66 No Dash, 2.5" with SS Rear Sight

[Minnehaha]

Last spring I posted pictures of my model 66, no dash snubby, with a stainless steel rear sight in the combat magnum thread. Some members commented that they had never seen a model 66, 2.5" with the stainless rear sight, and thought that the gun must have been altered. I just got a letter on the gun from Mr. Jinks stating that the stainless rear sight is correct. I attached pictures of the letter and the 66. It is MIB, new old stock. Does anyone else have one or seen one like this?

 

[Biginge]

I have a 66 no dash, box,docs, tools in 4inch.

 

[Badquaker]

Very nice...

 

[Biginge]

Minnehaha,

Found some pics of my 4" with Stainless sights. Serial # 2K93926 which I think dates to around 1972. The stainless sights are not all that common. I don't know that I have ever seen a 2 1/2" with them. Congratulations on your find that is a nice one.

 

[hedge313]

Lucky Dog!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Nice gun! I find the stainless rear sight with front sight red insert to be an interesting combination.

 

[k22fan]

Silver colored stainless steel sights, both front and rear were standard when I bought a 4" 66 in 1976. I don't recall seeing another 2 ½" 66 with a silver colored rear sight but I had no interest in K frame snubs back in the day so it's unlikely one would have remained in my memory. I'm not surprised 2 ½" 66s were made in 1975 but going on my memory the red ramp was special order then. My guess is Jinks mentioned the red ramp because that special ordered feature was noted on S&W's shipping log. In any event it is quite a find.

 

[bananaman]

My 67 no dash was from 1973. It has the all stainless rear sight also. There were complaints on them, and Smith later changed to blued rear sights. By the way..... NICE GUN!!! Bob

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Sneaked a peek into my safe.
Surprise! My snubby 66 looks just like this.
Red insert front and all stainless rear sight.

 

[fyimo]

Fantastic looking Model 66 with 2.5 inch barrel and the stainless rear sight and I love the factory red ramp front sight with it.

 

[K31]

Man that is a beautiful snub! Nice find, dibs if you ever want to part with it.

 

[Minnehaha]

I don't plan on parting with it anytime soon, but if I do I will offer it on our S&W Forum first. I am still waiting to hear from others that have, or have seen a Model 66 snub with the SS rear sight. Only one other so far. I posted more pictures on the Ultimate Combat Magnum thread.

 

[629shooter]

Very SWEET! (I about drooled on my keyboard.)

I have never seen a 2.5" with a stainless rear sight and, its NIB to boot.

That is awesome.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

red ramp was special order then

In that era, what I've seen, is the adjustable sight guns got the red ramp (M66, M67, ...). The fixed sight guns had a plain ramp (M64, M65, ...).

 

[colt_saa]

In that era, what I've seen, is the adjustable sight guns got the red ramp (M66, M67, ...). The fixed sight guns had a plain ramp (M64, M65, ...).

I have to disagree with that.

When it comes to adjustable sights, the red ramp was usually paired with a white outline rear blade. While a plain sight was usually paired with a black blade rear sight.

In 75 I am pretty sure a red ramp would have been a special order. That is also the first 2 1/2" I recall seeing with the stainless rear

My 66 is in the 4Kxxxxx range

 

[Green Frog]

It all goes to reinforce the phrase, "Never say never!"

Froggie

 

[SAFireman]

OK....I see the LIKE button.....but where is the "I want it SOOOO badly" button?

Very nice example of a rare snubbie, I would love to have one just like it.

 

[Minnehaha]

Thanks to all who have offered comments on this model 66. I bought it because it was the most beautiful 66 snubie I had ever seen. I really don't care how rare it might be, I just like this gun a lot. The problem I have now is that I do not like owning guns that I can't carry and use. This gun probably should be forever a collector piece.

 

[Minnehaha]

I have to disagree with that.

When it comes to adjustable sights, the red ramp was usually paired with a white outline rear blade. While a plain sight was usually paired with a black blade rear sight.

