With the addition of a 66 2.5", and a 66-1 My collection now
spans a 27 year period.
From the earliest inception of the model 66 snubby, October 1975,
to the final no lock 66-5 3.25in. produced in February 2002 complete with
m.i.m. parts already having the cut outs for the lock assembly.

I like these little guys. They are consummately cool.

I thought I would flash the bunch again,all lined up together.

The no dash is 6K615xx and shipped October 1975.
The dash 1 is 89K07xx and shipped in 1980.
The no dash has the funky little ampersand that looks like a backwards #3.















The -1 almost an identical twin to the no dash. Aside from the funny ampersand and the trademark
position on the sideplate.




The 66-2 3" is an Ashland gun AFK88xx ser# and shipped April 1985.

The 66-3 is BBT00xx and the julian date on the box places production
at October 1988.
The only way to tell a -2 from a -3 on sight is the larger head on the yoke retaining
screw. The -3 went to the spring loaded screw.

Note; many of the earlier model 66s had the front right portion of the barrel lug
polished down or 'melted'if you will.
It shows up on all the earlier guns up through -2.
It is evident here side by side with the -3.





The next 66-3 is the performance Center Power Port, Ser # PCP01xx and was made in a run in 1993.

The only 66-4 I have is the special for R.S.R. magnaported,bead blast finish ser# CAT61xx made in 1996

These both have the new rear sight assembly with the rounded front edge and are drilled and tapped
for a mount under the rear sight.







The two 66-5s are both 3.2in. heavy barrels and were 'stocking dealer specials'

The roll stamped example is CEL97xx and was made in early 2001.

The laser etched -5 is CFB62xx and was born (test fired) February 1st.2002.
the hammer is cut for the lock parts,


















Regards
Allen Frame

__________________
NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Wow. Very nice.

Well, I am a very long way behind you ... I have just the one and am hoping you may be able to tell me the DOB of my 66-4
Serial #CAJ 85XX
I was told 'early 90's" but do not know if that is at all correct ?
thanks
Ken

PS: I'm definitely going to find one or more of those custom grips ... i think some of those wood colors are just great.

Great. Now My 66-5 wants a friend..... or 5.

Ken, a Smith revolver with a CAJ serial prefix would have been manufactured in 1995. Probably late in the year.

Regards
Allen

__________________
NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Thank You,
Ken

Can I be in you will? Nice collection. I love K frame 357s.




later

Very nice photo essay, thanks.

My first thought on the line-up shots was PHOTOSHOP!

Well they each have their own personality grain in the grips, sights etc.

I love the old deep blue, but you really have to like how sharp all these look.

Very nice, I like your collection and appreciate your efforts in showing it to us, but why no 4" RB's?

Stiab, the 4" round butt was only catalogued as a 66-5. I had one,
but that is another story. If I find one at a reasonable price you
can bet I'll be adding it to the bunch.

Regards
Allen Frame

__________________
NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

No 3" round butt chronology would be complete without showing Allen's handywork. He had his 4" 66-5 cut down to 3" and slab sided the barrel. Allen's work on this gun's internals has made it the smoothest K frame that I have ever handled. It is a good thing that I was able to buy this gun from Allen before he decided to collect every 3" M66 in South Florida.
Mark

Allen-frame - thanks for sharing your collection. It's obvious you know your 66s. I picked up a 66-5 with a 3.25" barrel, a high viz green front site and a round butt just a couple of months ago. It sure handles well and the trigger pull is smooth as silk. I like it a lot! Where would I look for some stag grips?

Allen Frame, I have a 66-4 RB 4" that I acquired about a year ago. The only reason I wanted it was because of the RB. About 3 years ago there were two 66-3 4" RBs sold consecutively by the same seller on GB. They were used but came with original boxes, which indicated they were factory RB. I suspect they were police trade ins. I like for my S&W revolvers to be a little different from the norm, that's why I traded heavy for the 66-4 RB. Again, you have a wonderful collection.

That is a wonderful collection of a classic gun. I like them myself, but my collection of three model 66's looks very modest next to yours.

Wish I had kept my old 66's.

Looking at those pistols is better than playboy.

__________________
Shooting guns is good therapy

thanks for sharing those great pics!!!

66-4, CBL75XX....

Allen

I have a 66-3 #BDE65XX

i noticed the logo on your -3 was on the right side; the logo on mine is on the left side

why would the logos be on different sides of the gun?

approx when was mine made? i dont have a catalog yet

I had to drag this out again so he could join the party.
Allen-Frame, you have an outstanding collection. I enjoy looking at your photos very much.

