&E 3rd p229 ;3" 66-4s built for RSR 1996. Mine is not Mag-na-Ported

 

[PatriotX]

Not sure I understand the ; "...so almost a year later than yours,..." reference??


EDIT: SCS&E 3rd p229 ;3" 66-4s built for RSR 1996. Mine is not Mag-na-Ported

There was a photograph in the original post showing a Spec.Ord. Code of 8294, which would have been mid-October 1988 ready to ship date, per the Julien code.

Mine is 9273, which would have had a ready to ship date of Sept 30, 1989.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Have to check my boxes..... 100 hours without power 125 w/ cars blocked in the garages!!!!!

 

[jrc1]

I only have two a -2 and a-5

 

[snw19_357]

No idea how many 3" 66-3's (not including F-Comps) were made but have documented many in the BBN, BBT, BDF, BEA, BEE, BKE, BNU and BPR prefixes.
Spec Ord codes from 8292 ~ 3231 (8/19/1993)

Why didn't they make any 3" Model 19's during this time frame, 19-5 ~ 19-8?
Well, I guess they did make a 3" 19-8...for Walther.

 

[Vettepartz]

OP here. I appreciate those replies here, but I am not really looking at numbers for -2's or -4's or for those made in years other than 1988. The S&W Catalog, page 322, mentions a '1988 Special' and that is what I am curious about. I do have a request for a letter in, but I see that the mainframe computer at Smith and Wesson is down right now and the prefix BBT guns are affected by this downtime. I will wait patiently for future information from the letter. I am wondering if any other members here may have a letter on a -3 gun that was made in 1988.

 

[VM]

While looking through the new 5th edition of the Standard Catalog, I see a mention of a 3" model 66-3 that they refer to as a 1988 Special, if I am reading that correctly. I have this one pictured here with the box and tools that I bought used several years ago to complete my Model 66 collection.

I am wondering how many of these were made, if anyone knows. I guess it may be time to request a letter.

Production total for product code 102712 is 4195
This comes from office of S&W “Special Products List, Jan 1996”

 

[snw19_357]

The Ashland 66-2s and the RSR 66-3s & -4s were all product code 102712.
Is the 4195 just for the RSR run in 1996 or does it include the 1988 & 1999 RSR runs too.

SCS&W reads that there were 5000 of the Ashland run.
(wonder what the 'full-lug version' is)

 

[VM]

As of JANUARY 1996 when the list was produced, there were 4195 guns with that product code.
I am only reading the code off the OP’s box and matching it to the code on the list.
The exact description on list is:
3”Bbl.F.L.Rd.B. Checker Walnut Stocks
It also says May 1988 in next box