info on early Mod 66

[AudieMurphy]

I have 2 early Mod 66's both exhibit the front and rear SS sights and different crane with the gas ring....after doing some research and looking at pic's on the internet. I've noticed there are different variations of the No dash. Ive seen some with the front red insert or the regular steel rear sight that claim they were No dash. Does anyone have production of the earlyist ones all SS? not counting the 100 experimental run to check tooling any info would be appreciated

 

[cgt4570]

My birth year 1974 ND came with blue rear sight, and orange front insert. It wears a stainless rear sight, just because I like the look.
My Model 67 ND is a little bit older without the orange insert.

 

[sheepdawg]

Here's one made in 1972. and one from 1976.

 

[Engine49guy]

Unless you have a factory letter stating your 4" Model 66 no dash shipped with a red insert and black rear site, or it shippedtowards the end of the 66 run I would assume it didnt.
Many early 4" Model 66 no dash were retro fit by police dept armorers, IIRC the story was that SW would ship black SS replacement sites to depts that ordered them and wanted it changed.
Since the 66-1 seems to be more often found with red ramp inserts and black SS rear sites my guess woukd be it might have changed at the end of the no dash era.

 

[CHARLIE699]

The early "no-dash" revolvers were equipped with natural stainless front & rear sights. I don't think there was a hard date for transition to red-ramp w/ blackened rear sight but it was during the later "no-dash" timeframe. I'm sure there are collectors here that may have some internal memo for the change.
I also have several "no-dash" revolvers. In my own time observations, I never saw a 2.5" or 6" "no-dash" with a stainless rear sight. ALL had a blackened rear and a red-ramp. That certainly does not mean they never left S&W with a stainless rear. By the time the 2.5" & 6" revolvers were produced, I would guess most of the stainless sights had been used up. As noted by others, it was VERY common to find owners/depts replacing stainless rear sights with blackened ones. Depending on the lighting when I shoot, I still spritz a little black on my sights. Comes off in the cleanup.
Anything is possible. That said, I also never saw a "-1" WITHOUT a blackened rear sight AND a colored ramp front. I remember some 6" 66's with a black Patridge front. I don't thing those were ever cataloged but more likely gunsmith-done for the local PPC guys.
Just my .02. Much more knowledge out there than I possess so I'm always a "student"

 

[snw19_357]

There's a write up about the change (and the new 2.5" Model 66) in the S&WCA Journal, 1975 Volume 7, Number 3. The change was made in July, 1975.