Are all 66's Made of Stainless?

[Vettepartz]

This may be a simple question for some, but I have been told that all Model 66 revolvers were made out of stainless steel. I looked at a 4 inch 66 no dash a couple of days ago, and it sure looked a lot like a nickel plated steel version. It had the combat grips with wide hammer and trigger. The gun did show some signs of wear (not abuse) but price seemed right at 300. Were there actually some 66's made that were not stainless?

 

[Vettepartz]

This may be a simple question for some, but I have been told that all Model 66 revolvers were made out of stainless steel. I looked at a 4 inch 66 no dash a couple of days ago, and it sure looked a lot like a nickel plated steel version. It had the combat grips with wide hammer and trigger. The gun did show some signs of wear (not abuse) but price seemed right at 300. Were there actually some 66's made that were not stainless?

 

[TNDave]

If it is really a 66, it is stainless. You may have been looking at a nickel Model 19.

 

[nicky4968]

All 66s are stainless. The "6" prefix is what S&W uses to denote a stainless pistol (most of the time as far as I know. You can never be sure with S&W).
The carbon steel version is marked as a 19 (most of the time, etc.)

 

[lithgow]

Some people have been known to polish the stainless untill it looks like a mirror.

 

[Lt JL]

I have a hard chromed 19-3 that looks just like a 66. Actually have to open the cylinder and look at the yoke to tell. Johnhttp://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t190/ltjl/100_0407.jpg[/img] ]hard chromed 19

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Vettepartz:
This may be a simple question for some, but I have been told that all Model 66 revolvers were made out of stainless steel. I looked at a 4 inch 66 no dash a couple of days ago, and it sure looked a lot like a nickel plated steel version. It had the combat grips with wide hammer and trigger. The gun did show some signs of wear (not abuse) but price seemed right at 300. Were there actually some 66's made that were not stainless?

If it is bright like mirror finished nickel and the crane is marked Model 66, then pass on it because someone is passing off to you a perfectly good revolver that some previous idiot has "improved," unless you can document that the high bright finish was done by the factory.

 

[Guest]

An easy 'test' is to get a good magnet and touch it to a "Known" steel gun and then touch it to that one. It will still stick to the stainless steel but much less than it does to a standard steel one. Now, only a very few were made with stainless steel Hammers and Triggers. For a time the Factory used regular case colored but then they started using Hard Chromed ones and they still do to this day.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Here's a factory polished model 66. Yes, she's all stainless, but looks nickel.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)