My LGS took in a model 66 this week that looks pretty decent. It was manufactured in 1976. There are a few small holster scuffs on the barrel, but no evidence of abusive treatment. It comes with the box, tools and papers. The original hammer and trigger have been changed out to the target versions you see in the photo. The original parts are also included in the box.

My questions for the experts: Are the substituted parts any concern? Would you leave them or replace the originals? How big a job? Fair price?

Attached Images

66.JPG (135.3 KB, 252 views)

First off, a big welcome to the Forum from out here in the Rocky Mountains. I absolutely LOVE your new/potential acquisition and have its twin from the same year. As for the target trigger and hammer, replacing them with the originals isn't a very time consuming job - takes me 15 minutes or so to do it right, but the trick is its one of those "three handed jobs". I have done it before, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't.

As for an opinion on replacing the target parts, I am in a very small minority of folks who prefer them, with many strong opinions to the contrary. I wish my '76 vintage Model 66 4" had them, so I would leave them, but I'm sure other opinions will follow! In either case, premature congrat's on picking up my "first love" in the Smith & Wesson department.

A fair range would be $450-500.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I forgot to mention that there is an extra set of wood grips included. They are a darker wood, no checkering, with S&W medallions.

The grips that are on it, I dont think are the originals, I think by that time they would have gone to the speedloader cutout, but I could be mistaken. $500 is on the outside I think of what I would spend, but it appears to be a nice gun. Cant go wrong with either a 19 or 66 in my opinion. Check for tightness under lockup and check the topstrap and forcing cone for evidence of excessive wear.

Changing out the trigger and hammer is not hard, but not for the faint of heart. Especially if you are not familiar with the innards and working of a revolver. I would not attempt it if you have to remove the sear and trigger pin but if the new trigger and hammer come with those things already attached, it's worth a shot. There are some good videos on youtube which explain it.

While some prefer the target trigger and hammer my use of S&W revolvers has been mostly for personal and client defense. I prefer the standard trigger and hammer. For me they just feel better. Most of my shooting has been for law enforcement qualification and practice so specific target options would not interest me, so I would have a gunsmith change them out.

I was thinking that football grips may have been used up to around 1980'ish.

I AGREE, FAIR PRICE

I have put a target hammer's on several of my Smith's, a little tricky, but doing it for 40 years, it's easy. Same with the triggers. On carry guns I like the smooth combat ones, hunting & target shooting ones have target hammers.
BTW, nice revolver @ a OK price I think.

The shop has it priced at $595. They will probably lower it a bit, but not to the $450-500 range being suggested. I may have to pass or just overpay and not look back.

OK...we all know the theory on opinions, nevertheless here is mine...

I own a couple of nice model 66s. One is a LNIM 4" and the other is a real nice 2 1/2" shooter. I have acquired both of these guns in the last year. During this time I did a lot of research on their value. Here are my thoughts...

The gun in the condition you describe, with original box, docs and tools, and all the original parts (stocks?)....I would place the value range between $475 and $575.

Now, you also mention..."an extra set of wood grips included. They are a darker wood, no checkering, with S&W medallions". If these are smooth rosewood targets, and they can be "lettered" to this gun, I would add $50 to $75 to my price range above. In my opinon, these stocks may be the key to the real value of this gun! If you buy this gun, make sure to hang on to these smooth targets until you determine their history!!

So, with this considered, I would go in and offer $525-$550 cash and see if they bite. If so, then you'd have a very nice model 66 for a more than acceptable price. Especially if the other stocks are rosewood and they letter to the gun!!

__________________
Mark

Welcome to the forum. The 66 your looking is a nice looking "shooter" grade revolver. The revolver does not look to have the original grips. I would not paid over $450 for the revolver. Less than a year ago I paid $450 for a model 19-2 4 inch that is over 95% condition. Original grips but no box.
Regards,
Howard

This.

Otherwise, there are some real low-ballers in this thread.

It's hard to tell from one picture, but based on it and OP's description, cosmetically this 66 is between very good and excellent by NRA moderns firearm standards, leaning toward excellent. If the same is true mechanically (and OP must run the gun through several checks to confirm), this is a desirable item.

