Found a gem today

[Joe S.]

Was hangin out this morning with dad and got a text from a friend that works at a local pawn shop. It said she had just put out a S&W 357 with box. I asked what model and barrel length and she came back with 66 and 4". Interest peaked.

I grew up shooting my dad's model 66 no dash w/ 4" barrel. It was a neat gun that i still love to this day. Pinned and recessed and stainless rear sight with no front insert. Dead eye accurate too. I still love for him to bring it on range trips. They are the only stainless guns i like, simply because of the nostalgia. Dint care about the -1's and up. Only the no dash.

But I just picked up a gun yesterday from my ffl, so i didnt figure i needed to pursue this one. But her price wasnt bad so i told myself IF it was a no dash and IF the box matched the gun is the only way i would get it. Otherwise, i was passing. I asked her about those two things and she hit me back with "no dash. Box matches."!!! Now dang it!! Ok im on my way.

Got there and what a treat. Box isnt mint but is in great shape. Has the wax paper, tissue paper, warranty card, address card for service centers, and the cleaning rod and brushes (no screwdriver). Dang. And the gun looked great.

Not sure how to tell if grips match the gun. The fit isnt the beat but they look nice, never the less. Box does match. It has some stamped numbers and symbols under the panels in the grip frame ive never seen, altho i havent fooled with many of these.

Serial # is 4k85xxx

But enough of the boring commentary. Pics:

 

[Twiki357]

Very nice. That's exactly what I've been looking for.

 

[AkRay]

That's an early one. It has the stainless finish rear sight. Good find!

 

[markeb]

Very nice package. I also receive calls from my favorite Pawn shop whenever a Smith revolver is coming out of pawn, they know I have a weakness for them. Enjoy that beauty.

 

[Joe S.]

Thanks guys! So, are the pawnshops helping us out are they really helping themselves out by calling someone that they knows it's going buy?

They also have a nickel plated model 49 that's really clean but doesn't have the box or anything with it. Is $345.

 

[KEN L]

Target stocks generally were not marked. Check the box label to see what kind of stocks it shipped with. If it says T, they're most likely the originals. I wouldn't have passed on that one either!

 

[Joe S.]

Thanks Ken L

 

[kaaskop49]

attn Joe S.

Happy New, Joe, get that 49! At that price, get two. Snubs are wa-ay overpriced out here in the valley' $500 and up. The 66, whatever dash model, is perhaps the nicest looking, most classy revolver ever made. And in your gun, it even goes beyond that!

But I must admit to passing up a similar 66 at a recent show at $650. There was so much endshake of the cylinder/crane assembly that I had to let it go. I know about pinned bbls and recessed chambers, but everything else is a blur to me. What a gun you have there! I'm repeating myself...

 

[jrs70]

Nice, you will like it. I also say get the 49 at that price. I have a 49 and love it.

 

[Nightowl]

Nice catch. The early 66s were very popular with police officers back then. So, I would think that ones in that condition would be hard to find. I found mine a couple of years back, but it had obviously been carried a lot, but not shot much. No box either. It has a great action, better than I would expect, so I am happy. I sold my 19s to buy 66s. Wish I had them all back.

 

[Joe S.]

Dad traded a 19 on his 66 back in the 70's. Still has it.

 

[S&W Fan]

Great "get"!

 

[Wingmaster]

Nice catch.

It would be interesting to see how close the serial number is to your dad's gun.

Wingmaster

 

[Joe S.]

Good point. I'll have to check that out. Thanks.

 

[murphydog]

The stocks are the correct type, and since the box/contents are more or less complete I doubt the previous owner bothered to swap them for an identical set.

The various stampings on the grip frame are fitter's, assembler's and inspector's marks. The large S means stainless but the others remain mysterious. Nice find!

 

[Joe S.]

Thank you!

 

[flagman1776]

Had to carry my M19 to start work, kept it when I found the M66. Bought a 3" M13 for my then GF... when we went our separate ways, she refused to sell it back to me so I added 3" M66 as consolation. I have my M36-1 too w/ IWB that was much better when I pulled duty driving a dispatch desk.

 

[hardcase60]

Congratulations!! Great find.

hardcase60

 

[Joe S.]

Flagman1776, does your 36 have adjustable sights?

 

[flagman1776]

No, M36-1 (1980) is fixed sight 38Sp.

Flagman1776, does your 36 have adjustable sights?