I have a original S&W model 66 with a 2 1/2" pinned barrel. This of coarse is a stainless K-frame .357 magnum with adjustable sights. I bought this without the original box or paperwork, but the revolver is in great condition. I was told it was manufactured in 1975. As you can see the gun is engraved with stag grips. I was told that the gun was factory engraved however the gentleman i bought it from received it from his father. Its possible he doesn't know the whole truth so i would like to confirm. In short I was looking to learn if the gun was indeed factory engraved as well as the approx. value of the revolver? Thanks in advance. S#6K62967
Engraved model 66
- Thread starter JonL.
- Start date
By serial number, SCSW 4th puts the ship date in 1975. Others may be able to get closer, and I'm sure they'll be along. I know nothing about engraving, other than I don't like it on pistols, which is neither here nor there. Around here, that's a $600-$700 pistol out the door, although for some the engraving would enhance that price and for others it would decrease it. Those are definitely not the factory grips, and that hurts the value in my eyes. The only way to tell for sure without the box if it's factory original is to letter it . . .
(Nice revolver. Enjoy it . . . )
(Nice revolver. Enjoy it . . . )
That is a nice looking Model 66
Only a Factory Letter will tell you for certain if it is Factory Original
However, based on a few of the tell tale signs, I would venture to say that is an aftermarket engraving job
The biggest tell is the Smith and Wesson logo. On most of the Factory engraved revolvers, they use the small logo on the left side and leave the side-plate open for embellishment
The side plate is also a great place for large embellishment
Like all rules of Smith and Wesson, there is always an exception or two. That is why you need to go the Factory letter route.
That is not to say that aftermarket engraved Smith and Wesson are not good pieces. Sometimes they are great values because the engravers are unknown or just starting out
I am extremely happy with this non-factory engraved 686
Value wise, your revolver would easily hit the $1500 mark on most of the auction sites.
The grips on your revolver now are the ones that were on it at the time of engraving. You can tell by the borders around the. That is another tell that this was not a factory job. Odds are the factory did not supply a set of non-medallion grips with a factory engraved revolver
Admittedly I do not live in Missouri, but I have never heard of an instance where a quality engraving job lowered the value of a Smith and Wesson revolver.
Only a Factory Letter will tell you for certain if it is Factory Original
However, based on a few of the tell tale signs, I would venture to say that is an aftermarket engraving job
The biggest tell is the Smith and Wesson logo. On most of the Factory engraved revolvers, they use the small logo on the left side and leave the side-plate open for embellishment
The side plate is also a great place for large embellishment
Like all rules of Smith and Wesson, there is always an exception or two. That is why you need to go the Factory letter route.
That is not to say that aftermarket engraved Smith and Wesson are not good pieces. Sometimes they are great values because the engravers are unknown or just starting out
Value wise, your revolver would easily hit the $1500 mark on most of the auction sites.
The grips on your revolver now are the ones that were on it at the time of engraving. You can tell by the borders around the. That is another tell that this was not a factory job. Odds are the factory did not supply a set of non-medallion grips with a factory engraved revolver
Admittedly I do not live in Missouri, but I have never heard of an instance where a quality engraving job lowered the value of a Smith and Wesson revolver.
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Arquebus357
Member
Because it's your's, it has little extra value over the plain vanilla version of that gun. However, if it came into MY possession it's value would increase greatly. 
I said it would decrease the price, not the value, which are two different things. I wouldn't pay more that $550 for it, because I think it's ugly, but that's just my opinion. I know others who wouldn't buy it at any price. I know others who would pay $750 and not quibble at all. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as is the price paid . . .
andy52
US Veteran
I do live in Missouri and unless the prices are seriously lower down in the bootheel were Muss lives you couldn't touch that 66 for 600-700 buck around here.
ABPOS
Member
It's official. This thread just made me a fan of engraving. I think I like it better on stainless than blued guns. These are all gorgeous. Especially that 649.
I think that there is both tasteful engraving and then not so much.
I have even owned a factory engraved piece that just did not speak to me so I sold it to another Forum member that loves it.
From what I can see in Jonl's images, I like that Model 66 and would be happy to own it.
Personally, I would change the grips. I do not like that they have a different personality depending on which side you look at. I like the smooth bone look of the left grip but not the rough look of the right grip panel.
A first glance, I like it, and could see it fetching $1200+ easily enough.An unadorned version being a $700 gun.
However, on second look, that wouldn't be from me, as the engraving really isn't that good.For starters, I'm seeing too many elbows and knees in the scrolls.No smooth flow.
Personally, I do like engraving, but it has to be of a good quality. I don't knock engraving because it's aftermarket, nor give extra value to factory work.Quality and detail are what speaks to me.I've owned great aftermarket work and meh factory work.
This gun has aftermarket work in my opinion,though it utilizes the factory approach of engraving just to the outline of the grips, not full frame coverage.
However, on second look, that wouldn't be from me, as the engraving really isn't that good.For starters, I'm seeing too many elbows and knees in the scrolls.No smooth flow.
Personally, I do like engraving, but it has to be of a good quality. I don't knock engraving because it's aftermarket, nor give extra value to factory work.Quality and detail are what speaks to me.I've owned great aftermarket work and meh factory work.
This gun has aftermarket work in my opinion,though it utilizes the factory approach of engraving just to the outline of the grips, not full frame coverage.
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I would really like to have a 649 like the one colt saa posted. I like mine but it is a plain factory model.
