66 No Dash
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Congrats.
A local shop has one I've been kicking around buying.
In one of the Wilson Combat video's, Mas Ayoob talks about issues with the early no dash 66's. I guess they were prone to overheating and locking-up the cylinder. First I had heard of that & one of the reasons I'm hesitant to pick-up the one I was looking at.
A local shop has one I've been kicking around buying.
In one of the Wilson Combat video's, Mas Ayoob talks about issues with the early no dash 66's. I guess they were prone to overheating and locking-up the cylinder. First I had heard of that & one of the reasons I'm hesitant to pick-up the one I was looking at.
OP
HYPURR
Member
This is for my Herd of "No Ho" 357s. Not to actually shoot.
Engine49guy
Member
Nice Model 66 with early features.
The early 66 no dash is a great cornerstone for a SS S&W collection or someone who collects Combat Magnums because it was the first and has unique features only found on those early guns from the first few years.
The 66 was introduced around the middle of the 19-3 run so has the same evolution of features.
Each revision is unique for certain reasons, the 66-1 sorted out a few shortcomings so might be it's high water mark in the P&R versions, the 66-2 deleted the P&R features.
The 66 was in very high demand, Some Leo's got tired of waiting and instead sent their 19-3 off to be hard chromed so those pop up on occasion, the Model 66 was introduced at about the same time as the Model 59 and as the 80's approached towards the end of the 66-1 era the 2nd gens and L frames arrived adding more carry options and a move towards hi cap 9mms.
Every Combat Magnum fan should own at least one early Model 66 and as time goes on there will be fewer clean ones available.
The early 66 no dash is a great cornerstone for a SS S&W collection or someone who collects Combat Magnums because it was the first and has unique features only found on those early guns from the first few years.
The 66 was introduced around the middle of the 19-3 run so has the same evolution of features.
Each revision is unique for certain reasons, the 66-1 sorted out a few shortcomings so might be it's high water mark in the P&R versions, the 66-2 deleted the P&R features.
The 66 was in very high demand, Some Leo's got tired of waiting and instead sent their 19-3 off to be hard chromed so those pop up on occasion, the Model 66 was introduced at about the same time as the Model 59 and as the 80's approached towards the end of the 66-1 era the 2nd gens and L frames arrived adding more carry options and a move towards hi cap 9mms.
Every Combat Magnum fan should own at least one early Model 66 and as time goes on there will be fewer clean ones available.
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Far be it from me to dispute Mas Ayoob, but throughout numerous qualifications I never experienced any cylinder lock ups. Not saying it didn't occur; just never happened with the no dash I have.
I'm thinking it would take a fairly intense shooting session to overheat a revolver.....
I've had a few early ones and never heard of that issue. I think he just got a bad example to test with tolerances too tight, or more likely, used the wrong oil and galled the stainless. The only issue I have with the early ones are those hard to see stainless sights.
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Green Frog
Member
As long as my used (LEO trade in) Model 66 ND was in original configuration, being used for PPC competition regularly, I never had problems with it locking up. It later had a custom cylinder installed in its reincarnation as Project 616, with very tight tolerances. It likes to be clean, or it begins to get draggy.
Froggie
Froggie
I have a no dash 66 just a little later than the OP's. Mine has black sights. Never the slightest problem no matter how much it was shot. It's my primary night home defense gun.
OP
HYPURR
Member
Thank you for the mass appreciation of my 66 ND. I too know about the nonsense and every one I've ever run across shooting never, never, never had issue.
Mas A sure he knows his stuff and negative comment more of "haters gonna hate..." Guns, collector cars, Rolex's etc.; there are always negative comment following.
Absolutely thrilled to have this example in my collection. I think it
may not have been fired because it's so clean and so tight. However who knows.
Best, Dave
Mas A sure he knows his stuff and negative comment more of "haters gonna hate..." Guns, collector cars, Rolex's etc.; there are always negative comment following.
Absolutely thrilled to have this example in my collection. I think it
may not have been fired because it's so clean and so tight. However who knows.
Best, Dave
Engine49guy
Member
A few tidbits for 66 fans with OCD like me,
The 19-3 was introduced around 1967 when the FS ramp was a seperate piece held to the barrel with two cross pins, this changed to being an integral part of the barrel around 1969, the Model 66 was introduced in 1970 with the new integral FS ramp so no 66 has the older style pinned ramp base. ( the blades were pinned but polished flush iirc).
When the earliest Model 66's were produced they were somewhere in the high K900,000 serial range so a very small amount of the very first 66's will have a K serial prefix but those are few and far between so be on the lookout.
Like it's blue 19 twin the 66 was introduced as a 4" with the unique SS rear sight unit , the snub and 6" versions came later as did the black SS rear sight so only the 4" versions are found with that sight ( so far ).
Of course no Model 66 came with diamond stocks.
The reports of binding 66 no dash cylinders is possibly the Combat Magnums that had the gas ring on the yoke instead of the cylinder, ( edited to add those would be late 19-3/66 production so 76-77 ish) the 19-4 / 66-1 revision relocated the gas ring back to the cylinder.
For those that like to focus on rollstamps an interesting tidbit is that many of the early 66's have the old " Big Butt" or large ampersand barrel rollstamp usually found on mid 60's and older revolvers, ( have two with 4k serial prefix, one has large ampersand
Serial 4K68459 shipped July 1974
And one with a lower serial but later ship date with the modern ampersand)
Serial 4K52033 Shipped June 1975.
Another tidbit is IIRC the Model 66 and thin barrel Model 64 were introduced first in 1970 so make a great pairing, the Model 67 came out abt two years later in 72 and also had the SS rear site so makes a great pairing to the early 66 as well, of course its even better yet if you get the trio.
