Blued 66 Combat Magnum

[ikarus1]

ikarus1 is an android. His data to text translation algorithm had a brain fart.

Haha i have an android phone and it brainfarted. But yeah nice model 66

 

[Florida Guy]

I saw one listed on GB maybe 2 weeks ago.

 

[iPac]

That's pretty neat. I always took to the belief that STS guns would not take to bluing. I guess that's sort of true because many say this isn't a "true blue". Regardless, I wonder if they accomplished this finish on the original STS steel used to produce the model 66, or if S&W obtained a different STS steel with slightly different properties and composition in order to 'take' a finish like this? It's interesting they requested the trigger be "blued" too. Kind of mimicking a Colt. Makes you wonder why the CT SP didn't just give their business to the in-state manufacturer.

 

[-db-]

I don't have my book handy for the details but I'm almost certain there was a run of blued (or maybe it was "blackened") 686 models at some point, too.

Edit: here it is: http://smith-wessonforum.com/985110-post2.html

 

[gdogs]

I saw one listed on GB maybe 2 weeks ago.

Yep, this is it Honestly I was surprised that I got it for what I did. Haven't made it to the range with it yet, not that it will get shot all that much, but I'm very much looking forward to it.

Great to see others out there, and I'm glad I could share something new with a lot of you.

 

[Nightowl]

Back when stainless steel revolvers were introduced by Smith & Wesson, they had a polished surface. This received a lot of press and thought about how much they would reflect light and show up more than blued steel. In other words, not tactically advantageous! Overuse of the word "tactical" was not in evidence then!

Also, remember the only other shiny surface was nickel plating on guns. This was indicative of the "hot dog" when displayed in officer's holsters. Chiefs were very aware of this, except maybe Texas ones. Tongue in cheek here!

I think the brushed stainless dulling the finish and the obvious advantages of stainless overcame a lot of objections to the shiny finish and stainless revolvers were in a lot of officers holsters in the late 70s and 80s before the Glocks ran them off.

 

[Ted Stevens]

I have a 66-1 in a fully blacked out finish (not blued, perhaps melonite?) Based on S/N prefix, I think it was produced in the early 80's. Either it's factory or somebody went to extreme lengths to disassemble the firearm, meticulously put the black finish on each separate piece, and reassemble. Wish I could just drag and drop the pic.

 

[Muley Gil]

Back in the day, many a LEO WANTED a shiny revolver. They wanted it to be SEEN when it was pulled out of the holster.

 

[kraynky]

I can see one of those fitting in my modest collection just perfectly. I love a stainless gun for it's resistance to rust, however I also love the looks of a blued (black) gun with wood stocks.

I'm just not sure I can wait long enough to (1) Find one, and (B) Afford it.

Not sure how I missed this thread some 6 and 1/2 years ago......... I could'a been looking this WHOLE TIME!

 

[Rick Sanborn]

I’ve got a 6” 686 with the midnight black finish. Purchased from a member here. It has a satin blue/black finish.

Oh, a note to Vigil617, I served on the Decisive WMEC629.

 

[John Patrick]

That is a cool revolver! Didn’t know they existed.

 

[S-W4EVER]

Back in the day, many a LEO WANTED a shiny revolver. They wanted it to be SEEN when it was pulled out of the holster.

I remember this but I was perfectly happy with my satin blue Highway Patrolman as many times I held it next to my right leg when approaching a vehicle when things didn’t feel quite right, I don’t believe any of them ever saw it (& thank God I never had to use it).

 

[Aukula1062]

OK, so now I'm going to ask the "elephant in the room" question:

Why in the heck would the factory blue a stainless steel gun.

To answer your question out of order..... Yes also offered a version of 686 with the "black". There are chemicals that react with the nickel in stainless steel to make it black. Not sure what Smith did to attain the color. Look in the Brownells catalog, you can purchase today. I almost bought one when they came out. I was still living in Virginia so late 80' or early 90's. As a possible answer to as to why they would do that, I'm not sure. I know S&W had put an ton of money and hope in the L frame. But 1986 the winds of change began with the FBI Miami-Dade shootout. From that point on the call for more fire power in law enforcement holsters was the rule. Semiautomatics and new calibers. S&W 1076 in full boar 10mm lead to the .40 S&W cartridge. Smith was beaten to the market with their .40.S&W by Glock's introduction of the G 22. Smith introduced their 4000 series .40s but it was too late. Sig, HK, Beretta Walther etc were putting out wonder 9s and .40 S&W guns. To salvage what they could of a shrinking revolver market, Smith had to offer something different. Stainless steel wasn't all that common back then. The.revolver crowd was used to deep.polished blue carbon steel. Now you you could get the best of both worlds... a blued stainless gun. That failed miserably for Smith. I remember seeing L frame revolvers being used as lost leaders to get folks in the store. That's why I thought had about buying a blacked out 686 new in the box for $350.00. Also remember that the milsurp market was in full swing. Surplus US M4 carbine bayonets were more expensive then the carbines they went on. It was wild back then. Hope that helps.