Early S&W Model 66 with the Stainless Steel Sights -- Date?

Bearcat

Bearcat

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I have a real early Model 66 no dash that has the original SS sights. I have been told these were made during their first year of production. Can any of the board experts verify this? Photos below including the serial number. Think that I could swap this for a new SS Ruger Mini-30 at my friendly, neighborhood gun show next month? The only .357 I ever seem to shoot is my trusty old Blackhawk. Guess I don't need more than one...

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Thanks,

Bearcat
 
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They started making 66s in 1970. Yours dates to 1973, not a first year gun. What is surprising is they were still using stainless rear sights that late in production.
I think you'll have to kick in another $100+ to get that Mini-30 though.

Question, take off the grips, does the right panel serial number to the gun?
 
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Thanks, Diamonback....I appreciate the information and advice. I picked this one up in 1975, so the date of 1973 clicks with that. I'll check the grip panel serial number and post a photo soon....
 
Bearcat said:
Grips are numbered 802678, so apparently not original to the revolver??
Click to expand...

Bear, the reason I asked is, I have an early model 67 no dash .38SPL 3K634XX with the stainless sights from October 1973 and it has the PC magnas on it like yours and they are not numbered to the gun either. Strange huh?
 
diamonback68 said:
Bear, the reason I asked is, I have an early model 67 no dash .38SPL 3K634XX with the stainless sights from October 1973 and it has the PC magnas on it like yours and they are not numbered to the gun either. Strange huh?
Click to expand...

Very strange. These are the grips that came with the revolver. I bought it at a local stocking dealer in 1975, and he said it had been sold to a local fellow who brought it back after firing some 125 gr. JHP .357 loads in it and traded it for a heavy barrel model 64 in .38 spl. The recoil of the 66 was too much for him. I have no reason to believe that the grips were ever switched and they fit the grip frame like they were custom made for it. Of course, who knows what the real story is on them. Surprised to hear about the Magna grips. I have seen a lot of 66's over the years with the same grips that I have on mine. Thanks for all of the information.
 
diamonback, I have a 67 no dash with the stainless sights also. The shape of my grips is the same profile with a larger checkering area. Do not number to the gun. The oddest thing is that both grips are stamped with the letter R (and there is a right and a left) What does this R stand for? Now to Bearcat, NICE 66! I was looking for 1 myself, and found a clean 65-3, 3". I think that if you shoot it , you will not want to part with it. Bob
 
bananaman said:
diamonback, I have a 67 no dash with the stainless sights also. The shape of my grips is the same profile with a larger checkering area. Do not number to the gun. The oddest thing is that both grips are stamped with the letter R (and there is a right and a left) What does this R stand for? Now to Bearcat, NICE 66! I was looking for 1 myself, and found a clean 65-3, 3". I think that if you shoot it , you will not want to part with it. Bob
Click to expand...

Not sure about the R, but I do have some guns that have the grips stamped R for right and L for left. I'm sure we can all figure it out without a stamp, but maybe it meant something in manufacturing. What's really strange with you guys is, I am currently on the search for a 65 3". Go figure.:D
 
Odd I should stumble upon this thread, funny how things come together from what you read on this Forum...
While cleaning out the gun room today I was looking through my bag 'o grips and found a set of non-diamond K-frame square butt magnas. Serial number in the right grip is 75514, and there's a "K" stamped on each grip. Only thing I could figure is that they were from an early Model 67 I bought in the summer of 1973 and got rid of long ago. I haven't a clue as to the serial number of my old gun, but seeing as Diamondback has one from that same era and the serial number is 67xxx I can conclude that my grips are indeed from my old Model 67.
 
I have an all stainless sighted 66 serial # 4K84xxx. Purchased new, with Target stocks, they are ink stamped F-LH and F-RH with 7226 below the letters. 7226 does not match the serial # at all.


Charlie
 
Grips (stocks) on a early mdl.66 often looks like these.not # but has black washers.
Dick
SmithWesson005.jpg
 
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Dick, I found my 65-3,3" on G.B. They have 3" beaters on there from $360-$390. I was thinking about them, but couldn't bring myself to do it. The one that I got was from a pawn shop in Georgia. (G.B. also) I won the gun at $341 +$30 shipping. Very nice, and a good shooter. The next most reasonable 1 I saw was $499 on that sight. Bob
 
bananaman said:
Dick, I found my 65-3,3" on G.B. They have 3" beaters on there from $360-$390. I was thinking about them, but couldn't bring myself to do it. The one that I got was from a pawn shop in Georgia. (G.B. also) I won the gun at $341 +$30 shipping. Very nice, and a good shooter. The next most reasonable 1 I saw was $499 on that sight. Bob
Click to expand...

Thanks Bman, I looked at those and they look pretty rough. :( Makes you wonder what they look like inside.
 
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