I have heard stories that as complaints came in about the SS rear site the factory changed it to a " Blackened Stainless" rear site unit and those have the letter "S" stamped on them underneath the leaf ,
have also heard that SW sent replacement black sites to depts that had large orders and wanted to change them out in house, many were swapped out by unhappy owners as well so not all black sight 66's came that way.
Iirc the change to black stainless came towards the end of the 66 run as exhibited by the 1975 shipped gun above with SS sight, ( both are SS sight guns). My bet is 66's were likely shipping with black sights by 76.
Afaik no 66-1's shipped with SS rear sites.
Lastly
Ive only seen Model 66's with the modern ampersand in 4 line frame address stamp.
The 19-3 was introduced around 1967 when the FS ramp was a seperate piece held to the barrel with two cross pins, this changed to being an integral part of the barrel around 1969, the Model 66 was introduced in 1970 with the new integral FS ramp so no 66 has the older style pinned ramp base. ( the blades were pinned but polished flush iirc).
When the earliest Model 66's were produced they were somewhere in the high K900,000 serial range so a very small amount of the very first 66's will have a K serial prefix but those are few and far between so be on the lookout.
Like it's blue 19 twin the 66 was introduced as a 4" with the unique SS rear sight unit , the snub and 6" versions came later as did the black SS rear sight so only the 4" versions are found with that sight ( so far ).
Of course no Model 66 came with diamond stocks.
The reports of binding 66 no dash cylinders is possibly the Combat Magnums that had the gas ring on the yoke instead of the cylinder, ( edited to add those would be late 19-3/66 production so 76-77 ish) the 19-4 / 66-1 revision relocated the gas ring back to the cylinder.
For those that like to focus on rollstamps an interesting tidbit is that many of the early 66's have the old " Big Butt" or large ampersand barrel rollstamp usually found on mid 60's and older revolvers, ( have two with 4k serial prefix, one has large ampersand
Serial 4K68459 shipped July 1974
And one with a lower serial but later ship date with the modern ampersand)
Serial 4K52033 Shipped June 1975.
Another tidbit is IIRC the Model 66 and thin barrel Model 64 were introduced first in 1970 so make a great pairing, the Model 67 came out abt two years later in 72 and also had the SS rear site so makes a great pairing to the early 66 as well, of course its even better yet if you get the trio.
I have heard stories that as complaints came in about the SS rear site the factory changed it to a " Blackened Stainless" rear site unit and those have the letter "S" stamped on them underneath the leaf ,
have also heard that SW sent replacement black sites to depts that had large orders and wanted to change them out in house, many were swapped out by unhappy owners as well so not all black sight 66's came that way.
Iirc the change to black stainless came towards the end of the 66 run as exhibited by the 1975 shipped gun above with SS sight, ( both are SS sight guns). My bet is 66's were likely shipping with black sights by 76.
Afaik no 66-1's shipped with SS rear sites.
Lastly
Ive only seen Model 66's with the modern ampersand in 4 line frame address stamp.
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OP
HYPURR
Member
Great stuff Eng49.
My 66 ND Serial 4K193xx.
My 66 ND Serial 4K193xx.
Engine49guy
Member
Was just reading a thread this morning about the Model 66 and 19-3 gas ring binding cylinder issue, member Hairtrigger posted a link to a thread at revolverguy dot com that went into great detail on how the issue arose and was resolved.
Will post a link below.
The Smith & Wesson L-Frame Story – RevolverGuy.Com
Will post a link below.
The Smith & Wesson L-Frame Story – RevolverGuy.Com
ColumbusJBR
Member
I'd have a hard time not shooting it, personally, but regardless... SWEEEEEET. That's a beautiful addition; one I'd be glad to have. Congrats!
Nice M66.
The M66 is my favorite all around revolver. I have had mine since late 1973. It never “overheated” during qualifications and has done everything asked without one problem. It has stayed with me after it was deemed “obsolete”.
Great revolver. Mine has a blued rear sight blade I installed and some semi custom stocks.
The M66 is my favorite all around revolver. I have had mine since late 1973. It never “overheated” during qualifications and has done everything asked without one problem. It has stayed with me after it was deemed “obsolete”.
Great revolver. Mine has a blued rear sight blade I installed and some semi custom stocks.
K949140, May 1970. The revolvers made in 1970 to test the tooling for the new stainless .357 Combat Magnum have a target hammer. Click on the photos for a closer look.
Bill
Bill
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Engine49guy
Member
There is another thread up discussing Combat Magnum forcing cone gas ring isuues etc.
I will post a copy of what I just discovered today.
Just wanna give an update with some quick observations.
I have 19-3's that shipped in May, June and Oct 1969 and one from July 1973.
Have two Model 66, Jan 74 and June 75.
My collection then jumps to a May 79 model 66-1.
I shined a bright flashlight on the cylinder face and spun it,
ALL of them have the gas ring on the cylinder not the yoke.
It would appear that only late production 19-3/66 have the gas ring on the yoke.
Something to check on your guns.
I will post a copy of what I just discovered today.
Just wanna give an update with some quick observations.
I have 19-3's that shipped in May, June and Oct 1969 and one from July 1973.
Have two Model 66, Jan 74 and June 75.
My collection then jumps to a May 79 model 66-1.
I shined a bright flashlight on the cylinder face and spun it,
ALL of them have the gas ring on the cylinder not the yoke.
It would appear that only late production 19-3/66 have the gas ring on the yoke.
Something to check on your guns.
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micdebs
Member
My 66 is serial 4K54!!. I believe its early 70's
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