Handgunner454
Member
Downer
The guy likes his engraved 66, he is putting on the forum for everyone to see. Not have someone tell him THEY don't like it, he does not care, you don't own it. Sure you would buy for $550 at a STEAL!!!
That was kind of unfair for me to post that one and I am sorry for the thread drift here
That is one of the A+ engraved Model 649s that were produced to honor the 1st day of manufacture of the a newly introduced firearm, the 649 which started production at serial # AFN0001.
25 revolvers between serial number AFN0016 and AFN0058 were hand selected for this engraving
I think the Factory did a spectacular job on these for the revolvers introduction and I am also thrilled with the quality of the Ivory that they used for the grips. It is hard to find engraved projects that get such a complete/quality coverage as that 649
However, I am just as thrilled to own less embellished firearms as long as the work is tasteful
Rock185
US Veteran
I have to admit, I am not that knowledgeable about engraving and values, but I know of a shop, where I suspect that gun would be be listed at $2000.00 or so. With likely no negotiating on price......
BTW, the charge holes and extractor on that revolver appear to have been heavily chamfered. Charge holes fine, but with the extractor chamfered so much, I wonder if extraction would be reliable? But I guess it is a show piece, perhaps unlikely to be shot....
BTW, the charge holes and extractor on that revolver appear to have been heavily chamfered. Charge holes fine, but with the extractor chamfered so much, I wonder if extraction would be reliable? But I guess it is a show piece, perhaps unlikely to be shot....
I have a original S&W model 66 with a 2 1/2" pinned barrel. This of coarse is a stainless K-frame .357 magnum with adjustable sights. I bought this without the original box or paperwork, but the revolver is in great condition. I was told it was manufactured in 1975. As you can see the gun is engraved with stag grips. I was told that the gun was factory engraved however the gentleman i bought it from received it from his father. Its possible he doesn't know the whole truth so i would like to confirm. In short I was looking to learn if the gun was indeed factory engraved as well as the approx. value of the revolver? Thanks in advance. S#6K62967
Jon:
Welcome to the forum. It really is a great place to learn about and share all things S&W. As you probably noted from the above, there are lots of opinions on engraved guns. The first of which is rather binary at a category level - "like" or "dislike". I fall into the "like" category.
And I have purchased or commissioned a bunch of engraved S&Ws. Then in the "like" camp, a person has to decide if a gun "speaks" to him/her or not. I recommend only purchasing engraved guns that speak to you. Your little 66 is a fun gun. Thank you for sharing that beauty with the rest of us. The stag grips are beautiful and the engraving coverage is what I would call a workman-like job that was designed to tastefully fill the space quickly. Some of the evidence of quick work would include the use of the "starburst" to quickly fill a small space and the "chisel walk" borders created by "walking" the chisel by hand back and forth along the edge or walking it down the middle of the cylinder flute (rarely do you see a factory engraved S&W with any engraving in the cylinder flute). With all of that in mind, I would agree with several posters above, that your 66 is not factory engraved - I have never seen a factory engraved gun with a pattern or style like that and the large roll mark on the side plate is something that is rarely seen on a factory engraved gun. That said, I have many guns that were engraved after they left the factory and they are some of my very favorite guns, even if they are not universally appreciated by those who see them.
For comparison sake, here are photos of a couple of factory engraved 66's:
One of the more ornate factory engraved model 66 (notice the small roll mark on the left side):
"Class B coverage" Factory Engraved (Italian Contract)
All the best,
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We all have a great hobby and our own personal tastes. A great illustration of that is I bought a 4 inch 28-2 from 1968 with an S serial number because the guy wanted money to buy a Glock 19X. For the same money I gave him. Different strokes for different folks.....
Not unfair at all, and no thread drift noticed.
We both posted pictures of the left side S&W logo to help answer the OP's question about factory engraving. I was just happy to see your 649 as an example.
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I think the cylinder was cut for the use of one of the 'moon clip' type loaders, and not chamfered for speed loading. Just an observation.
Check under the grips and then under the thumb latch,,common places for engravers signiture. I've seen a few on the underside of the top strap too.
Check under the grips and then under the thumb latch,,common places for engravers signiture. I've seen a few on the underside of the top strap too.
Gryff
Member
My father's M66, which was a gift from the PD as a thank you for his work as both a Reserve Officer and as the de facto department doctor. This thread makes me think the engraving is after-market, since there is no small logo on the left side. I do want to get it lettered some day just out of curiousity.
Maybe you should letter it soon since Roy said there is a bit of a backlog.
That is a gorgeous 66, I for one would like to know it's history.
I would not waste $75 on a letter. Listen to RK, its not factory. It would letter just as a regular model 66.
I need to hop down to Missouri and hit some Pawn and LGS if they sell guns like this for $500-600.
I don't think the grips lower the value of the gun. Those grips would bring more $$ than factory. This gun would not look good with factory grips, it needs some kind of special grips.
Nice gun, I'm sure you will cherish it.
I need to hop down to Missouri and hit some Pawn and LGS if they sell guns like this for $500-600.
I don't think the grips lower the value of the gun. Those grips would bring more $$ than factory. This gun would not look good with factory grips, it needs some kind of special grips.
Nice gun, I'm sure you will cherish it.
A: I said $600-$700
2: You won’t find any around here. Pawnshops won’t take ‘em for the most part because people won’t pay what the seller thinks they’re worth. It’s just not a desired feature around here.
A: I said $600-$700
yep, your right
That what I get for going by memory instead of scrolling back up to look (ya, I'm 70 this year)
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