If the box is original and numbered to the gun, with tools and papers you're approaching collector's grade 66; extra stocks and original trigger and hammer only enhance that, particularly if as MacA pointed out the extra grips are smooth rosewood targets from the factory and matched to the gun.

If indeed everything is as it seems, $595 is not a bad price -- if you look at what similar items are selling for on the open market, it's in fact a pretty good one. (If you have an account at Gunbroker, you can see what auctions are actually selling for, which provides a good window into what market prices are).

Bottom line: confirm cosmetic and mechanical condition, the box and spare items, and if it is all to your satisfaction, make an offer. If you walk out the door with everything for $595 on the nose, I'd still say you did fine; if for less, all the better.

As for the substituted hammer and trigger -- they're fine if from the factory, and either dropped straight in or, if a little fitting was required, was done properly and professionally.

Same goes if you want to reinstall the originals. It's fairly straight forward if you do some basic research on revolver internals, or you can ask a gunsmith to do it (should be very inexpensive). If the store has a gunsmith on site, you could ask them to do it as part of the sale.

It's always difficult to give advice online, where only pictures and descriptions are available to judge by, but again, if everything aforementioned checks out, and this particular gun speaks to you, I say buy it.

I very much agree with Hapworth, and would drop the $595 on this package if that was the best they would do. I'd be really smiling if they would do any better. IHMO (i.e, best guess) the football target grips are original and the described presentatiom grips are the add ons by someone who obviously was tricking out their piece with different features. I have both a 66 and 19 ANIB from that year with footballs as standard - so I'm thinking you're fine on that one. Second point on the pricing, in addition to a spare set of potentially pricey grips, the vintage stainless target trigger and hammer are getting a bit scarce nowadays, and would probably fetch another $150 or so if they were "surplused." All together, that puts this $595 gun in the $400 range, and again, I'd do that deal any day of the week.

In Southern California that is a $750 package MINIMUM! Probably more like $850-$900 with the box and extras. And I would not expect it to sit in the shop very long even at that $850.

I carried a Model 66 for about 15-years. They are a great gun. Buy it and run away!
Frank

IMHO, they don't make 'em like that anymore! Git it... quick!

HG

__________________
Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

In my area, getting that 66 for under $550 would only happen in my dreams. With all the extras, and especially if everything numbers to it, I would concur on offering $550 and if they take it, great, if not, buy it at their price. I would!

BTW, in my experience the footballs are the correct period grip for a 1976 M66. My M66-1 is from '78-'79 and still had them.

Hope this helps!

-TS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you want it, try offering about $50 less than advertised price. I don't think that is a bad price with that gun and with the box and papers. You can spend a lot of money looking for another one like it. From the prices I have seen on used guns the past couple of days, that would be a bargain.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

For me, on a K frame, I definetly prefer the .375 hammer and standard trigger.

I cannot stand the small .265 hammer or the target trigger. Which is frustrating, because EVERY SINGLE model 13 or model 65 that I have come across has had a .265 hammer. And I dont like the idea of having to shell out $50-75 for the hammer I want.

I could care less on smooth trigger versus ribbed trigger.

On an N frame, prefer the TH/TT, but then I think most come with them by default.

The oddest thing I have ever come across was a 19-3 2.5" round butt with a TH and TT. Made no sense to me, but action sure was nice. Didnt buy it because of frecking on the finish.

66s will only increase in value and IMHO the apex of the S&W K Frames. Mothers mag wheel polish would help the scuffs from the holster.

With all that's included, I'd offer $50 less. but that ain't a bad deal at $595.

__________________
LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

Thanks for all your opinions. I went back to the gun store today for a better inspection and found a few things that concerned me. One was damage to the ejector rod. I suspect someone had tried to remove it (probably in the wrong direction) with a pair of pliers. One of the side plate screws also had a deformed slot. Those two items combined with the hammer/trigger switch make me think some kitchen table gunsmithing went on.

I decided to pass on this one and keep looking.

Mike