66 no dash question

[geraldw321]

hello there do the no dash revolvers normally have just a black rear sight blade? ie no white outline?

 

[M1Garandy]

Most of the 66 no dash revolvers I've seen have stainless steel rear sights and blades with no white outline.

 

[Hondo44]

Generally speaking, there's no correlation to pre dash or dash numbered revolvers. To my knowledge, WOL sight blades are an option on some models and standard on others.

 

[mmaher94087]

I'm sure I'll be corrected, but I believe the black sight was a 'mid-year' change because S&W received complaints about the visibility of the rear sight. I do not believe the 'white outline' had been invented yet.

 

[coyote6974]

The early no dash model 66 revolvers came with the silver colored stainless rear sight assembly, and a plain ramped front site, unless a red ramp insert was ordered. Later no dash model 66 revolvers, such as the 7K XXXX model I own came with a blackened stainless steel rear sight assembly, and a standard red insert in the front sight. The blackened stainless rear sight assembly is stamped, on the underside, with an S.
I don't know exactly when white outline rear sights began to show up, but most early model 29's, circa late 50's, I've seen are equipped with both white outline rear sights, and red inserts in their ramped front sights.

 

[Hondo44]

coyote,

Yes, 44 Mags came standard with WOL rear sight blades from their introduction first on the pre-improved rear sight:

May 29, 1958 change order to target sight for all revolvers: change from 6 to 12 clicks for one complete revolution. Windage screw: Add .286 Radius crown and relocate plunger hole, Elevation nut: Add .286 Radius crown and relocate plunger hole. Reason: finer adjustment.

 

[bearman49709]

Both of my ND 66's have plain black sight's.

 

[Muley Gil]

I'm sure I'll be corrected, but I believe the black sight was a 'mid-year' change because S&W received complaints about the visibility of the rear sight. I do not believe the 'white outline' had been invented yet.

IIRC, you could order a Registered Magum, which first appeared in 1935, with a white outline rear sight.

 

[Arik]

Most of the 66 no dash revolvers I've seen have stainless steel rear sights and blades with no white outline.

Most of the ones I see are black. From my understanding the original stainless sights reflected sunlight back in the shooter's eye. Most people had them replaced with the black sights.

 

[webley green]

My duty 4" 66 came with the black sight, I had it changed to the white outline by our armorer. My snub 66 still sports the original sight, black no white outline. Why, just never got around to it.

 

[JM4151]

S & W Model 66

On 2-12-1972 I purchased what I believe was the first SS model 66 revolver in Delaware County, Pa. It came with SS sights front and rear (serial # 2K959??). I never changed them. I have the original receipt from Colosimo's where I purchased it from. Cost was $123.50. Still have it with the box and literature.
On the same receipt I purchased a swivel holster and the cost on that was $18.95. That is long gone. That was my duty weapon for at least 10 years. Still works great.
In the same era May 1971 I purchased a new S & W model 60 for $96.00. Still have that gun too. They came out a year or two before the 66.

 

[dant]

we have a no dash, in the #9K 6000 range here ,has a "stainless" rear that was indeed 'blackened' over an all stainless sight body.....its the early ALL stainless, in the boxes that get the big bucks and are sought after, BUT LE requested soon on, to "darken" the sights and so something to make them 'pick up' (see) better...........
so how far ( high) the "no dash" goes is beyond me .

 

[bananaman]

My model 67 no dash from 1973, came with stainless rear sight (still is) Early guns in various models had this feature. As you well know, they were changed later to black. Bob

 

[Jdavis]

I agree that the first 66s were issued with SS sights only and later switched to black as the result of complaints by customers. However, it was my impression that after the transition to black rear sights that the white outline and red ramp was an option. I have a 66 with a 6K SN that has a black rear sight w/WO and RR front sight.

 

[Tom_R]

we have a no dash, in the #9K 6000 range here ,has a "stainless" rear that was indeed 'blackened' over an all stainless sight body.....its the early ALL stainless, in the boxes that get the big bucks and are sought after, BUT LE requested soon on, to "darken" the sights and so something to make them 'pick up' (see) better...........
so how far ( high) the "no dash" goes is beyond me .

Would love to see pics!

 

[geraldw321]

Hello thanks for all the replies, i guess i must have one of the blackened SS rear sights ,ill take a closer look when i actually receive the gun. Heres a few pics, i just purchased this item, i has a sn of 9K10### so 1970's vintage i think? ill post more when its in hand. hope u like .


Whats wrong with me? i already have a 66-2, 66-1 and for some reason i had too have a no dash ??????

 

[Sixty-six]

66 no dash sights

The early no dash model 66 revolvers came with the silver colored stainless rear sight assembly, and a plain ramped front site, unless a red ramp insert was ordered. Later no dash model 66 revolvers, such as the 7K XXXX model I own came with a blackened stainless steel rear sight assembly, and a standard red insert in the front sight. The blackened stainless rear sight assembly is stamped, on the underside, with an S.
I don't know exactly when white outline rear sights began to show up, but most early model 29's, circa late 50's, I've seen are equipped with both white outline rear sights, and red inserts in their ramped front sights.

My 66 no dash 6K6xxxx has black rear sights and red insert on stainless front sight.

 

[Skybull]

My Model 66 no dash 4K57XXX has black rear sights with white outline. Also has ramped black front sight with red insert.

 

[TDC]

When the change-over to black rear sights occurred on the no-dash 66 and 67 they had red inserts but were shipped without white outlines. The policy continued with the dash one revolvers unless a white outline was special ordered.

Much confusion still exists with these models because the conversion to a white outline blade and a red ramp front insert for the early guns could be so easily achieved by many gunsmiths.

So many early no-dash guns were converted that today those that still possess the all stainless sights are much sought after.

All the 66s shown below are NIB and I'm the original owner. With the exception of the no-dash 66 they all were delivered with black rear sights and without white outlines.