I like the pics where you have them lined up like little soldiers

...some sort of law, rule, or regulation against someone owning all those snubbies? :

That's a beautiful array of revolvers.

nice collection

I now have to dry out my keyboard from the drool...stunning collection. I have a couple and will surely add more as opportunity comes along. Thanks for the inspiration!

Attached Images

66's 005.jpg (52.3 KB, 78 views)

Can you tell me about your gun as it appears to be a p&r 3" 66.

Very nice.

I think you need some more 66s. I only have two so far spanning 30 years

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Srigs

It is a no dash 66 which dates to the first year production run of round butt Model 66's. Smith&wesson made 3" Model 19 barrels in the mid 1960's, so there was a die stamp for this 3" style barrel back when this gun was made so there was no need to fabricate a new die for this barrel's design/length. I know there was a new production run of Model 66-2's with 3" non-pinned barrels, and non-recessed cylinders made in 1985, but this gun does not have any of the features of that run of guns, except for the full length barrel ramp. The imformation I have gathered suggests this may have been a test/sample configuration, as Smith&Wesson had just come out with the 66's in a round butt, and may have made both 3" and 2 1/2" barrels on a test basis (another forum member who was an LEO in the mid 1970's time frame told me that he remembers seeing a gun just like mine at a police range brought there by the head of police/law enforcement sales for Smith&Wesson for evaluation). I am guessing after various inputs, it was decided that the 2 1/2" barrel would be the chosen length. I bought this from an older gentleman who claimed to be the original owner, who said he had owned this since late 1974. The gun is P&R and has a .500 case colored target hammer and trigger, a white outline rear sight, with a blue/black ramp front sight with a factory red insert. I recently added the Keith Brown grips to add the extra touch of class this gun deserves.

allen
gosh you have some beautifull guns friend.congrats on some hard work and a lot of cash.those rare guns just dont fall out of the sky
.nice photos too .

Great background on this gun. I love the p&r guns but settled for a dash 3 for my 66 3" simply because I didn't think your gun existed. Very unique and extra special that it is factory gun and not custom. I love custom guns too but factory original cannot be duplicated. Thanks for posting.
Norm

To all of you, thanks for sharing.

CD

__________________
De Oppresso Liber

Yours was shipped in early 1989. HTH

__________________
Dick

Very nice collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a 66 no-dash and a 66-3. I am thinking that I now "need" a 66-1 and 66-2 at least. All in 2 1/2 inch barrel of course.

This site causes a disease of "I need another S&W".

Very nice.

Good talking with you, too.

More questions regarding 3" F frames have arisen. Bumping this thread
although the 2 1/2" guns are gone and the F comp has a new home too.

Nframeitis may dictate the selling of the 66-2 in the near future too.


Good Luck
Allen Frame

__________________
NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

I have a few 66's, but that collection is very pretty. Congrats!

Allen, This is truly wonderful and educational too. Please keep it up.

A fantastic collection of 66s! And the P&R 3-inch........!

Allen,
Nice looking collection.

Can someone tell me what P&R is? and does it mean that there are 3" no dash 66's?

They are referring to the pinned barrel and recessed (counterbored) chambers of the cylinder. Only original 66s and 66-1s have those features.

My favorite S&W - a p&r 66 with a 3" barrel. I hope to find one some day. Thanks for sharing the nice photos.

OH Dear Lord I need to wipe some drool away... Absolutely LOVE the 3" Model 66's... sadly I only own a 4" =/

Bflobill69

Ken,
Very nice collection.

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Doug

I'm still waiting for those 10,000 Australian 66's to show up...and waiting...and waiting.

I own two of these.

This one is a dash 2. She was carried for many, many years and is a true workhorse (I'm a LEO). She is wearing our "Sunday grips" for show. The normal grips I use are the Pachmayer's with the rubber covered back-strap (best for hot .357's) or a standard Hogue Monogrip.





The second one here was purchased new around 1998 and is a dash 4. Still new in the box. Grips are factory.



I enjoyed your pix of your 3"ers. Thank you for letting me show off my two.

So if anybody knows, my question is, Are there factory made 3" no dash models?

great pictures allen,nice collection.it takes time and money and a little luck,and it sure shows in your guns.
congrats

Allen-frame,
Very interesting and informative thread. Thanks for sharing.

I hear you about the N frame affliction. I fought it for years, but I'm afraid I got it too.

Allen,
Nice collection of model 66's.
Steve

Very nice Allen-frame.

I carried my 3" 66-4 on duty for several years. Fine revolver. I recently found a nice 3" 66-2 from the Ashland run in 85. I love the flash chromed hammer and trigger on my 66's. Regards 18DAI