ISP model 66

[loc n load]

I bought this model 66 ( no dash ) from a close friend & retired LEO today. It was purchased in the mid 70's by his father, a career Indiana State Trooper. According to my research ( mostly a 15 year old thread from this forum ), S&W offered these 66's for sale to state troopers in the mid 70's.
The revolver has a ISP emblem on one side of the revolver & the trooper's "personal employee" number stamped on the opposite side of
The revolver.
My friend 's dad, who I also knew, purchased this revolver and relegated it to his night stand. He had another 66 that was his holster gun.
My buddy has another 66-2 that was presented to his dad when he retired, it has the seal on the side, but no PE number.
These revolvers were pretty much the ultimate duty weapon back in that time.
You certainly do not see many in this pristine condition.

 

[snw19_357]

My buddy has another 66-2 that was presented to his dad when he retired, it has the seal on the side, but no PE number.

VERY nice duty Model 66. Love the checked targets, football on the left, relieved on the right!!

I've come across some ISP commemorative 6" Model 66-2s in the AAU's. Like you wrote, they didn't have the trooper's "personal employee" number stamped but instead had "1 of 1117" there, They also had the Smith & Wesson and the caliber both stamped on the left side of the barrel and "1933 - 50TH ANNIVERSARY - 1983" on the right side. The emblem on the side plate appears to be the same.

Take good care of it.

 

[loc n load]

VERY nice duty Model 66. Love the checked targets, football on the left, relieved on the right!!

I've come across some ISP commemorative 6" Model 66-2s in the AAU's. Like you wrote, they didn't have the trooper's "personal employee" number stamped but instead had "1 of 1117" there, They also had the Smith & Wesson and the caliber both stamped on the left side of the barrel and "1933 - 50TH ANNIVERSARY - 1983" on the right side. The emblem on the side plate appears to be the same.

Take good care of it.

Thanks.
You can count on that, it has a good home.
I have one of the 6 inch commemoratives in the commerative case.
I honestly did not need anymore guns ( yeah, I know) but was not about to let this 66 slip past me. My buddy told me that he did not think his dad ever fired it.

 

[M29since14]

Very nice 66. Your friend’s assertion that possibly his Dad never fired it certainly appears to be true.

 

[Ccwlaw]

There are no burn marks on the front of the cylinder

 

[VASCAR2]

That PE number is pretty low. I’m curious when the Trooper was hired by ISP. I knew several of the Troopers in the 70’s to 80’s. Very common for them to work 30-35 years before retiring. I remember when the Troopers carried their model 66’s in Clarino leather with dump pouches with shiny brass snaps and brass belt buckle.

 

[ron 57]

Vascar2, your forum name brings back memories. Does anyone still use Vascar?
I’m guessing long gone.

 

[loc n load]

That PE number is pretty low. I’m curious when the Trooper was hired by ISP. I knew several of the Troopers in the 70’s to 80’s. Very common for them to work 30-35 years before retiring. I remember when the Troopers carried their model 66’s in Clarino leather with dump pouches with shiny brass snaps and brass belt buckle.

I remember the Clarino duty rigs also.
He was with the ISP from 1964 - 1989.
Retired as a “ Police Investigator IV “

 

[VASCAR2]

Vascar2, your forum name brings back memories. Does anyone still use Vascar?
I’m guessing long gone.

Indiana State Police were still using VASCAR when I retired in Illinois in 2009. The Illinois Toll Road District 15 Troopers had a few VASCAR units in the 90’s maybe early 2000’s but I think I was the last operator in a regular district. The Illinois State Police had a lot of LIDAR and moving RADAR same lane/direction feature with dual antennas. I came up with my screen name because I was issued a RADAR and VASCAR too (ie VASCAR2).

The last time I got re-certified on VASCAR I had to go to the Indiana State Police as there were no longer any certified VASCAR instructors in Illinois (at least in a reasonable distance). I was a RADAR and LIDAR instructor until I retired. Illinois got about 25 VASCAR Plus units from the Feds in the late 70’s to early 80’s. I knew a couple other Troopers who were assigned the older VASCAR with remote pedestal mount display and electronic box under the seat.

Sorry for the thread High Jack but I grew up in southwest Indiana and I had the Cop gene and was very interested in police equipment including firearms.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Congratulations on acquiring that nice Model 66! It's got some great LEO provenance, too. According to the SCSW 5th Ed., your 66 was manufactured in 1975, the same year that S&W released 4" ISP Commemorative Model 66 revolvers and 6" ISP 50th Anniversary Model 66 revolvers. Since your 6" Model 66 does not have the "1933-50th Anniversary 1983" roll marked on the barrel, I'd have to assume that it was not part of the 500 revolvers that were released as part of the 50th Anniversary Edition. It's still a fine handgun and should be a lot of fun to shoot. Enjoy!