66-2 3 Inch Show Find

Salox · Aug 2, 2015

Picked up a 66-2 3" with Serial AHJxxxx for $550 at a show this weekend. SCSW dates it to 1985, which is around when the 3" barrels showed up, but unable to find a great amount of information on them. How rare are the model 66-2 3" revolvers?

Apologies for the poor picture quality. One is with it compared to my 66-2 2 1/2" and the barrel can be seen peeking out of the 2 1/2" Lobo Gun Leather Holster.

wheelyfun66 · Aug 2, 2015

Wait, you're pulling our legs, right?
I think that the 3" versions usually go for over 1,000 bucks.....

Better let one of the more experienced fellas fill you in.....

but, pretty sure that you SCORED big time!

murphydog · Aug 2, 2015

You got quite a deal. If you can't find much information on them here you aren't trying very hard

:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/search...6757862&cof=FORID:10&ie=UTF-8&q=3"+66-2&sa=Go

g8rb8 · Aug 2, 2015

^^^^^^
I haven't sorted through the search results from murphydog but according to the SCSW (Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson):
66-2 produced 1982 to 1986
In 1985 there was a special production of 3" barrels for Ashland Arms, 5000 manufactured, ALU serial number prefix.

I would look REALLY CAREFULLY at your serial # again. I can convince myself in bad light or with bad eyes the ALU could look like AHJ or maybe you mistyped the letters?

murphydog · Aug 2, 2015

There were several prefixes in the 1985 Ashland run.

imakmst · Aug 2, 2015

$550 you stole that

Nice revolver

GPJohn · Aug 2, 2015

Great find a that price.

usm1rifle · Aug 2, 2015

Was this at the Hastings show?

Great buy!

THE PILGRIM · Aug 2, 2015

You Are one lucky dog!
If I saw one that I liked- under a thousand,
I would get that money out so fast!

Kernel Crittenden · Aug 2, 2015

I've seen a fairly large number of these that I presume were Ashland Shooting Supply guns. They are very desirable, and well valued, but not what I'd consider "rare". Five thousand were made for Ashland and many thousands more for general distribution. You got an excellent deal, as others have noted.

In my s/n collection I have a large cluster (18) with s/n's AFK, AFZ, AHJ, and AHL. All from April - May 1985. Most from a one week period in April. Product code was 102712, which was not special, same pc was used for all pre-lock 3-inch M66. Wood Magna stocks were standard. They shipped in the new style one-piece cardboard box with the name "LSI- Lear Siegler" on it and a machine printed label without a bar code.

jughed440 · Aug 2, 2015

Congrats on that steal!!

Salox said:
... How rare are the model 66-2 3" revolvers?
...

According to this S&W letter, 4195 3" 66-2's were produced for Ashland, and the total 3" 66 production was "well over 5000 units".

Stirling · Aug 2, 2015

Congrats, great buy. I prefer a minimum of 3" barrel lengths.

Salox · Aug 2, 2015

murphydog said:
You got quite a deal. If you can't find much information on them here you aren't trying very hard :

http://smith-wessonforum.com/search...6757862&cof=FORID:10&ie=UTF-8&q=3"+66-2&sa=Go

Thanks Alan! I will give look the thread over carefully.
Dave

Salox · Aug 2, 2015

wheelyfun66 said:
Wait, you're pulling our legs, right?

No leg pulling! It was right there on the table and actually did a double take on it I just handed the money to him with no questions or argument.

Salox · Aug 2, 2015

jughed440 said:
Congrats on that steal!! According to this S&W letter, 4195 3" 66-2's were produced for Ashland, and the total 3" 66 production was "well over 5000 units".

Thank you for sharing the lettered information! Awesome! AHJ is right in there! It may not be a hens tooth, but a very very nice surprise. Helps to get a good buy every every now and then to make up some ground on the others. Appreciate all the information in the thread.

black1970 · Aug 2, 2015

Have 2. One is a -3 NIB and the other is a -4 about 99% but no box but it is my shooter. The first 66 3 inch I ever owned was about 15 years ago at a gun show. This guy walked up and wanted 300 for it-no box but it was extra nice so I bought it. Wish that I had kept it but they were not worth what they are now. Hindsight is 20/20 or so they say.

jughed440 · Aug 2, 2015

Salox said:
Thank you for sharing the lettered information! Awesome! AHJ is right in there! It may not be a hens tooth, but a very very nice surprise. Helps to get a good buy every every now and then to make up some ground on the others. Appreciate all the information in the thread.

You're welcome!! By the way, this is the 66 that i had lettered...it too was a dirt cheap gun show find, and it came with the Spegels.

JCS&W · Aug 2, 2015

Man, congrats on a great find, at a great price!!! I traded into mine several years ago.

wheelyfun66 · Aug 2, 2015

jughed440 said:
You're welcome!! By the way, this is the 66 that i had lettered...it too was a dirt cheap gun show find, and it came with the Spegels.

Man.....I really gotta get out more!

Usmc5811 · Aug 2, 2015

My 3" 66-2 is one of the best shooting revolvers that I have. You stole it. Mine costs me $850 last November and it came with the prettiest combats that I have ever seen. Enjoy it

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