In 75 I am pretty sure a red ramp would have been a special order. That is also the first 2 1/2" I recall seeing with the stainless rear

My 66 is in the 4Kxxxxx range

I Think that you are right. In the letter for the gun they state that the RR front sight was an option.

 

[Minnehaha]

I am still waiting for you to tell us if you have a model 66 snubie with the SS rear sights, or if you have seen one. This maybe the lone survivor.

 

[perrazi]

early 66's were extremely hard to get on the retail end. most went to police orders. during this time frame, they were harder than 29's were and almost as hard to get as 60's. would almost bet this was an order for an individual officer that didn't get delivered for some reason.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

It all goes to reinforce the phrase, "Never say never!"

Of course, that goes without saying.

I have to disagree with that.

To be clear, I was just commenting on "what I've seen". (Or more precisely, what I remember seeing). Obviously, I haven't seen it all, and never said I did. I'll pay closer attention in the future, and thanks to you fine gentlemen, I learn a little more all the time.

 

[Minnehaha]

I am still trying to figure out how rare this configuration on a model 66 snubie is. Please help with any information on model 66 snubies you have seen with the SS rear sights.

 

[Sixty-six]

I have a 66 no dash with SN 6K62700 (Very near your 6K62349) and mine has a blued rear sight.

 

[k22fan]

When looking at early 66s & 67s today it's wise to keep in mind that many of those with all silver sights had their rear blades or the whole rear sight swapped for easier to see blued sights. It was common to add red plastic inserts up front. Usually there's nothing to give away a swap of the whole rear sight but most often an added red insert doesn't look factory on close inspection. I'm not suggesting any of the revolvers in this thread were altered, but one of my early 66s has a replaced rear assembly and added red insert. It also was well used in its day so that's not much of a loss in its case. I just throw this out for readers to consider when evaluating their own early 66s & 67s.

I'd also like to add that I asked in a thread if any 6" 66s were made with all silver sights. The forum's opinion was "no". If anyone has one I'd like to know about it.

 

[Minnehaha]

After hearing from everyone on the model 66, I think that I have a special little snubie with correct SS rear sights, and that it is probably one of only a few. It's going to be staying with me for quite some time. I am really glad that I decided to get a letter on this gun.

 

[NE450No2]

My first Mod 66 4" had the stainless rear sight.

Also, I bought a lot of S&W's from Betts & Majors starting in the mid 1970's, until they closed down.

They were nice people to do business with.

Back in the day, when Mod 29's were very hard to get they kept a list of names of customers that wanted one. When you name was No1 on the list, they would give you a call. They did not charge any Premium for any of the hard to get S&W's.

 

[Muley Gil]

After hearing from everyone on the model 66, I think that I have a special little snubie with correct SS rear sights, and that it is probably one of only a few. It's going to be staying with me for quite some time. I am really glad that I decided to get a letter on this gun.

Back in the mid '70s, the Investigator Lieutenant at my sheriff's department had a 2 1/2" M66. It had a stainless rear sight and a plain front sight. He had me swap in a blue rear sight blade and red ramp the front.

I swapped out several stainless rear blades over the years. The rest were on 4" M66s, IIRC. I believe I still have several SS sight blades squirreled away.

 

[k22fan]

[...] I believe I still have several SS sight blades squirreled away.

This is common among older smiths. The problem from the perspective of restoring the 66s is that swapping entailed breaking the cross bolts and there are no stainless bolts to be had.

 

[Retired W4]

My first Mod 66 4" had the stainless rear sight.

Also, I bought a lot of S&W's from Betts & Majors starting in the mid 1970's, until they closed down.

They were nice people to do business with.

Back in the day, when Mod 29's were very hard to get they kept a list of names of customers that wanted one. When you name was No1 on the list, they would give you a call. They did not charge any Premium for any of the hard to get S&W's.

My FFL buddy in Dayton, OH had no problem charging a premium for hard to find Smiths. I paid extra for my 2 1/2" 66-1 back then, but I paid it and I still have that one. As for the old adage about not paying too much, just too soon is true for me. That 66-1 is definitely worth more than I paid then. It has the black rear sight BTW.