M66 Round Butt?

dahermit · Jul 15, 2012

I have been under the impression that only 2-1/2 and the very rare 3" Model M66 came with round butts. However, I just won at auction, a M66-4, 4 inch that has a round butt.
Did S&W ever make round butt four inch M66's? Can anyone post a link to credible evidence of that fact?
I wanted a round butt pretty bad, so it would matter not-at-all if it was a 2-1/2 rebarreled to 4 inches (No one in their right mind would rebarrel a 3 inch to 4 inches).

Mack · Jul 15, 2012

I believe around the -4 S&W went all round butts as a cost savings. Yep just looked it up in the SCSW, 1995-96 -4 delete square butt.

dfariswheel · Jul 15, 2012

In the 1995-96 time frame S&W changed almost all their frames to a round butt form.
This was a savings since they only had to make one type frame for most any type revolver.

For a short barrel gun they installed round butt grips, and for a longer barrel model they installed "conversion grips", that surround the grip frame and convert it to a square form.
Under the square butt grips the frame is a round butt.

snw19_357 · Jul 15, 2012

Like Mack said.

The serial number probably starts with a "C" and it may (replaceable) have a MIM trigger and thumbpiece.

Not a 66 but here's a 4" RB 19 with the left grip panel removed.

nipster · Jul 15, 2012

I thought the 66-5 was the first MIM 66's. But maybe I am thinking of internal firing pin change.

At any rate, I have not owned a -4, but did own a -5, it was a 4", had round butt, MIM, internal firing pin and new yoke design. I know all -5's and later were round butt. One of the many mistakes S&W made in the 90's and early 2000's...

snw19_357 · Jul 15, 2012

Your right too. The 66-5 was the first with the MIM hammer, frame, etc. but the MIM thumpiece and trigger did show up on later -4's.

I kinda like the RB only frames. It really opens up your grips options, allow you to fit it to you.

jughed440 · Jul 15, 2012

A 66-4 RB and its original Uncle Mike's grips...it's the straightest shooting Smith that i own.

stiab · Jul 15, 2012

snw19_357 said:
I kinda like the RB only frames. It really opens up your grips options, allow you to fit it to you.

I agree, the RB gives you a lot more grips options and is a better design for my purposes. My 66-4 4" has a RB, which is the only reason I bought it.

bronco45 · Jul 16, 2012

Here's my 66-4 4" with Ahrends retro combats: The 66 has case hardened hammer and trigger.

Hondo44 · Jul 17, 2012

Back to the future from pre WW II round butts.

M66 Round Butt?

dahermit

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nipster

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stiab

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