Smith Wesson Dash Numbers and Revisions

I have been reading the reference materials in Wikipedia and reading past posts on this site trying to understand the major revisions on various revolvers. I have a 686-3 with a 4” barrel and from what I can see visually, and what I have read, it looks like the trigger and hammer are forged. I am wanting to add a model 66 with 2.5” barrel and a model 629 with 6” barrel to my collection.

Did any 66-4 guns have MIM parts? In looking on Gunbroker I have seen -4 guns with round butts and square butts. I have seen what looks to be visually MIM parts and some that visually looked forged. Is the color a reliable way to discern?

Same questions for Model 629.

I know there is nothing wrong with MIM parts or round butts or even locks. Having said that, I am willing to pay a little more to get one without MIM but want all the functional improvements (this lead me to the 686-3). Any help and guidance is appreciated.

According to how I interpret my Ed 3 of the SWSC the 629-5 introduced the MIM hammer and trigger.


No mention of the 66-4 with MIM parts. The 66-5 did introduce the MIM hammer.

Thanks for the reply...I found this

Model 66 no dash: 1970 - 1977. Early guns had stainless steel front and rear sights. Later changed for black rear and then red ramp front. Pinned barrel, recessed cylinder.

Model 66-1 1977 - 1982. Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder, apparently to prevent binding when the gun heated up. Red ramp, black rear. Still pinned & recessed.

Model 66-2 1982 -1986. No longer pinned & recessed. Some three inch barrel guns made.

Model 66-4 1994 - 1997. drilled and tapped for scope, rubber grips instead of timber, different rear sight leaf & extractor. From 1997 MIM trigger & cylinder release, from 1996 Square butt deleted.

Model 66-5 1998 - 2002. Change to new MIM hammer & frame mounted firing pin. Change cylinder stop stud.

Model 66-6 2002-2005. Internal key lock.

Model 66-7 2005-2006. Two piece barrel with internal rifled sleeve and external shroud similar to Dan Wesson system.

2005/2006. Model 66 is deleted.

Also this thread...

66 generation question

Model 586
586, 1981 Intro
586-1, 1986 Radius stud package, floating hand.
586-2, 1987 Change hammer nose and associated parts.
586-M, 1987 Product warning by S&W, M overstamp to indicate factory mod (for 586 and 586-1)
586-3, 1988 New yoke retention system. 1992 Delete 8 3/8" barrel and four-position front site. 1992 Delete nickel finish
586-4 1994 Drill and tap, synthetic grips, change rear sight and extractor. 1995 Delete square butt. 1997 Delete 8 3/8" barrel, change to MIM thumb piece.
586-5, 1998 Change design to eliminate cylider stop stud. Change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin, change to MIM trigger, change internal lockworks.
586-7, 2006 Limited Edition. 7-shot variant only.
586-8, 2012 Reintroduced under Smith & Wesson's Classic lineup. 6-shot only.


Model 686
686 no dash, introduced model
686-1, 1986, radius stud package, floating hand
686-2, 1987, changed hammer nose, bushing and associated parts
686-3, 1988, new yoke retention system
686-4, 1993, change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, hogue grips
686-5, 1997, change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud, eliminate serrated tangs, change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin, change to MIM trigger, change internal lockwork
686-6, 2001, internal lock

Model 629
629-1 was original and came about in 1982 or so, based on the blued model 29.

629-2E and 629-3 models in the late 80s, there was a beefed-up cylinder hand/star/and locking bolt. It is not important unless you are shooting LOTS of rounds/year or shooting in excess of SAAMI spec ammo. -3. They are flash chromed trigger and hammer plus Endurance Package.

629-4 models had small mods (to ejector star, yoke screw, and rear sight leaf) that are not terribly important. Shortly thereafter the square butt model was "deleted" and all of them got round butts on the grip frame, along with cheap rubber grips instead of the tradition, nicely fitted American Walnut ones. *** -4 color case hardened trigger and hammer plus endurance package.

629-5 of 1997 had a MIM hammer, firing pin in the frame, and ugly cylinder stop scar on the left side. Lots of folks get turned off by this, but they are good guns, no reason to raise a stink.
629-6 change in 2001 added the internal lock.

Thanks for all the help guys...much appreciated. I am not a big collector so pin and recessed and associated cost not necessary for me. I do love to shoot so I am thinking -3 guns give me the looks of a traditional Smith revolver (less the pinned barrel) and the functional design improvements that make them strong. I don’t see myself owning more than 5-6 revolvers so I want to get the right version for my prioroties. Right now I have a 617 4” (latest version I bought new last year) and the 686-3 4”. Next on the wish list is a 66 2.5” and a 629 in 6”. Hoping I can find these at reasonable prices but probably will pay a premium to get them.

Thanks again for the info.

No you can not tell if parts are MIM by the color case hardening.

MIM triggers have a hollow back, and therefore easy to I.D.

MIM hammers for the frame mounted firing pin have no hammer nose (firing pin) rivet and also easy to I.D.

Thanks for that explanation on the trigger and hammer.

629 info

I have this